Quick Reference
Tipping by Country
One number per country. No essays — just what to actually do.
The short version
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Country
Typical tip
Context
United States
15-20%
Expected
Standard everywhere — restaurants, taxis, bars. Servers rely on tips as base income.
Canada
15-18%
Expected
Same culture as the US, expected at restaurants and for services.
Mexico
10-15%
Expected
Expected in tourist areas and restaurants; less so at small local spots.
United Kingdom
0-10%
Small top-up only
Often included as a service charge — check the bill first. Round up for casual service.
France
0-5%
Small top-up only
Service is legally included in the bill (service compris). A few euros extra for great service is a nice gesture, not required.
Germany
5-10%
Small top-up only
Round up the bill or add ~10%. Hand it directly to the server rather than leaving cash on the table.
Italy
0-10%
Small top-up only
Often a small ‘coperto’ (cover charge) already applies. Rounding up is appreciated, not expected.
Spain
0-5%
Small top-up only
Rarely expected. Rounding up or leaving small change is plenty.
Portugal
5-10%
Small top-up only
Not obligatory. Small rounding up at restaurants is common and appreciated.
Greece
5-10%
Small top-up only
Rounding up or a small extra amount at restaurants is customary, not mandatory.
Netherlands
0-10%
Small top-up only
Service is usually included. Rounding up is a nice but optional gesture.
Turkey
5-10%
Small top-up only
Common at restaurants, especially in tourist areas. Not usually expected for taxis.
Georgia
5-10%
Small top-up only
Increasingly common in Tbilisi restaurants aimed at tourists. Not expected elsewhere.
Albania
5-10%
Small top-up only
Appreciated in tourist restaurants, not a strict local custom.
Morocco
10%
Expected
Common at restaurants and for guides/drivers. Small change for informal services.
Egypt
10%
Expected
Widely expected, including for many small services (baksheesh culture) — carry small bills.
Japan
0%
Not expected
Tipping can be confusing or even mildly offensive — excellent service is the norm, not something you pay extra for.
South Korea
0%
Not expected
Not customary and can cause confusion. Service charges, if any, are built into the price.
Thailand
0-10%
Small top-up only
Not obligatory but rounding up or a small tip for good service is appreciated, especially in tourist areas.
Vietnam
0-10%
Small top-up only
Not traditional but increasingly common in tourist-facing restaurants and for tour guides.
Singapore
0%
Not expected
A 10% service charge is usually already included by law/custom — no need to add more.
Malaysia
0-5%
Not expected
Not customary; service charge is often already included in the bill.
Indonesia (Bali)
5-10%
Small top-up only
Appreciated in tourist restaurants and for drivers/guides, not mandatory.
India
5-10%
Expected
Common in restaurants (check for a service charge already added) and for hotel staff, drivers, guides.
Peru
5-10%
Small top-up only
Not obligatory; rounding up in restaurants is common in tourist areas.
South Africa
10-15%
Expected
Widely expected at restaurants, common for guides and hotel staff too.
United Arab Emirates
0-10%
Small top-up only
Often a service charge is already included. Rounding up is a nice extra, not required.
Croatia
5-10%
Small top-up only
Rounding up is common in restaurants; not obligatory.
Czechia
5-10%
Small top-up only
Round up the bill or add roughly 10% for good service.
Hungary
5-10%
Small top-up only
Similar to Czechia — rounding up or ~10% is standard for good service.
Iceland
0%
Not expected
Service is always included by law. Tipping is not expected and can even seem odd.
The pattern
Why This Varies So Much
💰
US/Canada/Mexico: tips are base income
Service workers are often paid below standard minimum wage on the assumption tips make up the difference. Skipping the tip there isn’t optional politeness — it’s underpaying someone.
🏟
Most of Europe: service is already priced in
Menu prices and legally-required service charges already cover staff wages. Extra tipping is a bonus for excellent service, not a requirement to make rent.
🛑
Japan/Korea/Singapore: tipping can be a faux pas
In some cultures, offering extra money implies the staff need charity, which can be read as mildly insulting. Excellent service is simply the standard, not something purchased separately.