International Tipping Guide
Navigate tipping customs around the world with confidence. A comprehensive guide to gratuity expectations in 50+ countries across six continents.
💡Key Insight
Tipping customs vary dramatically worldwide. While the United States expects 15-20% tips, many countries include service charges or don't have a tipping culture at all. Always research local customs before traveling to avoid cultural misunderstandings.
📑Table of Contents
Understanding tipping etiquette is crucial for international travelers. What's considered polite in one country might be offensive in another. This comprehensive guide breaks down tipping customs for over 50 countries, helping you navigate gratuity with cultural awareness and confidence.
We'll cover restaurants, hotels, taxis, tours, and other common services, along with the cultural context that shapes each country's tipping expectations. Whether you're a business traveler or tourist, this guide will ensure you tip appropriately wherever your journey takes you.
North America
🇺🇸United States
Tipping Expected: 15-20%
Cultural Context: Tipping is deeply ingrained in American service culture. Many service workers rely on tips as their primary income, as base wages can be as low as $2.13/hour for tipped employees.
Pro Tip: Always tip on the pre-tax amount. Check your bill carefully – some restaurants add gratuity automatically for large parties (usually 6+ people).
🇨🇦Canada
Tipping Expected: 15-20%
Cultural Context: Canadian tipping culture closely mirrors the United States. Service workers depend on tips, though minimum wages are generally higher than in the US.
Pro Tip: In Quebec, some restaurants include service charge in the bill – check before adding an additional tip. GST/HST should not be included when calculating your tip.
🇲🇽Mexico
Tipping Expected: 10-15%
Cultural Context: Tipping is expected and appreciated in Mexico, especially in tourist areas. Service workers often earn low base wages and depend on tips.
Pro Tip: Keep small bills and pesos on hand for tipping. US dollars are often accepted in tourist areas, but pesos are preferred and more appreciated.
Europe
🇬🇧United Kingdom
Tipping Optional: 10-15%
Cultural Context: Tipping in the UK is more relaxed than in the US. Service charge is often included in restaurant bills. Workers receive fair minimum wages, so tips are a bonus, not essential income.
Pro Tip: Always check your bill for "discretionary service charge" before adding a tip. If service was poor, you can ask to have this removed.
🇫🇷France
Service Included by Law
Cultural Context: Service charge (15%) is legally required in restaurant bills. Additional tipping is not expected but appreciated for exceptional service.
Pro Tip: Look for "service compris" on the menu, which confirms service is included. Leaving a few euros on the table is polite after great service.
🇩🇪Germany
Tipping Expected: 5-10%
Cultural Context: Germans round up bills or add 5-10% for good service. Tipping is expected but more modest than in North America.
Pro Tip: Hand tips directly to servers and state the total amount you want to pay (including tip) rather than saying "keep the change."
🇮🇹Italy
Service Charge Usually Included
Cultural Context: Most Italian restaurants charge "coperto" (cover charge) and/or service charge. Additional tipping is not mandatory but appreciated.
Pro Tip: Check for "servizio incluso" on your bill. If it's included, a small additional tip is courteous but not required.
🇪🇸Spain
Tipping Optional: 5-10%
Cultural Context: Tipping is not obligatory in Spain but is becoming more common in tourist areas. Locals typically round up or leave small change.
Pro Tip: In casual tapas bars, leaving small coins is standard. In upscale restaurants, 10% is appreciated.
🇳🇱Netherlands
Service Included
Service charge is included, but rounding up or leaving 5-10% is appreciated for good service.
• Restaurants: Round up or 5-10%
• Cafés: Round up to nearest euro
• Taxis: Round up or 5%
🇧🇪Belgium
Service Included
Service charge is included by law. Small tips for exceptional service are appreciated.
• Restaurants: Round up or €1-5
• Taxis: Round up
• Hotels: €1-2 per service
🇨🇭Switzerland
Service Included
Service is included, but rounding up is customary for good service.
