Tipping Around the World 2026: Where, When, and How Much

Few topics are as awkward in everyday travel as tipping. Tip 10 percent in New York and you'll get cold looks; tip 10 percent in Tokyo and you insult the server. In Paris tipping is optional, in Berlin expected, in Bangkok uncommon, and in Buenos Aires sometimes even forbidden because it's seen as tax avoidance. This article walks through the most important travel regions in 2026 and lays out concrete percentages and customs for each country — restaurants, taxis, bars, hotels and porters. At the end we cover practical rules of thumb and an honest explanation of why these differences exist at all.

Why the differences are so large

The biggest driver is wage structure. In the US, service staff in many states fall under a tipped minimum wage of 2.13 US dollars per hour (federal FLSA tipped wage, unchanged since 1991). Their real income is built up from guest tips. In Germany, Scandinavia or Japan, by contrast, all employees fall under a unified minimum wage or a collective wage agreement — the tip is a bonus, not part of base pay.

The second driver is cultural. In Japan the idea is that good work is the baseline and needs no extra reward; a tip can even feel like an implicit insult because it suggests the worker would only do good work for extra money. In the US the opposite holds: the tip is the direct appreciation of the service. Southern Europe sits in between — a tip is appreciated but rarely expected because a service surcharge (coperto, service compris) is already on the bill.

United States and Canada

The United States is probably the most tipping-intensive country in the world. Anyone leaving less than 15 percent in a restaurant sends a clearly negative signal. Standard today is 18 to 22 percent pre-tax; card payment terminals frequently default to 18, 20 or 25 percent (tip inflation has been widely discussed since 2020). A mandatory service charge increasingly appears for groups of six or more — in that case no additional tip is needed.

• Restaurant: 18 to 22 percent standard, 15 percent absolute minimum, 25 percent or more signals explicit appreciation.
• Taxi, Uber and Lyft: about 15 percent or 2 to 5 dollars on top.
• Bar: 1 to 2 dollars per drink, or 18 to 20 percent on the total tab.
• Hotel housekeeping: 2 to 5 dollars per night, left as cash in the room.
• Porter / hotel bellman: 1 to 2 dollars per piece of luggage.

Canada mostly follows the US rates — 15 to 20 percent in restaurants, similar for taxis, bars and hotels. In Quebec the receipt often highlights the taxes separately; tips are calculated on the pre-tax amount.

United Kingdom and Ireland

In restaurants 10 to 15 percent is considered appropriate if no service charge is on the bill. Many London restaurants apply a discretionary service charge of 12.5 percent that can be removed if service was poor. Pubs traditionally are not tipped — you can offer the bartender to put a drink for themselves on your tab (and one for yourself).

Taxis and London black cabs are rounded up, so roughly 10 percent or to the next pound. Hotel tipping is much less common than in the US — porters are happy with 1 to 2 pounds per piece. Ireland follows similar rates to the UK; 10 to 15 percent in restaurants is normal, pubs are not tipped.

Germany, Austria and Switzerland

In the DACH region restaurant tipping is typically 5 to 10 percent, rarely more than 10. The usual way is to round up: on a bill of 27.40 euros you say make it 30 please. There is normally no service charge on the bill — staff wages are included in the price; the tip is the additional appreciation.

Taxis are also rounded up, hotel housekeeping is happy with 1 to 2 euros per night. Fast food, self-service cafes and bakeries are generally not tipped. Important: especially in Switzerland the tip is often handed directly to the server, not left on the bill tray. In Germany card tipping has become normal — the terminal asks for the tip amount before entering the PIN.

France, Italy, Spain and Portugal

In France the principle service compris has applied since 1987: a 15 percent service charge is legally included in the restaurant price. An additional tip (pourboire) is optional — 5 to 10 percent extra, or a few euros on the table, is considered generous. Italy has the similar coperto (cover charge, 2 to 4 euros per person) and sometimes an additional service line; an extra tip is therefore small (1 to 2 euros per person or just round up the total).

Spain and Portugal are generally very tip-light: 5 to 10 percent in higher-end restaurants is considered explicitly generous; in simple bars and tapas places little or nothing is tipped. Bartenders are not tipped in any of the three countries; leaving small change is enough. Taxi drivers are happy with 5 to 10 percent rounding; more is not expected.

