Calculate tips instantly — split bills, round up, and more
| Country | Standard Tip | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States | 15-20% | Expected. Servers rely on tips as part of their income. |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | 15-20% | Similar to the US. Standard practice at restaurants. |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 10-15% | Optional but appreciated. Check if service charge is included. |
| 🇫🇷 France | 5-10% (optional) | Service charge is included. Small tips for good service. |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 5-10% | Round up to the nearest euro or add 5-10%. |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | 5-10% (optional) | Coperto (cover charge) is common. Small tip appreciated. |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | 5-10% (optional) | Not expected but appreciated. Round up or leave small change. |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | 5-10% | Round up or leave 5-10%. Not mandatory. |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 5-10% | Service charge is included. Small additional tip appreciated. |
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | 5-10% | Service included by law. Small extra tip for great service. |
| 🇦🇹 Austria | 5-10% | Round up or add 5-10%. Say the amount when paying. |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | Included | Service charge is included. Rounding up is appreciated. |
| 🇸🇪 Sweden | 5-10% (optional) | Service charge often included. Small extra tip appreciated. |
| 🇳🇴 Norway | Optional | Service included. Rounding up is common. |
| 🇩🇰 Denmark | Optional | Service included. Not expected but appreciated. |
| 🇬🇷 Greece | 5-10% | Leave on table. Small tips common for good service. |
| 🇹🇷 Turkey | 10-15% | Tip if service charge not included. Expected at restaurants. |
| 🇮🇱 Israel | 10-15% | Standard at restaurants. Sometimes included automatically. |
| 🇦🇪 UAE | 10-15% | Service charge often added. Additional tip appreciated. |
| 🇮🇳 India | 10% | Tip at upscale restaurants. Small tips for other services. |
| 🇹🇭 Thailand | 10% (optional) | Not expected but appreciated. Leave change at casual spots. |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | No tipping | Tipping is not customary and can be considered rude. |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | No tipping | Not expected. Service charge may be added at hotels. |
| 🇨🇳 China | No tipping | Not customary. May be refused. High-end hotels may accept. |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | Optional (10%) | Not expected but 10% for excellent service is appreciated. |
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | Optional | Not expected. Rounding up for great service is fine. |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | 10% (included) | 10% service charge is standard. Usually on the bill. |
| 🇲🇽 Mexico | 10-15% | Expected at restaurants. US-style tipping is common. |
| 🇦🇷 Argentina | 10% | 10% is standard at restaurants. Cash preferred. |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | 10-15% | Standard at restaurants. Tip is a significant income source. |
| 🇪🇬 Egypt | 10-15% | Baksheesh is customary. Tip for most services. |
Tipping customs in the United States have evolved significantly, with the average tip at restaurants rising from 15% to 20% over the past decade. The practice now extends well beyond dining to include rideshare drivers, delivery services, coffee shops, hair salons, hotels, and even self-service checkout counters with digital tip prompts. Understanding current tipping etiquette helps you navigate social expectations while managing your budget effectively.
Tipping represents a meaningful expense for regular diners. A household that eats out three times per week with an average bill of \$60 and tips 20% spends \$1,872 annually on tips alone. For those who frequently use delivery services, rideshares, and personal care services, the total annual tipping budget can easily exceed \$3,000. Our calculator above helps you determine the appropriate tip quickly and split the bill evenly among groups.
Restaurants (sit-down): 18-20% of the pre-tax bill is the current standard for good service. Tip 15% for adequate service and 22-25% for exceptional service. For large parties (6+), many restaurants add an automatic gratuity of 18-20%. Always check your bill before adding an additional tip. Base your tip on the pre-tax subtotal, not the total after sales tax.
Delivery services: Tip \$3-\$5 for standard food delivery orders, or 15-20% for larger orders. During bad weather, holidays, or for deliveries requiring stairs or long distances, consider tipping more generously. Delivery drivers often earn below minimum wage and rely heavily on tips to make deliveries financially viable.
Rideshare (Uber/Lyft): 15-20% of the fare is appropriate for good service. A minimum of \$2-\$3 for short rides helps drivers who may have waited or driven to your pickup location without compensation. Tip more for help with luggage, long wait times, or particularly skilled driving in difficult conditions.
Hair salons and barbers: 20% of the service cost is standard. If the owner of the salon services you, tipping is appreciated but traditionally considered optional. For complex services involving multiple hours (color, highlights, extensions), 20-25% reflects the time and skill involved.
Hotels: Housekeeping should receive \$2-\$5 per night left daily (not at the end of your stay, since different staff may clean each day). Bellhops receive \$1-\$2 per bag. Concierge receives \$5-\$20 depending on the complexity of arrangements made. Valet parking attendants receive \$2-\$5 each time your car is retrieved.
Digital payment systems have expanded tip requests to businesses where tipping was not previously expected: bakeries, fast-casual restaurants, retail shops, and self-checkout kiosks. This phenomenon, known as "tip creep" or "tipflation," has generated significant consumer pushback. At counter-service establishments where you order at a register and pick up your own food, tipping is genuinely optional, and \$1-\$2 or 10% is sufficient if you choose to tip. Do not feel pressured by the default tip suggestions on digital payment terminals, which often start at 20-25%.
Tip on the pre-tax subtotal. Sales tax rates vary by location (0% in some states, up to 10% in others), and the tax portion does not reflect the service you received. On a \$100 bill with 8% tax, tipping 20% on the pre-tax amount gives \$20. Tipping on the post-tax total gives \$21.60. While the difference is small on individual bills, it adds up over hundreds of dining occasions per year.
In the U.S., 18-20% is the current social expectation for sit-down restaurants with table service. Tipping 15% signals dissatisfaction with the service but is not considered offensive. Tipping below 15% or not tipping at all should be reserved for genuinely poor service, and even then, consider speaking with a manager rather than reducing the tip, as service issues may not be the server's fault (kitchen delays, understaffing). Servers in most states earn a base wage of \$2.13-\$5 per hour and depend on tips for their livelihood.
The simplest approach is dividing the total (including tip) equally among all diners. If some people ordered significantly more expensive items or alcohol while others did not, ask the server for separate checks at the beginning of the meal. Many restaurants accommodate this request. Apps like Splitwise and Venmo make it easy to settle up afterward with itemized splitting.
Tipping on takeout is appreciated but not expected at the same level as dine-in service. A tip of 10% or \$2-\$3 is a courteous gesture that acknowledges the staff who prepared and packaged your order. During the pandemic, tipping on takeout became more common and many people continue the practice. For large or complex orders that require significant preparation and packaging, 15% is appropriate.
During rain, snow, extreme heat, or holiday periods, increasing your tip to 25-30% or adding an extra \$5-\$10 is a widely appreciated practice. Delivery drivers take on additional risk and discomfort in adverse conditions, and higher tips during these times help compensate for the added difficulty. If conditions are genuinely dangerous, consider picking up the food yourself rather than asking someone else to drive in it.