• Restaurants: Round up or 5-10%
• Taxis: Round up
• Hotels: CHF 2-5 per service
🇦🇹Austria
Tipping Expected: 5-10%
Similar to Germany, round up bills or add 5-10% for good service.
• Restaurants: 5-10%
• Cafés: Round up
• Taxis: 10%
🇬🇷Greece
Tipping Appreciated: 5-10%
Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory. Becoming more expected in tourist areas.
• Restaurants: 5-10%
• Tavernas: Round up or €1-2
• Taxis: Round up
🇵🇹Portugal
Tipping Optional: 5-10%
Not obligatory but appreciated, especially in tourist areas.
• Restaurants: 5-10%
• Cafés: Round up
• Taxis: 10%
🇸🇪Sweden
Service Included
Service charge included. Round up or add 5-10% for excellent service.
• Restaurants: Round up or 10%
• Taxis: Round up
• Hotels: SEK 10-20 per service
🇳🇴Norway
Service Included
Service included. Rounding up is appreciated but not expected.
• Restaurants: Round up or 10%
• Taxis: Round up
• Hotels: NOK 10-20 per service
🇩🇰Denmark
Service Included
Service included by law. Additional tips are rare and not expected.
• Restaurants: Round up (optional)
• Taxis: Round up (optional)
• Hotels: DKK 10-20 (optional)
🇵🇱Poland
Tipping Expected: 10%
Tipping is standard practice. 10% is typical for good service.
• Restaurants: 10%
• Taxis: Round up or 10%
• Hotels: PLN 5-10 per service
Asia
🇯🇵Japan
Tipping Not Expected (Can Be Offensive)
Cultural Context: Tipping is not part of Japanese culture and can be considered rude or insulting. Excellent service is expected as standard, and workers take pride in their job without expecting extra payment.
Important: Do not tip in Japan. If you try to tip, it may be refused or cause confusion. Service charges are sometimes added to hotel bills, but this is not a tip.
Exception: High-end hotels catering to international guests may accept tips for exceptional service, but it's still not expected or encouraged.
🇨🇳China
Tipping Not Expected (Changing in Cities)
Cultural Context: Tipping is not traditional in Chinese culture. However, it's becoming more common in major cities like Shanghai and Beijing, especially in establishments catering to tourists.
Pro Tip: In local restaurants and small businesses, tipping may be refused. In international hotels and upscale restaurants, tips are more accepted.
🇹🇭Thailand
Tipping Appreciated: 10%
Cultural Context: Tipping is not mandatory but has become common in tourist areas. Service charges are often included in upscale establishments.
Pro Tip: Check for "service charge" on bills. Small denominations (฿20, ฿50) are useful for tipping. Street vendors don't expect tips.
🇰🇷South Korea
Tipping Not Expected
Tipping is not customary and can be refused. Some high-end hotels add service charges.
• Restaurants: Not expected
• Taxis: Not expected
• Hotels: Not expected
🇸🇬Singapore
Service Charge Included
10% service charge and 9% GST typically included. Additional tipping not expected.
• Restaurants: Service charge included
• Taxis: Not expected (round up optional)
• Hotels: S$2-5 for porters (optional)
🇮🇳India
Tipping Expected: 10%
Tipping is expected in restaurants and hotels. Service charge may be included.
• Restaurants: 10% if no service charge
• Taxis: ₹20-50 or round up
• Hotels: ₹50-100 per service
🇻🇳Vietnam
Tipping Appreciated
Not mandatory but appreciated in tourist areas. Small amounts go a long way.
• Restaurants: 5-10% or round up
• Taxis: Round up
• Tours: ₫50,000-100,000 per day
🇮🇩Indonesia
Service Charge Included
Service charge (5-10%) and tax (10%) usually included. Small additional tips appreciated.
• Restaurants: Small tip appreciated
• Drivers/Guides: Rp 50,000-100,000
• Hotels: Rp 10,000-20,000 per service
🇲🇾Malaysia
Service Charge Included
10% service charge typically included. Additional tipping not expected but appreciated.
