Tipping Around the World
Tipping customs vary dramatically worldwide. What is expected in the US can be insulting in Japan and unnecessary in Scandinavia. This guide covers tipping etiquette across every continent so you never feel awkward paying a bill abroad.
Last updated: · Reviewed by SnapTipCalc editorial team · How we research tipping norms
Sources & further reading
Quick Reference: Tipping in 22 Top Destinations
Scan the country, check the restaurant column, and confirm whether a service charge is already included before you add anything.
| Country | Restaurant | Taxi | Hotel porter | Service charge? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 18–20% | 10–15% | $2–5/bag | No — always add a tip |
| Canada | 15–20% | 10–15% | $2–5/bag | No — always add a tip |
| Mexico | 10–15% | Round up | 20–50 MXN/bag | Sometimes ("propina incluida") |
| United Kingdom | 10–12.5% | Round up | £1–2/bag | Often — check for "service charge" |
| France | 0–5% | Round up | €1–2/bag | Yes — "service compris" by law |
| Italy | 0–10% | Round up | €1–2/bag | Coperto is a cover charge, not a tip |
| Spain | 5–10% | Round up | €1/bag | Rarely — small tips appreciated |
| Germany | 5–10% | Round up | €1–2/bag | No — round up when paying |
| Netherlands | 5–10% | Round up | €1–2/bag | Yes — service included |
| Switzerland | 0–5% | Round up | CHF 2/bag | Yes — service included |
| Greece | 5–10% | Round up | €1–2/bag | Sometimes |
| Japan | None | None | None | No tipping — can cause offence |
| South Korea | None | None | None | No tipping culture |
| China | None | None | ¥10 at hotels | Not expected outside tourist hotels |
| Thailand | 5–10% | Round up | 20–50 THB/bag | Sometimes at hotels/resorts |
| India | 5–10% | Round up | ₹50/bag | Sometimes — check the bill |
| UAE (Dubai) | 10–15% | Round up | AED 5–10/bag | 10% charge ≠ tip to staff |
| Egypt | 10% | 10% | 20–50 EGP/bag | Baksheesh is widely expected |
| South Africa | 10–15% | 10% | R20/bag | No — tipping expected |
| Australia | 0–10% | Round up | AU$2–5/bag | No — tipping is a genuine bonus |
| New Zealand | 0–10% | Round up | NZ$2–5/bag | No — tipping is optional |
| Brazil | 10% | Round up | R$5–10/bag | Yes — 10% usually on the bill |
Need a country not listed here? Browse all 50+ entries in the tipping by country database, or work out an exact amount with the tip calculator.
North America
United States
Restaurants: 18–20% is standard, 15% minimum for acceptable service. Servers earn as low as $2.13/hour in tipped minimum wage states—tips are their primary income. See our tip calculation guide and state-by-state breakdown.
Other services: Bartenders $1–2/drink. Hotel housekeeping $2–5/night. Taxi/rideshare 15–20%. Delivery 15–20% or $5 minimum. Hair salon 15–20%. Valet $3–5.
Canada
Very similar to the US. Restaurants: 15–20%. Bars: $1–2/drink. Taxis: 15%. Hotels: CAD $2–5/night housekeeping. Canada eliminated the sub-minimum wage for tipped workers in most provinces, but tipping culture remains strong.
Mexico
Restaurants: 10–15% at sit-down establishments (check for "propina incluida"). Street food vendors: no tip. Hotels: 20–50 MXN per service. Taxi: round up the fare. Tourist areas expect higher tips than local neighborhoods.
Europe
United Kingdom
Restaurants: 10–12.5% is standard. Check for "service charge included" on the bill—if present, no extra tip needed. Pubs: no tip for drinks at the bar. Taxis: round up to nearest pound. Hotels: £1–2/bag for porters.
France
"Service compris" means service is legally included in all restaurant prices. Leaving small change (€1–2) for good service is a nice gesture but never expected. Cafés: round up to the nearest euro. Taxis: round up the fare.
