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Tipping Rules in Every Country

Do you tip? How much? When? The rules vary wildly by country.

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🇯🇵

Japan

Asia

Do not tip in Japan. Tipping is considered rude and may cause embarrassment.

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🇦🇪

UAE

Middle East

Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory. 10–15% at restaurants is standard. Round up for taxis.

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🇹🇭

Thailand

Asia

Tipping is appreciated and expected in tourist areas. 20–50 THB at restaurants, 20–100 THB for massage, round up taxi fares.

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🇩🇪

Germany

Europe

Tip 5–10% at restaurants by rounding up the bill. Always pay directly to the server, not by leaving cash on the table.

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🇬🇧

UK

Europe

Tip 10–15% at sit-down restaurants if service was good. Check for a service charge already on the bill. No tipping expected at pubs when ordering at the bar.

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🇫🇷

France

Europe

Tipping is not obligatory in France. A service charge is included in all restaurant bills by law. Round up or leave 5–10% for genuinely good service.

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🇦🇺

Australia

Oceania

Tipping is not expected in Australia. Workers earn a living wage. Round up or tip 10% for exceptional service — it's a genuine gesture, not an obligation.

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🇸🇬

Singapore

Asia

Do not tip in Singapore. A 10% service charge is automatically added to all restaurant bills. Tipping is not part of the culture.

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🇮🇹

Italy

Europe

Tipping is not obligatory in Italy. Round up or leave €1–2 for good service. The 'coperto' cover charge is separate from a tip.

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🇹🇷

Turkey

Europe/Asia

Tipping is expected in Turkey. 10–15% at restaurants, 10–20 TRY for taxis. Always tip in cash directly to the person.

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🇲🇽

Mexico

Americas

Tip 10–15% at restaurants; also tip taxi drivers, hotel staff, and petrol station attendants.

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🇪🇸

Spain

Europe

Tipping is not obligatory in Spain as service is included by law, but rounding up or leaving 5–10% for good service is a welcome gesture.

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🇧🇷

Brazil

Americas

A 10% service charge (gorjeta) is usually already included on restaurant bills and is optional to pay, but small extras are appreciated.

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🇮🇳

India

Asia

Tipping is expected but modest — around 10% at restaurants and 50–100 INR for guides and drivers, but not required at street food stalls.

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🇨🇳

China

Asia

Tipping is not customary in China and may confuse or even embarrass staff.

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🇰🇷

South Korea

Asia

Tipping is not customary in South Korea and can actually confuse or embarrass staff.

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🇻🇳

Vietnam

Asia

Tipping is not traditionally expected in Vietnam but is appreciated in tourist areas.

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🇬🇷

Greece

Europe

Tipping is appreciated but not obligatory — 5–10% for good service is the norm.

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🇵🇹

Portugal

Europe

Tipping is not obligatory in Portugal, but 5-10% is appreciated for good restaurant service.

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🇳🇱

Netherlands

Europe

Tipping is not obligatory in the Netherlands, but rounding up or leaving 5-10% is appreciated for good service.

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🇨🇦

Canada

Americas

Tipping 15–20% is expected at restaurants in Canada, as it is a core part of service-industry compensation.

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🇮🇩

Indonesia

Asia

Tipping is not obligatory but appreciated — 10% at tourist restaurants, 20,000–50,000 IDR for guides and drivers, though service charge is often already included.

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🇲🇾

Malaysia

Asia

Tipping is not customary in Malaysia — most restaurants add a 10% service charge plus 6% SST automatically, so no extra tip is expected.

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🇪🇬

Egypt

Middle East

Tipping (baksheesh) is deeply embedded in Egyptian culture and expected for almost every small service.

Warning

⛔Some 'guides' at sites will perform a service without asking and then demand an unexpectedly large tip — agree on the amount beforehand.

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🇲🇦

Morocco

Middle East

Tipping is expected and culturally embedded in Morocco — budget 10% at restaurants and 10-20 MAD for guides and hotel staff.

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🇸🇦

Saudi Arabia

Middle East

Tipping is welcomed but not mandatory — 10–15% at restaurants is appreciated, and 10–20 SAR for hotel staff is standard.

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🇶🇦

Qatar

Middle East

Tipping 10–15% is appreciated at restaurants, though many include a service charge; hotel staff expect 10–20 QAR, and Uber or Karwa taxi drivers don't require a tip.

