Cultural Utility
Tipping Etiquette Across the World
A clear, country-by-country guide to what — and whether — to tip, so you never overpay or offend while travelling.
United States
New York · USD
Tipping is expected: 18–25% at restaurants, $1–2 per drink at bars, 15–20% for taxis.
United States
Los Angeles · USD
Same as the rest of the US: 18–25% at sit-down restaurants is standard.
United States
Chicago · USD
Standard US tipping: 18–25% at restaurants expected.
Canada
Toronto · CAD
15–20% at restaurants is customary; tip for good service.
Mexico
Mexico City · MXN
10–15% at restaurants if no service charge is added.
Brazil
São Paulo · BRL
10% is customary and often added to the bill (serviço).
Argentina
Buenos Aires · ARS
10% at restaurants is appreciated, sometimes already included.
United Kingdom
London · GBP
10–12% at restaurants is standard; often a service charge is already added.
France
Paris · EUR
Service is included by law; round up or leave 5–10% for good service.
Germany
Berlin · EUR
Round up the bill; 5–10% for good service is appreciated.
Spain
Madrid · EUR
Small change or 5–10% is appreciated; not obligatory.
Italy
Rome · EUR
Coperto is often charged; leave 5–10% extra for good service.
Netherlands
Amsterdam · EUR
Round up or 5–10% for good service; not required.
Portugal
Lisbon · EUR
5–10% for good service; rounding up is common.
Ireland
Dublin · EUR
10–12% at restaurants for good service.
Sweden
Stockholm · SEK
Service is usually included; round up or 5–10% for excellent service.
Norway
Oslo · NOK
Tipping is not expected; round up for good service.
Denmark
Copenhagen · DKK
Service included; round up or leave small change.
Finland
Helsinki · EUR
Not expected; round up the bill for good service.
Poland
Warsaw · PLN
10% for good service is customary.
Russia
Moscow · RUB
10% for good service is appreciated.
Turkey
Istanbul · TRY
10% at restaurants is customary.
Greece
Athens · EUR
Round up or 5–10% for good service.
UAE
Dubai · AED
10–15% at restaurants; service charge may already be added.
Saudi Arabia
Riyadh · SAR
10% for good service; often a service charge is included.
Israel
Tel Aviv · ILS
10–12% at restaurants is standard.
Egypt
Cairo · EGP
10% for good service; often added to the bill.
South Africa
Cape Town · ZAR
10–15% at restaurants is customary.
Kenya
Nairobi · KES
10% at restaurants; check if a service charge is added.
India
Mumbai · INR
5–10% if no service charge; rounding up is common.
India
Delhi · INR
5–10% for good service if no service charge.
Thailand
Bangkok · THB
10% is often added; small tips for good service appreciated.
Singapore
Singapore · SGD
10% service charge is usually added; extra tipping is not expected.
Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur · MYR
10% service charge often added; extra not expected.
Indonesia
Jakarta · IDR
5–10% for good service; often added as service charge.
Philippines
Manila · PHP
10% for good service; often a service charge is added.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong · HKD
10% service charge is usually added; round up for good service.
China
Shanghai · CNY
Tipping is not customary; service charges may apply in hotels.
Japan
Tokyo · JPY
Tipping is not customary and can be considered rude.
South Korea
Seoul · KRW
Tipping is not customary; service charge may apply in hotels.
Australia
Sydney · AUD
10% at restaurants for good service is appreciated.
Australia
Melbourne · AUD
10% for good service is appreciated.
New Zealand
Auckland · NZD
Tipping not expected; round up for exceptional service.
United States
Honolulu · USD
US standard: 18–25% at restaurants.
Australia
Brisbane · AUD
10% for good service is appreciated.
Australia
Perth · AUD
10% for good service is appreciated.
Australia
Adelaide · AUD
10% for good service is appreciated.
Australia
Hobart · AUD
10% for good service is appreciated.
Australia
Darwin · AUD
10% for good service is appreciated.
Australia
Canberra · AUD
10% for good service is appreciated.
China
Beijing · CNY
Tipping is not customary; service charges may apply in hotels.
China
Guangzhou · CNY
Tipping is not customary; service charges may apply in hotels.
China
Shenzhen · CNY
Tipping is not customary; service charges may apply in hotels.
United Kingdom
Manchester · GBP
10–12% at restaurants is standard; often a service charge is already added.
United Kingdom
Edinburgh · GBP
10–12% at restaurants is standard; often a service charge is already added.
United Kingdom
Glasgow · GBP
10–12% at restaurants is standard; often a service charge is already added.
United Kingdom
Birmingham · GBP
10–12% at restaurants is standard; often a service charge is already added.
United States
Washington D.C. · USD
Standard US tipping: 18–25% at restaurants expected.
United States
Miami · USD
Standard US tipping: 18–25% at restaurants expected.
United States
Boston · USD
Standard US tipping: 18–25% at restaurants expected.
United States
Atlanta · USD
Standard US tipping: 18–25% at restaurants expected.