Germany & Austria
Round up the bill to the nearest euro or add 5–10%. Tell the server the total you want to pay (e.g., "Stimmt so" = keep the change). Tipping is modest but expected at restaurants. Taxis: round up.
Italy
A "coperto" (cover charge) of €1–3 per person is standard—this is not a tip. Additional tipping is uncommon. Leaving small change at casual restaurants is appreciated. High-end: 5–10% for exceptional service.
Spain & Portugal
Spain: Round up or leave €1–2 at restaurants. No obligation. Bars: small change. Portugal: 5–10% at restaurants is appreciated. Both countries include service in the price.
Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland)
Tipping is rare and never expected. Service workers earn strong living wages ($20–30+ USD/hour). Rounding up is the most you would do. Leaving 10% at an upscale restaurant is generous but optional.
Netherlands & Belgium
Service is included. Rounding up or leaving €1–2 for good service is appreciated. 5–10% at upscale restaurants.
Eastern Europe (Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary)
10% is appreciated at restaurants but not mandatory. Always calculate the tip yourself—do not let the server round up for you without agreeing to the amount first. Some tourist-area restaurants add service charges.
Greece & Turkey
Greece: 5–10% at restaurants. Tavernas: round up. Turkey: 5–15% depending on the establishment. Tourist areas expect more. Always leave cash tips—credit card tips may not reach staff.
Asia
Japan
Do not tip in Japan. Tipping is considered rude and can cause confusion or embarrassment. Staff may chase you down to return the money. Excellent service is a professional standard called "omotenashi." If you want to show appreciation, a small gift from your home country is more appropriate.
South Korea
Tipping is not customary. Some international hotels accept small tips. Restaurants do not expect tips. Service charges may be added at high-end establishments.
China
Tipping was historically discouraged and considered offensive. In major cities and international hotels, small tips are increasingly accepted but not expected. Local restaurants: no tip. Tour guides: ¥50–100/day is appreciated.
Southeast Asia
Thailand: 20–50 THB at restaurants, round up taxi fares. Vietnam: 5–10% at tourist restaurants, 20,000–50,000 VND for services. Indonesia/Bali: 5–10% at restaurants, IDR 10,000–20,000 for small services. Philippines: 10% at restaurants if no service charge.
India
10% at restaurants if no service charge is included. ₹50–100 for hotel services. Auto-rickshaws and taxis: round up. Many restaurants add a "service charge" of 5–10%—check the bill before adding more.
Singapore & Hong Kong
Singapore: 10% service charge is standard at restaurants—no extra tip needed. Hong Kong: 10% service charge is common. Small change on top is appreciated at local eateries.
Middle East
UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi)
10–15% at restaurants. Many hotels and restaurants add service charges. Direct cash tips are appreciated by individual staff. Taxi: round up. AED 5–10 for hotel services.
Egypt
"Baksheesh" is deeply embedded in the culture. 10–15% at restaurants. Small tips (EGP 10–20) are expected for virtually all services: baggage handlers, bathroom attendants, museum guides, parking attendants. Budget generously for tips.
Israel
10–15% at restaurants. Similar culture to the US but slightly lower percentages. Delivery: 10–15%. Taxis: round up.
Africa
South Africa
10–15% at restaurants—tips are essential as service wages are low. Car guards: ZAR 5–10. Petrol attendants: ZAR 5–10. Safari guides: $10–20/day per person. See our hotel tipping worldwide guide.
Morocco
10% at restaurants. MAD 10–20 for small services. Riads (guesthouses): MAD 20–50 per day for staff. Guides: MAD 100–200/day.
Kenya & Tanzania
10% at restaurants. Safari tips: $10–20/day for guides, $5–10/day for camp staff. Tips are meaningful and expected in the tourism industry.
South America
Brazil
10% "gorjeta" or "taxa de serviço" is usually added to restaurant bills automatically. Check before adding more. Bars: no tip. Hotels: R$5–10 per service.
Argentina
10% at restaurants. Leave cash—credit card tips are uncommon. Taxi: round up. Hotel porters: $1–2 per bag.
