Does pay-at-table increase tips?

Often, yes. On-screen tip prompts presented at the table tend to lift average tip percentages compared with manual entry at a fixed terminal.

What hardware do I need for pay-at-table?

A wireless terminal that runs over Wi-Fi or cellular and connects to your restaurant POS so checks and payments stay synchronized.

Restaurant POS

Pay-at-Table: How Tableside Payments Turn Tables Faster

The walk to the till and back kills table turns. Pay-at-table fixes it, and often lifts tips.

Armour Payments Editorial Team•July 29, 2026•1 min read•Reviewed by Armour Payments Product Team

Server taking payment at the table on a wireless terminal

The short answer

Pay-at-table lets servers take payment at the table on a wireless terminal, eliminating the trip to a fixed till. It speeds table turns, reduces card-handling risk, often increases tips with on-screen prompts, and improves the guest experience.

Why the old way is slow

In the traditional flow, the server brings the bill, walks the card to a fixed terminal, processes it, and walks back for a signature. Those minutes add up across a busy service and delay the next party from being seated.

How pay-at-table speeds turns

With a wireless terminal, the whole transaction happens at the table in seconds. Tables clear faster, servers cover more covers, and on a busy night that directly increases revenue.

Better tips and security

On-screen tip prompts at the table typically lift average tips, which your staff appreciate. The card never leaves the guest’s sight either, reducing skimming risk and building trust.