Tip or Skip?
Avoid the awkwardness. Know the rules before you pay.
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What this tool does
Pick a country and Tip or Skip? shows whether tipping is expected there, and the usual amount for restaurants, taxis, hotel staff and bars, plus a local tip. It covers 14 countries.
How to read the result
- YES: tipping is expected, and staff count on it as part of their pay.
- SMALL TIP: round up or add about 5-10%.
- OPTIONAL: a small tip for good service is welcome, but nobody expects it.
- INCLUDED: service is already in the price.
- NO: tipping isn't part of the culture, and staff may politely refuse.
Why customs differ
- United States: federal law lets employers pay tipped workers $2.13 an hour and count tips toward the rest of the $7.25 minimum wage (many states require more). Tips are a large part of a server's pay. Tip on the amount before tax.
- France: by law, menu prices already include service ("prix service compris"), and the menu shows the rate, usually 15%. Leaving a euro or two is a kind extra, not an obligation.
- United Kingdom: many restaurants add a discretionary service charge, often 12.5%. Since 1 October 2024, the law requires all tips and service charges to go to staff. Because it's discretionary, you can ask to have it removed if the service was poor.
- Japan and South Korea: good service is simply part of the job. Japan's national tourism organization says tipping isn't common in restaurants, bars, taxis or hotels.
- Australia and New Zealand: minimum wages are high and tipping isn't expected. In Australia, many cafés and restaurants add a surcharge on Sundays and public holidays, which must be shown upfront.
Tips for tipping abroad
- Check the bill first for a "service charge", "servizio" or "propina incluida". If it's there, you don't need to add more.
- In Germany and nearby countries, don't leave coins on the table: tell the server the total you want to pay, tip included.
- Carry some small local cash. Card machines don't always offer a tip option, and in Mexico cash in pesos is preferred.
- Outside North America, rounding up is rarely wrong.
Frequently asked questions
Should I tip on the total with tax?
In the US and Canada, the usual etiquette is to tip on the amount before tax.
Is it rude to tip in Japan?
It usually causes confusion more than offense; staff may try to give the money back. A sincere thank-you is the norm.
What about tour guides?
Guides and drivers are the most common exception. Even in Japan, a private guide used to overseas visitors may accept a tip, given discreetly.
Sources: Emily Post Institute, General Tipping Guide; U.S. Department of Labor, Fact Sheet #15: Tipped Employees; Japan National Tourism Organization, Tipping in Japan; Rick Steves, Tipping in Europe; French order of 27 March 1987 on restaurant price display; UK Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023; Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (surcharges); Tourism New Zealand; Lonely Planet and Afar country guides. Last reviewed on SuiteWebTools: October 2026.