Tipping around the world — a country-by-country guide
What's expected, what's optional, and what's actually rude. A practical guide for travellers and anyone tired of guessing at the bill.
Tipping etiquette is the cross-cultural minefield travellers consistently get wrong. Tip too little in the US and you genuinely shortchange someone earning a sub-minimum wage. Tip in Japan and you may insult the staff. Most of Europe sits somewhere in between with rules that change depending on whether service is already included. Here's what each major market actually expects in 2026.
United States: 18–22% is the new baseline
Servers in most US states are paid a sub-minimum tipped wage (federally $2.13 per hour) and depend on tips for actual income. The customary tip percentage has crept upward over the last decade: 15% used to be standard, then 18% became normal, and post-2020 many establishments suggest 20–22% as the default.
Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill. Bartender: $1–2 per drink, or 15–20% of the tab. Taxi / rideshare: 15–20%. Hairdresser: 15–20%. Hotel housekeeping: $2–5 per night, left daily. Bellhop: $1–2 per bag. Counter service (coffee shop, fast casual): tipping is increasingly expected via tablet prompts but 10% or skipping is acceptable.
Large parties (6+) often have a 18–20% automatic gratuity added to the bill. Check before tipping again on top.
Canada: similar to US, slightly lower
Servers in Canada earn closer to minimum wage than US servers, but tipping is still a major component of income. Restaurants: 15–20% of pre-tax. Same general structure as US for other services, slightly lower percentages (15% in most cases vs 18%+ in the US).
Quebec: 15% is standard; the bill often shows suggested tip amounts based on pre-tax.
United Kingdom and Ireland
Service charge of 10–12.5% is often added to the bill at sit-down restaurants in cities (especially London). When it's included, no additional tip is expected. When it isn't, 10–12% is standard for good service.
Pubs: don't tip for drinks at the bar. If you have table service in a gastropub-style setting, 10% is appreciated. Taxis: round up to the nearest pound or add 10%. Hairdressers: 10%. Hotel staff: £1–2 per bag or service.
France
Service is always included in restaurant bills in France (loi du 19 juillet 1985). The line « service compris » means the staff has already been paid via the bill. A small additional tip (5–10%, or rounding up the bill) is appreciated for good service but not expected.
Café: leave coins or a euro for a sit-down drink. Taxi: round up to the next euro. Hotel: €1–2 to a porter; €1 per day to housekeeping if you stay multiple nights. Hairdresser: €1–5. Tour guide: €5–10 for half a day.
Germany
Tipping ("Trinkgeld") is a longstanding tradition but kept modest. Restaurants: 5–10%, typically by rounding up the bill to a convenient number. Say the rounded total to the server when paying — don't leave coins on the table after they've taken payment. Card payments: tell the server the total amount including tip before they tap the terminal.
Café and bar: round up. Taxi: round up to the nearest euro or 5–10%. Hairdresser: €1–5. Hotel: €1–2 per service. Tour guides: €2–5 per person.
Spain, Italy, Portugal
Service is generally included; tipping is optional and modest. Restaurant: 5–10% for good service, or leaving the small change. Bar / café: leave the coins. Taxi: round up. Hairdresser: optional, €1–5.
Italy specifically often shows a "coperto" (cover charge) line of €1–3 per person — this is NOT a tip but a cover for bread and table service. Tip on top of it if service was good.
Japan, South Korea, and most of mainland China
Don't tip. In Japan especially, tipping is culturally awkward and can confuse or offend staff. Service is considered part of the price, and providing excellent service is a matter of professional pride — adding money implies the staff member needs charity, which is insulting.
Exceptions: some high-end ryokan and Western-style luxury hotels in Japan accept gratuities. Tour guides who lead foreigners often appreciate a small tip in a sealed envelope at the end of the tour.
South Korea and mainland China follow similar norms — tipping is rare to nonexistent in restaurants, taxis, and hotels. In international 5-star hotels, modest tipping is sometimes accepted.
Australia, New Zealand
No expectation of tipping. Service wages are at full minimum wage or above. Rounding up the bill or leaving 10% for exceptional service is appreciated but never expected.
Tourist destinations and fine dining have seen rising tip expectations, partly driven by US visitors. Locals still don't tip routinely.
Practical rules of thumb when in doubt
If the menu or bill says "service included" / "service compris" / "servizio incluso" / "Bedienung inklusive", you don't need to tip more. A small rounding-up is a nice gesture but not required.
If the bill is silent on service, default to 10% in Europe, 15% in the UK, 18% in North America, 0% in Japan and Korea.
Pay attention to local norms even if your home country tips more. Over-tipping isn't generous in Japan — it's awkward. Under-tipping isn't frugal in the US — it's stiffing someone's wages.
Cash is preferred where possible. Card tips often go through tax and payroll systems with delays; cash goes directly to the worker.
If your party is 6+ and you're outside the US, ask whether service is added automatically. It's standard in many European venues for groups of 6 or more.
Use a tip calculator (like ours) to split a bill fairly without doing arithmetic on a napkin — especially useful for mixed parties where one person ordered the expensive wine.