Tipping Around the World: What's Expected in 20+ Countries

Disclaimer: Tipping customs vary; the amounts in this article reflect commonly cited norms for each country, not legal requirements. Customs change over time and can differ within regions of the same country.

If you tip as generously abroad as you do in the United States, you may insult your waiter. If you follow Japanese etiquette in Mexico City, you’ll leave your server short. Tipping customs are deeply cultural — what is polite in one country is rude or confusing in another.

This guide covers 20+ countries with clear guidance on whether to tip, how much, and any local nuances to know. When you return home, use our tip calculator for US restaurant tipping.

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The Four Tipping Categories

Most countries fall into one of four buckets:

1. Expected (US-style): Tipping 15–20% is the social norm; not tipping is considered rude
2. Appreciated but modest: 5–10% or rounding up is appreciated; not expected at US levels
3. Not customary: Service staff are paid living wages and a tip may create awkwardness
4. Can be considered rude: In some cultures, tipping implies the person’s wages are insufficient or their hospitality was transactional

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Country-by-Country Guide

North America

Country	Restaurant	Taxi	Hotel Housekeeping	Notes
United States	18–20%	15–20%	$2–5/night	Expected; tipped workers earn sub-minimum base wages
Canada	15–20%	15%	$2–3/night	Very similar to the US; service charge sometimes added
Mexico	10–15%	Round up or 10%	20–50 pesos/night	Expected at tourist-facing restaurants; always appreciated; pay in local currency when possible

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Western Europe

Country	Restaurant	Notes
United Kingdom	10–15% if service charge not added	Check the bill — many UK restaurants add a 12.5% service charge automatically. If it’s already there, you don’t need to add more. Cash tips go directly to the server more reliably.
France	Round up or leave small change (5–10%)	Service compris is legally included in restaurant prices; a small extra tip is a sign of appreciation, not an obligation
Germany	Round up or 5–10%	Tip the server directly in cash; don’t leave it on the table. “Stimmt so” means “keep the change.”
Italy	Small change; 5–10% at sit-down restaurants	Coperto (cover charge) is standard and separate from a tip. Leaving a few coins to a euro or two per person is appreciated but not obligatory.
Spain	Round up; 5–10% appreciated	Tipping is less ingrained than in Northern Europe; a few coins to 5% is typical
Netherlands	Round up; 5–10%	Not as ingrained as the UK; rounding up is appreciated
Switzerland	Service charge usually included; leave 5% if exceptional	Swiss service staff earn high wages; tips are genuinely optional

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Northern Europe

Country	Restaurant	Notes
Sweden	Not customary; rounding up is fine	High base wages; tipping is becoming slightly more common in cities due to US influence, but not expected
Norway	Not expected; 5–10% for excellent service	Same as Sweden — strong base wages, low tip culture
Denmark	Not expected	Service is considered covered in the price
Finland	Not expected	Tips are very unusual; not leaving one is not rude

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Eastern Europe

Country	Restaurant	Notes
Poland	10%	Tipping is common and appreciated in restaurants; less so at cafés
Czech Republic	10%	Round up or leave 10% at sit-down restaurants; Prague’s tourist areas have adopted more US-like expectations
Hungary	10–15%	Tips are expected in restaurant service; hand the tip directly to the server

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Asia

Country	Restaurant	Notes
Japan	Not customary — can be offensive	This is the most important rule in Japanese travel. Tipping implies the server’s wage is not enough for dignified work. Staff may run after you to return your tip. No tipping at restaurants, taxis, or hotels in most contexts. Ryokan (traditional inns) have a separate, formalized gift-giving custom (oshibori).
South Korea	Not customary	Similar to Japan — tips are not expected and can be awkward in traditional settings; some Westernized restaurants in Seoul may be more receptive
China	Not expected in traditional settings	Tourist-facing restaurants in major cities have become more accustomed to tips; traditional settings, no
Thailand	20–50 baht at restaurants (approx. $0.60–$1.50); 10% at nicer tourist venues	Service is often included. Keep small coins/bills for tipping.
India	10% at restaurants; 20–50 rupees for other services	Service charge is sometimes added at nicer establishments; tipping is appreciated and expected at tourist-facing restaurants
Indonesia / Bali	10% if service not included	Check the bill; many restaurants add a service charge. If not, a 10% tip is appreciated.

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Middle East

Country	Restaurant	Notes
UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi)	10–15% if not included	Bills in tourist areas often include a service charge; if not, tipping is appreciated
Egypt	10–15%; always carry small bills (baksheesh)	Tipping (baksheesh) is a deeply ingrained part of service culture; carry small denomination bills constantly
Israel	10–15%	Service charge is not always included; tipping is expected at restaurants

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Australia and New Zealand

Country	Restaurant	Notes
Australia	Not required; 10% appreciated for good service	Australian servers earn a living wage (~AUD $25+/hour); tipping is not built into the system. A small tip is a genuine gesture of appreciation, not an obligation.
New Zealand	Similar to Australia	Appreciated but not expected; rounding up or $5–10 on a larger bill is fine

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Latin America

Country	Restaurant	Notes
Brazil	10% (often added as service charge)	Check if “taxa de serviço” appears on the bill; if not, 10% is standard
Argentina	10%	Tip in cash when possible; economic volatility makes cash tips in local currency preferred
Colombia	10% (optional “propina voluntaria”)	By law, Colombian restaurants must ask if you want to add the 10% service charge; it is optional but normal to accept

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Key Takeaways

1. Japan and South Korea: Do not tip. It is considered impolite.
2. Northern Europe (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland): Tips are not expected; rounding up is fine.
3. Western Europe (UK, France, Germany, Italy): Modest tips or rounding up is appreciated; check whether a service charge is already on the bill.
4. US, Canada, Mexico: Tips are expected and meaningful to service workers.
5. Always carry local currency in small denominations — even in countries where tipping is modest, card-based tipping is not always possible.

Before traveling, check a current travel guide for your specific destination — customs evolve, and regional variation within a country can be significant.

Use our tip calculator for US restaurant tips whenever you’re back home.