Tipping in France: Who to Tip and How Much
Last updated · Reviewed by SnapTipCalc Editorial
Who to tip in France
| Situation | Tip | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant | €2–€5, or 5% | Service is included. Leave cash on the table for good service; nothing is required. |
| Café / bistro | €0.50–€1 | Leave the coins from your change on the saucer. |
| Bar | €1 per round | Optional. More common in cocktail bars than in a neighborhood café. |
| Taxi | Round up, or 5% | €1–€2 for a normal ride. Add €1 per bag for luggage help. |
| Food delivery | €1–€2 | Optional in-app or in cash at the door. |
| Hairdresser | €2–€5 | Optional. Common at higher-end salons, rare at neighborhood ones. |
| Tour guide | €5–€10 per person | For a half-day group tour. More for private guiding. |
| Boulangerie | Nothing | Counter service is never tipped. |
How tipping works in France
France settled the tipping question by law. Since 1987, menu prices must include service, which is why you will see service compris or prix nets on the menu or the bill. Waiting staff earn at least the SMIC minimum wage, and being a server in France is a stable job rather than a tip-dependent one.
What remains is the pourboire — literally 'for a drink' — a small voluntary thank-you. A couple of euros left on the table after lunch, €5 after a good dinner, a coin on the café counter. It is a gesture of appreciation for a specific person, not a calculation.
Card terminals in France increasingly offer a tip prompt, but cash on the table is still the norm and the only way to be sure the server keeps it. Tips left in cash have been exempt from income tax and social contributions under a measure that has been repeatedly extended, which is another reason staff prefer them.
Service charge rules
Legally mandatory and already in the price. French law requires displayed prices to be service compris (service included), so there is no separate 10–15% line to watch for. If you see 'prix nets' it means the same thing. A separate service charge added on top of an inclusive price is not permitted.
Hotel tipping in France
| Hotel role | Tip | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Housekeeping | €1–€2 per night | Cash in the room. Optional, and more common at 4–5 star properties. |
| Bellhop / porter | €1–€2 per bag | Cash at hand-off. |
| Concierge | €5–€20 | Only for real effort. A Clefs d'Or concierge who lands a hard reservation earns the top of that range. |
| Room service | €1–€3 | Service is normally included in the price already. |
| Doorman | €1–€2 | For a taxi or luggage. |
Comparing with the US? See the full hotel tipping guide.
Mistakes visitors make in France
- Believing service compris means the server receives a tip. It means the wage is covered; the pourboire is separate and voluntary.
- Tipping 20%. Wildly above local norms and can come across as showing off.
- Adding a tip on the card terminal in a small bistro where cash is the norm and reaches the server directly.
- Tipping at a boulangerie or a takeaway counter.
- Feeling obliged to tip on a bad experience. In France, leaving nothing is a normal, legitimate signal.
Work out the exact amount
Enter your bill in EUR and pick a percentage with the tip calculator, or split the bill between everyone at the table.
Tipping in France: FAQ
Do you tip in France?
Tipping in France is optional because service is included in the price by law. French menus are service compris, and staff earn at least the SMIC minimum wage. A pourboire of €2–€5 in cash after a good meal, or rounding up the bill, is a normal gesture — but leaving nothing carries no stigma.
What does service compris mean?
Service compris means service is included in the displayed price, which French law has required since 1987. It guarantees the restaurant has priced in the labor cost — it does not mean your individual server receives a gratuity. Any pourboire you leave on top goes directly to the staff.
How much do you tip at a French restaurant?
€2–€5 in cash for a normal meal, or around 5% for a longer dinner where the service was attentive. At a café, leaving the small coins from your change on the saucer is typical. Percentages above 10% are not a French custom and will be noticed as an American habit.
Should you tip in cash or by card in France?
Cash. Card terminals in France now often show a tip prompt, but cash left on the table is still the norm and it is the only way to be certain the money reaches the person who served you. Cash tips have also carried a tax exemption under a repeatedly extended French measure, which is why staff prefer them.
Do you tip taxi drivers in France?
Round up the fare or add about 5% — typically €1–€2 on a city ride. Add €1 per bag if the driver handles heavy luggage. Paris taxi and VTC drivers do not expect a percentage, and rideshare apps let you add a tip afterwards, which is entirely optional.
Tipping in other countries
- Tipping in Japan
- Tipping in Norway
- Tipping in Italy
- Tipping in Spain
- Tipping in Germany
- Tipping in the United Kingdom
- Tipping in Mexico
- All 50+ countries
Sources
- Service Included: Pricing Rules for Restaurants — European Consumer Centre France
- Tipping Etiquette Around the World — Condé Nast Traveler
See our methodology for how we research and update tipping guidance.