Scandinavia and the Benelux countries

Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland are among Europe's least tipping-oriented countries. Service is well included in price and pay. Rounding up is normal; 5 to 10 percent for exceptional service is considered generous. The Netherlands and Belgium (fooi) follow a similar convention: 5 to 10 percent in restaurants when satisfied, rounding in cafes, no tip in pubs.

Japan, China and South Korea

Japan is the world's most prominent no-tipping country. A tip is not expected in restaurants, taxis or hotels, and is often returned or seen as impolite. Service is included in the price — in higher-end restaurants and hotels often as an explicit 10 percent service charge labelled otoshi or service. Adding another 10 percent on top causes confusion.

One exception: in traditional ryokans (Japanese inns) a kokorozuke can be appropriate — a small gift of money in a specially labelled envelope, handed to the personal attendant (nakai-san) at the start of the stay. This is not a tip in the Western sense but a ritual gesture; a bare bill pressed into the hand without an envelope would be impolite.

China traditionally has no tipping; nothing is expected in restaurants or taxis. International 5-star hotels often add a 10 to 15 percent service charge automatically. South Korea behaves similarly — no tip in restaurants or taxis, only Western-oriented hotels add an automatic service charge. In all three East Asian countries: no tip is the safe and respectful choice.

United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Israel

In Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, 10 to 15 percent in restaurants is standard if no service charge has been added automatically. Many hotels and restaurants display a municipality fee and a 10 percent service charge — the service charge often goes to the venue, not directly to staff, so a small additional cash tip is welcome. Taxis are rounded up. In Israel, 12 to 15 percent in restaurants is standard and often even suggested on the receipt; taxis usually are not tipped.

Brazil, Argentina and Mexico

In Brazil restaurants often add a 10 percent servico automatically — officially voluntary, but in practice almost always paid. More than 10 percent is unusual. Argentina uses 10 percent in restaurants; in many provinces tips must be left in cash because card terminals cannot process them. Mexico expects 10 to 15 percent in restaurants, more like 15 to 20 percent in tourist areas; taxis are rounded up, hotel housekeeping gets 20 to 50 pesos per night.

Australia and New Zealand

Australia and New Zealand have no strong tipping culture, thanks to their high minimum wage. Restaurants expect nothing — 10 percent for exceptional service is generous. Cafes, pubs and taxis are not tipped or only rounded up. American tourists are often handled with mild surprise because their automatic 20 percent tipping can be slightly embarrassing for local service staff.

Thailand, Vietnam and India

In Thailand tipping is not expected but increasingly common in tourist areas: 20 to 50 baht or roughly 5 to 10 percent in restaurants, taxis are rounded up, hotel housekeeping gets 20 to 50 baht per night. Vietnam is similar — not required but expected in tourist restaurants and on boat tours (about 5 to 10 percent). In India, tipping (baksheesh) is very widespread: 10 percent in restaurants if no service charge is already listed, smaller amounts for doormen, porters and hotel staff (20 to 100 rupees). In all three: keep small notes handy, not coins.

Practical rules of thumb for travellers

Three simple rules that work almost everywhere:

• Cash beats card. Even in countries that support card tipping, cash reaches the server in full; card tips often have a processing fee or are pooled across the team.
• If in doubt, ask politely. Is service already included? is not impolite in any country. Tipping twice because a hidden service charge was already on the bill is more expensive than a quick question.
• Rounding up is always acceptable. In no country is rounding up taken as an insult — even in Japan it is fine because it reads as a practical waiver of small change, not as a tip.

Frequently asked questions

Is the tip calculated on the pre-tax or post-tax amount?

In the US traditionally pre-tax (on the food price without sales tax), but in practice most people just compute 20 percent on the final amount — 1 to 2 percentage points more. In Europe the tip is calculated on the gross total because VAT and service are already in the displayed prices. In a restaurant context everything runs against the total; a tip calculator typically offers both modes.

What should I do if a service charge is already on the bill?

Check whether it reads service charge, servicio, coperto or discretionary. With a mandatory service charge no extra tip is usually needed — exception: the US, where for parties of six or more an automatic 18 percent large party gratuity appears. Discretionary means a suggestion that can be adjusted or removed if service disappointed. Tipping on top is nice but not required.

Should I tip hotel staff in cash or by card?

Cash is always the right choice. Housekeeping is rarely or only with a delay reached through the card terminal in most hotels worldwide; the cash tip on the pillow goes directly to the person cleaning the room. Smaller notes in the local currency are better than euros or dollars — currency exchange costs would otherwise come out of the staff's tip. Business travellers should plan 5 to 10 units of local-currency change per night.