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🇿🇦

South Africa

Africa & Oceania

Tip 10–15% at restaurants; tipping is economically vital in South Africa where service wages are very low.

Warning

⛔Skipping a tip for car guards or petrol attendants can occasionally cause ill feeling — these workers depend heavily on tips as a primary income source.

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🇳🇿

New Zealand

Africa & Oceania

Tipping is not customary or expected in New Zealand — workers earn a fair wage and no social pressure exists to tip.

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🇵🇭

Philippines

Asia

Tipping around 10% is expected at sit-down restaurants; check your bill first as a service charge is often already included.

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🇦🇷

Argentina

Americas

A 10% tip at restaurants is standard; tip in pesos and it is not included in the bill.

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🇨🇴

Colombia

Americas

A 10% propina is added at restaurants and is voluntary by law, but expected in practice; tip guides and drivers 10–20%.

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🇨🇷

Costa Rica

Americas

A 10% service charge (ley de propina) is legally included in all restaurant bills, so no additional tip is required.

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🇵🇪

Peru

Americas

Tip around 10% at tourist restaurants and tip guides generously (50–100 PEN per day), but always check whether service is already included on your bill.

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🇨🇭

Switzerland

Europe

Service is included by law in all Swiss bills, so tipping is never expected — rounding up or leaving 5–10% for exceptional service is appreciated but purely optional.

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🇦🇹

Austria

Europe

Round up or add 5-10% and state the total amount directly to the server when paying cash.

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🇨🇿

Czech Republic

Europe

Tipping is appreciated but not obligatory — rounding up or leaving 10% is the norm.

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🇵🇱

Poland

Europe

Tip 10–15% at restaurants by telling the server the total you want to pay including the tip — do not leave cash on the table.

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🇸🇪

Sweden

Europe

Tipping is not obligatory in Sweden — service is included in prices and there is no social pressure whatsoever, though rounding up or leaving 10% for genuinely good service is appreciated.

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🇳🇴

Norway

Europe

Tipping is not obligatory in Norway — service is included in prices and there is no social pressure, though rounding up or leaving 10% for genuinely good service is appreciated.

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🇭🇷

Croatia

Europe

Tipping 10–15% at restaurants is appreciated but not obligatory, and cash tips are strongly preferred over card.

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🇭🇺

Hungary

Europe

Tipping 10-15% is expected in restaurants — you tell the server the total you want to pay, including the tip, when settling the bill.

Warning

⛔Do not leave the tip on the table after paying — the server will likely think you forgot it and attempt to return it, which can be awkward.

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🇯🇴

Jordan

Middle East

Tipping is expected in Jordan — 10% at restaurants, 1–2 JOD for hotel staff, and 5–10 JOD per day for guides.

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🇱🇰

Sri Lanka

Asia

Tip 10% at tourist restaurants, 500–1,000 LKR per day for guides and drivers, and round up for tuk-tuk rides.

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🇳🇵

Nepal

Asia

Tipping is not mandatory but deeply appreciated given the low wages in the service industry, especially for trekking guides and porters.

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🇭🇰

Hong Kong

Asia

Tipping is optional in Hong Kong as most restaurants add a 10% service charge automatically.

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🇲🇻

Maldives

Africa & Oceania

Most resorts automatically add a 10% service charge, but small additional tips in USD are appreciated by housekeeping and boat staff.

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🇰🇪

Kenya

Africa & Oceania

Tip 10% at restaurants, USD 10–20 per day per safari guide, and USD 5–10 per day for lodge and camp staff.

Warning

⛔Underpaying safari guides is widely noticed and considered disrespectful in Kenya's tight-knit guiding community — USD 10–20 per guide per day is the genuine industry minimum, not a suggestion.

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🇹🇿

Tanzania

Africa & Oceania

Tipping is essential in Tanzania — USD 10–20 per day for safari guides is the norm, as tips form the bulk of their income.

Warning

⛔Undertipping safari guides or Kilimanjaro crews is widely considered disrespectful and can affect the quality of your experience — do not skip it.

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🇺🇸

United States

Americas

Tipping is mandatory in practice — 18-22% at sit-down restaurants is the current norm, as servers can legally be paid as little as $2.13/hr in base wages.

Warning

⛔Failing to tip at a sit-down restaurant is a serious social transgression in the US — servers rely on tips as their primary income, not as a bonus.

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