• Restaurants: Round up or RM 5-10
• Taxis: Round up
• Hotels: RM 5-10 per service
🇵🇭Philippines
Tipping Expected: 10%
Service charge often included, but additional 10% tip is customary.
• Restaurants: 10% additional to service charge
• Taxis: Round up or 10%
• Hotels: ₱20-50 per service
🇭🇰Hong Kong
Service Charge Included
10% service charge included. Small additional tips are common for good service.
• Restaurants: HK$10-20 additional
• Taxis: Round up
• Hotels: HK$20-50 per service
🇹🇼Taiwan
Tipping Not Expected
Tipping is not customary. Service charge (10%) is often included in bills.
• Restaurants: Not expected
• Taxis: Not expected
• Hotels: NT$50-100 (optional)
🇰🇭Cambodia
Tipping Appreciated
Not mandatory but appreciated. Tourism industry workers rely on tips.
• Restaurants: $1-2 or 10%
• Tuk-tuks: $1-2
• Tour Guides: $5-10 per day
🇲🇲Myanmar
Tipping Appreciated
Not expected but appreciated. US dollars are welcome.
• Restaurants: K1,000-2,000 or $1
• Drivers: $2-5 per day
• Hotels: K1,000-2,000 per service
🇳🇵Nepal
Tipping Appreciated
Service charge (10%) often included. Additional tips appreciated for guides and porters.
• Restaurants: 10% if no service charge
• Trekking Guides: $10-15 per day
• Porters: $8-10 per day
South America
🇧🇷Brazil
Service Charge Included (10%)
10% service charge ("taxa de serviço") is standard and often mandatory. Additional tipping not expected.
• Restaurants: 10% service charge included
• Taxis: Round up
• Hotels: R$5-10 per service
🇦🇷Argentina
Tipping Expected: 10%
10% is standard in restaurants. Service charge not usually included.
• Restaurants: 10%
• Taxis: Round up or 10%
• Hotels: AR$50-100 per service
🇨🇱Chile
Tipping Expected: 10%
10% is customary and expected in restaurants.
• Restaurants: 10%
• Taxis: Round up
• Hotels: CLP 1,000-2,000 per service
🇵🇪Peru
Tipping Expected: 10%
10% is standard. Service charge may be included in tourist restaurants.
• Restaurants: 10%
• Taxis: Not expected (round up optional)
• Tour Guides: S/20-50 per day
🇨🇴Colombia
Service Charge Included (10%)
10% "propina sugerida" often included. Additional tips appreciated.
• Restaurants: Check if 10% included
• Taxis: Not expected
• Hotels: COP 2,000-5,000 per service
🇪🇨Ecuador
Service Charge Included (10%)
10% service charge and 12% tax usually included. Additional tips optional.
• Restaurants: Service included
• Taxis: Not expected
• Hotels: $1-2 per service
Africa
🇿🇦South Africa
Tipping Expected: 10-15%
Tipping is standard practice. Tourism workers often depend on tips.
• Restaurants: 10-15%
• Safari Guides: R100-200 per day
• Hotels: R10-20 per service
🇰🇪Kenya
Tipping Expected: 10%
Tipping is expected, especially in tourist areas and on safaris.
• Restaurants: 10%
• Safari Guides: $10-20 per day
• Hotels: KSh 100-200 per service
🇹🇿Tanzania
Tipping Expected: 10%
Similar to Kenya. Safari staff rely heavily on tips.
• Restaurants: 10%
• Safari Guides: $15-20 per day
• Porters (Kilimanjaro): $10-15 per day
🇲🇦Morocco
Tipping Expected: 10%
Tipping is customary. Keep small denominations handy.
• Restaurants: 10% or round up
• Guides: MAD 100-150 per day
• Hotels: MAD 10-20 per service
🇪🇬Egypt
Tipping Expected (Baksheesh)
Baksheesh (tipping) is a way of life. Small tips expected for almost any service.