United States
Seattle · USD
Standard US tipping: 18–25% at restaurants expected.
United States
San Francisco · USD
Standard US tipping: 18–25% at restaurants expected.
United States
Denver · USD
Standard US tipping: 18–25% at restaurants expected.
United States
Dallas · USD
Standard US tipping: 18–25% at restaurants expected.
United States
Houston · USD
Standard US tipping: 18–25% at restaurants expected.
United States
Las Vegas · USD
Standard US tipping: 18–25% at restaurants expected.
United States
Phoenix · USD
Standard US tipping: 18–25% at restaurants expected.
United States
Philadelphia · USD
Standard US tipping: 18–25% at restaurants expected.
Why tipping etiquette matters for travellers
Tipping is one of the most culturally loaded transactions a traveller will make. In some countries it is a near-moral obligation; in others it is a mild insult. Getting it wrong rarely ruins a trip, but getting it right signals respect, smooths service, and helps you avoid both overpaying and awkward moments.
This guide distils the norm for each country into a single typical restaurant percentage plus a short note on context — whether a service charge is usually added, how hotel and taxi tipping works, and where tipping is simply not part of the culture.
The big divide: service-included versus tip-based economies
The single most important thing to understand is whether the country you are visiting runs a service-included or a tip-based economy. In service-included countries (most of Europe, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand), staff are paid a wage that does not assume tips, and a service charge is often already on the bill. A small round-up or 5–10% for excellent service is appreciated but never required.
In tip-based economies (principally the United States and Canada), tipped staff often earn a sub-minimum wage on the assumption that tips will close the gap. There, 18–25% at restaurants is the genuine social norm, and leaving less for adequate service is read as a complaint.
Reading the bill correctly
Before tipping, scan the bill for 'service charge', 'serviço', 'service compris' or 'coperto'. If present, the tip is already collected; adding more is optional. If absent in a tipping culture, apply the local percentage on the pre-tax subtotal.
Tipping beyond restaurants
Restaurants get the attention, but travellers tip in many other contexts. Hotel porters typically receive $1–2 per bag; housekeeping $1–2 per night left daily (not at the end, since staff rotate); concierges a few dollars for meaningful help. Taxi tips range from rounding up the fare in Europe to 10–15% in the US.
Tour guides are often tipped at the end of a tour: $5–10 per person for a half-day group tour in tipping cultures, less or nothing where tipping is not customary. Bar staff in the US expect $1–2 per drink; in most of Europe, rounding up is plenty.
Countries where tipping is not customary
Japan and South Korea are the clearest examples: tipping is not part of the culture and can be politely refused or even cause confusion. Service is included and staff are paid properly. A genuine thank-you is the correct response to good service. China is similar, though some high-end hotels that cater to Westerners may accept tips.
In the Nordic countries (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland) and Iceland, service is included and wages are strong; rounding up the bill for good service is a friendly gesture but not expected. The same broadly holds for Switzerland.
How to avoid common tipping mistakes
First, never tip with foreign coins — they are useless to local staff. Carry small notes in the local currency. Second, do not tip on top of an existing service charge unless service was exceptional. Third, in countries where tipping is not customary, do not impose your home culture's norms; it can feel patronising.
Fourth, watch for 'tip jars' that are simply opportunistic — they are common in cafés worldwide now, but they do not imply an obligation. Finally, when in doubt, watch what locals do and mirror them. Tipping is a social signal, and matching local behaviour is the safest guide.
A note on the ethics of tipping
Tipping is a debated practice. Critics argue it lets employers underpay staff and makes income unpredictable; supporters argue it rewards good service and gives workers a direct stake. As a traveller, you are not going to reform a country's labour system in a single meal — follow the local norm so that the person serving you is not the one who pays for your principles.
Where you want to push back, the lever is policy advocacy at home, not withholding tips from a working person abroad. The goal of this guide is simply to help you behave correctly wherever you happen to be.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is tipping expected everywhere?
No. Tipping culture varies enormously. In the United States tips are a core part of service-worker income and are expected; in Japan and South Korea tipping can be considered rude. Always check the local norm before travelling.
What if a service charge is already on the bill?
Many countries add a 10% service charge automatically. Where it is present, an additional tip is optional and usually reserved for genuinely excellent service. If no service charge is listed, the typical local percentage applies.
Should I tip in the local currency?
Yes, always tip in the local currency where possible. Foreign coins are hard for staff to exchange and small foreign notes can be refused. Keep small denominations handy for this reason.
How much should I tip hotel staff?
It varies by region, but small fixed amounts are common: $1–2 per bag for porters, $1–2 per night for housekeeping, and a few dollars for concierge help in countries where tipping is customary.
Is it rude not to tip where it is expected?
In tipping cultures like the US, leaving no tip for adequate table service is considered a strong statement of dissatisfaction, because servers rely on tips to reach minimum wage. Where tipping is not customary, leaving one is simply unnecessary.
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