Tipping guide: how much to tip, and where
Tipping rules change a lot from one country, and one kind of service, to the next. Here’s what’s normal, with the US as the starting point and the main differences abroad.
The figures below are typical ranges, not rules. Service quality, local habits and your own budget all matter. The most useful habit anywhere is to read the bill before you tip: if it already shows a service charge or gratuity, the tip has been added for you.
How much to tip by service (US)
| Service | Typical tip | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sit-down restaurant | 18–20% before tax | 15% for adequate service; more for great service or a long, demanding table. |
| Bar | $1–2 per drink, or 15–20% of a tab | More for cocktails or if the bartender is running a tab for a group. |
| Counter service, coffee, takeout | Optional; $1–2 or about 10% | Tip screens have made this feel expected, but it isn’t. |
| Food delivery | 15–20%, at least $3–5 | Tip more in bad weather or for long distances. Check whether the app’s “service fee” goes to the driver (usually it doesn’t). |
| Rideshare and taxi | 15–20% | Round up for a short ride, a little more if the driver helps with luggage. |
| Hair salon and barber | 15–20% | Tip the person who washes your hair a few dollars as well, if it’s a different person. |
| Nail salon, spa, massage | 15–20% | Check whether a service charge is already included at spas. |
| Hotel housekeeping | $2–5 per night | Leave it daily with a note, since staff can change from day to day. |
| Hotel bellhop and doorman | $1–2 per bag; $1–2 for a taxi | More for heavy bags or extra help. |
| Hotel concierge | $5–20 for special requests | Nothing for directions; tip for hard-to-get reservations or tickets. |
| Tour guide | 10–20% of the tour price | For free “pay what you want” tours, $10–20 per person is typical. |
| Movers | $20–40 per mover for a half day | Plus drinks or lunch on long jobs. |
Restaurants
In the US, servers are often paid a base wage well below the regular minimum, on the assumption that tips make up the difference. That’s why 15% is the floor for ordinary service and 18–20% is now standard. Tip on the pre-tax amount if you want to be precise; tipping on the total is also common and only adds a little. Groups of six or more often see an automatic gratuity of 18–20% on the bill. If it’s there, you don’t need to tip again.
Delivery and rideshare
For delivery, a percentage works for big orders, but set a minimum of a few dollars, since the driver’s effort is the same for a $12 order as for a $60 one. Delivery apps often show several fees; in most cases, only the tip goes directly to the driver. For rideshare, 15–20% through the app is normal, and drivers see it after the ride.
Salons and personal care
Hair, nails, massage and similar services are usually tipped like restaurants, at 15–20%. If the owner did the service, tipping is still common in the US, though it used to be optional. At spas and hotel salons, check the bill for a built-in service charge first.
Hotels
Housekeeping is the most overlooked tip in travel. A few dollars per night, left each day with a short note so it’s clearly meant for the cleaner, is the norm in the US. Bellhops get a dollar or two per bag, and concierges are tipped for real effort, such as a hard-to-get table, not for directions.
Tipping customs by country
| Country | Restaurant tip | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 15–20% at sit-down restaurants, 18–20% for good service | Tipping is expected; servers’ wages assume it. Check for an automatic gratuity on large-party bills. |
| Canada | 15–20% | Similar to the US. Card machines often suggest percentages calculated after tax. |
| Mexico | 10–15% | Called propina. Check the bill: some tourist-area restaurants add it already. |
| United Kingdom | 10–12.5% if no service charge | Many restaurants add a “discretionary” service charge of 12.5%. You can ask for it to be removed if service was poor. No tip is expected for drinks ordered at a pub bar. |
| Ireland | 10–15% | Common at restaurants with table service; not expected in pubs. |
| France | Small change to 5–10% for great service | Service is included by law (“service compris”). Leaving a few euros is a thank-you, not an obligation. |
| Germany and Austria | Round up, or 5–10% | Tell the server the total you want to pay when they bring the card machine, rather than leaving cash on the table. |
| Italy | Not expected; round up for good service | A cover charge (coperto) or service charge (servizio) is often on the bill already. |
| Spain and Portugal | Optional; small change or 5–10% | Locals often leave coins rather than a percentage. |
| Netherlands, Belgium, Nordic countries | Optional; round up or 5–10% | Service is included in prices. Tipping is appreciated but not expected. |
| Australia and New Zealand | Not expected; up to 10% for great service | Wages don’t rely on tips. Some places add a weekend or public-holiday surcharge instead. |
| Japan | Don’t tip | Tipping can cause confusion or be refused. Good service is part of the price. |
| China and South Korea | Not customary | Some international hotels and tourist restaurants add a service charge. |
| United Arab Emirates | 10–15% if no service charge | Many bills already include service; check before adding more. |
| Brazil | Usually included (10%) | Most restaurants add a 10% “serviço” line, which is technically optional. |
| India | About 10% if no service charge | Restaurants may not force a service charge; you can ask for it to be removed. |
Europe
Across most of Europe, service is included in menu prices and staff are paid a full wage, so a tip is a thank-you rather than part of their pay. Rounding up or leaving 5–10% for good service is generous. The UK is the main exception: a 12.5% service charge is common in restaurants, often marked as optional. In Germany and Austria, it’s polite to say the amount you want to pay, tip included, when the server brings the card machine.
Asia and Oceania
In Japan, tipping isn’t part of the culture and can cause awkwardness; the same is broadly true in South Korea and much of China. Australia and New Zealand pay hospitality staff well, so tips are optional and usually kept for exceptional service at nicer restaurants.
When the bill is in another currency
If you’re splitting a bill abroad, enter it in the local currency and pick your home currency under “Show shares in”. The calculator converts each person’s share using the European Central Bank’s daily reference rate. Your card provider’s rate will be slightly different, so treat it as a close estimate.
Quick rules that work almost everywhere
- Check for a service charge, gratuity, “servizio” or “service compris” line before tipping.
- When in doubt in a country where tipping is optional, round up to a tidy number.
- Cash tips are more likely to reach the person who served you than card tips in some countries.
- Tip on the pre-tax amount if you want to follow etiquette exactly; it rarely changes much.
Ready to work it out? The tip calculator handles the maths, and our guide to splitting a bill covers how to divide it fairly.