• Restaurants: 10-15%
• Tour Guides: EGP 100-200 per day
• Hotels: EGP 20-50 per service
🇳🇬Nigeria
Tipping Optional: 10%
Service charge often included. Additional tips appreciated.
• Restaurants: 10% if no service charge
• Taxis: Not expected
• Hotels: ₦500-1,000 per service
Oceania
🇦🇺Australia
Tipping Not Obligatory
Fair minimum wages mean tipping is not expected. However, it's becoming more common for exceptional service.
• Restaurants: 10% for excellent service (optional)
• Cafés: Round up or leave change (optional)
• Taxis: Round up (optional)
🇳🇿New Zealand
Tipping Not Expected
Similar to Australia. Tipping is not part of the culture but appreciated for great service.
• Restaurants: 10% for excellent service (optional)
• Taxis: Not expected
• Hotels: NZ$5-10 (optional)
🇫🇯Fiji
Tipping Not Customary
Tipping is not traditional in Fijian culture, though it's appreciated in resorts.
• Restaurants: Not expected (resorts may add service charge)
• Hotels: FJ$5-10 for porters (optional)
• Taxis: Round up (optional)
Middle East
🇦🇪United Arab Emirates
Tipping Expected: 10-15%
Service charge usually included, but additional tipping is common.
• Restaurants: 10-15% if no service charge
• Taxis: Round up or 10%
• Hotels: AED 5-20 per service
🇮🇱Israel
Tipping Expected: 10-15%
Tipping is standard practice in restaurants and for services.
• Restaurants: 10-15%
• Taxis: Round up or 10%
• Hotels: ₪10-20 per service
🇹🇷Turkey
Tipping Expected: 5-10%
Tipping is customary, especially in tourist areas.
• Restaurants: 5-10%
• Taxis: Round up
• Hotels: ₺10-20 per service
🇸🇦Saudi Arabia
Tipping Optional: 10-15%
Service charge often included. Additional tips appreciated.
• Restaurants: 10-15% if no service charge
• Taxis: Round up
• Hotels: SAR 10-20 per service
General International Tipping Tips
🔍Research Before You Go
Always research tipping customs for your destination before traveling. What's polite in one country can be offensive in another. Use this guide as your starting point.
💵Carry Local Currency
Always carry small denominations of local currency for tipping. While US dollars are sometimes accepted in tourist areas, local currency is always preferred and more practical.
🧾Check Your Bill
Always review your bill carefully before tipping. Many countries automatically include service charges. Look for terms like "service compris," "servizio incluso," or "service charge."
🤝Respect Local Customs
When in doubt, observe what locals do or ask your hotel concierge. Respecting local tipping customs shows cultural awareness and helps you avoid awkward situations.
⚖️Quality Over Percentage
In many countries, tipping is based more on the quality of service than a fixed percentage. Don't feel obligated to tip for poor service, even in tipping cultures.
💳Cash vs. Card
In many countries, cash tips are preferred as they go directly to the server. When paying by card, ask if tips can be added to the card payment or if cash is better.
🧮International Tip Calculator
Use our tip calculator below to quickly calculate tips in any currency. Just enter your bill amount, select your tip percentage, and we'll do the math for you.
Tip Calculator
Enter your bill details below to calculate tips and split costs
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Tip Percentage: 18%
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Final Thoughts on International Tipping
Tipping customs around the world reflect diverse cultural values, economic systems, and attitudes toward service work. While some countries like the United States rely heavily on tipping to supplement low wages, others like Japan consider it unnecessary or even insulting.
As a traveler, understanding these differences shows respect for local culture and helps you navigate social situations with confidence. This guide covers general customs, but remember that practices can vary even within countries, especially between urban and rural areas or local vs. tourist establishments.
When in doubt, observe what locals do, ask for advice from hotel staff or tour guides, and remember that genuine appreciation and respectful behavior are universal currencies that transcend tipping customs.
📚 Related Resources
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US Tipping Guide
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How to Calculate Tips
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Tipping FAQ
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Restaurant Calculator
Specialized calculator for dining
Split Bill Calculator
Divide bills among friends