Few travel questions cause more quiet panic than "how much do I tip here?" Leave too little and you look rude; leave too much and you've overpaid — or, in some places, accidentally caused offence. Tipping is cultural, not universal. Here's what's actually expected around the world.
The three tipping cultures
- Tipping-heavy (USA, Canada): service staff are paid low base wages and rely on tips. Tipping isn't optional here — it's part of the bill.
- Tipping-optional (most of Europe, Latin America, Australia): service is decent-paid; a small tip for good service is appreciated but not mandatory.
- No-tipping (Japan, South Korea, China): tipping can be confusing or even mildly insulting. Good service is simply expected.
Restaurant tipping around the world
| Country | Typical restaurant tip |
|---|---|
| United States | 15–20% (20% is now standard) |
| Canada | 15–20% |
| United Kingdom | 10–12.5% (often added as service charge) |
| France | Service included; round up or leave a few euros |
| Germany | 5–10%; round up to the nearest euro |
| Italy | Not expected; "coperto" cover charge is common |
| Spain | Small change to ~5% |
| Netherlands | Round up or ~5–10% |
| Turkey | 5–10% |
| Poland | 10% for good service |
| Japan | No tipping — don't |
| Australia | Not expected; ~10% for great service |
| Mexico | 10–15% |
| UAE / Dubai | 10–15% (check if service charge already added) |
Beyond restaurants
- Taxis: round up in most of Europe; 10–15% in the US.
- Hotels: a small note for housekeeping and porters is a kind gesture almost everywhere (except no-tipping countries).
- Cafés & bars: a tip jar means "optional." Rounding up is plenty.
A rule of thumb that travels well
When unsure: in the Americas, tip generously (15–20%). In Europe, round up or add 5–10% for good service. In East Asia, don't tip unless there's a clear service charge system. And always check your bill first — many countries add a service charge automatically, in which case an extra tip is a bonus, not a duty.
Split the bill fairly
Working out a tip and dividing a bill between friends in your head is where the maths gets awkward. Our free tip calculator does it instantly — enter the total, choose a percentage, and split it across any number of people.