Colombia & Peru
Colombia: 10% "propina voluntaria" is suggested on the bill—you can decline. Peru: 10% at upscale restaurants. Street food: no tip. Tour guides: $5–10/day.
Chile
10% at restaurants (propina). Usually not included in the bill. Taxis: round up. Hotels: similar to other South American countries.
Oceania
Australia
Tipping is not expected—servers earn $23+ AUD/hour. 10% at upscale restaurants is a generous gesture but never required. Taxis: round up is appreciated. No one will be offended if you do not tip.
New Zealand
Similar to Australia. Tipping is uncommon and not expected. Service workers earn living wages. A small tip for exceptional service at fine dining is the most you would leave.
Quick Reference: Tipping by Region
- USA/Canada: 15–20% restaurants (mandatory social norm)
- Western Europe: 5–10% or round up (appreciated, not mandatory)
- Eastern Europe: 10% (appreciated)
- Japan/South Korea: Do not tip
- Southeast Asia: 10% at tourist venues
- Middle East: 10–15%
- Africa: 10–15% (important for workers)
- South America: 10% (often included)
- Australia/NZ: Not expected
Country-by-Country Tipping Database
Our searchable database covers restaurant, hotel, taxi and bar tipping norms for more than 50 countries across Europe, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania. Use it to check a single destination before you travel, or filter by region to plan a multi-country trip.
Each entry lists the expected restaurant percentage, whether a service charge is typically included, the customary hotel and taxi amounts, and any local etiquette warnings — such as countries where tipping is actively discouraged.
Hotel Tipping Abroad
Hotel tipping travels less well than restaurant tipping. In much of Europe and Asia, hotel staff are paid a living wage and tips are a bonus rather than an expectation; in the US, Mexico, the Caribbean and much of the Middle East, they are part of the income.
- Bellhops/porters: US $1–2 per bag equivalent in local currency across Europe and Latin America; nothing in Japan, South Korea or Australia.
- Housekeeping: €1–2 per night in Western Europe, $2–5 in North America and the Caribbean, nothing in Japan or Scandinavia.
- Concierge: tip only for genuine effort — €5–10 in Europe, $5–20 in the US.
- Valet and doormen: small round-up amounts in local currency; often not customary outside North America.
Always tip in local currency and in cash. Foreign notes and coins are frequently impossible for staff to exchange.
Visiting the USA: What Tourists Need to Know
The single biggest surprise for visitors is that US tipping is not discretionary. Federal law allows a tipped minimum wage as low as $2.13 per hour, so tips are wages rather than a bonus. Not tipping in a US restaurant is read as a complaint, not as thrift.
- Restaurants with table service: 18–20%, calculated before tax.
- Bars: $1–2 per drink, or 15–20% on a tab.
- Taxis and rideshare: 15–20%.
- Hotel housekeeping: $2–5 per night, left daily.
- Food delivery: 15–20% with a $3–5 minimum.
Common tourist mistakes: tipping on the post-tax total instead of the subtotal (a small overpayment, not an error), tipping twice when a party of six or more already has an automatic gratuity on the bill, and assuming the delivery fee on an app reaches the driver. It does not.
FAQ
What if I accidentally tip in Japan?
The staff will likely try to return the money. Do not insist. Simply accept it back graciously. No offense will be taken if it is clearly a cultural misunderstanding.
Should I tip in local currency or US dollars?
Always tip in local currency when possible. US dollars are accepted in some tourist areas but may be inconvenient for staff to exchange. Get small bills in local currency early in your trip.
How do I know if service charge is already included?
Check the bill for terms like "service compris" (France), "servizio incluso" (Italy), "taxa de serviço" (Brazil), or "service charge." When in doubt, ask.
Is it offensive to tip in countries where tipping is not customary?
In most countries, a small extra tip is seen as generous, not offensive. Japan is the notable exception where tipping can cause genuine confusion. In Scandinavia and Australia, it is simply unnecessary.