International Tipping Guide

Check practical tipping expectations for common travel situations such as restaurants, taxis, hotels, tours, and local services.

How to use the tipping guide

Select your destination to see what is customary there for restaurants, taxis, hotels, tours, and everyday services, along with whether service is normally included in the bill.

Tipping is a social custom rather than a fixed rule, and it changes over time and between city and countryside. Treat the figures as the normal range rather than an obligation, and take your cue from what people around you do.

What is customary by situation

SituationWhat is usually expected
Restaurant, service not includedA percentage of the bill, varying widely by country
Restaurant, service includedNothing required; rounding up is common
Café or barSmall change, or nothing
TaxiRound up to a convenient amount
Rideshare appIn-app tip where offered, otherwise nothing
Hotel housekeepingA small amount per night, left in the room
Hotel porterA small amount per bag
Tour guideA set amount per person for a day tour
Spa, salon, barberA percentage where tipping is customary locally

How customs differ between regions

  • United States and Canada — tipping is expected across most services, service is rarely included, and percentages are the highest of any region.
  • Europe — service is frequently included and percentages are lower where they apply. Rounding up is often the entire custom, and cash is more reliable than the card terminal.
  • Japan and South Korea — tipping is generally not practiced and can cause confusion. Good service is the standard, not something tipped for.
  • Much of Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East — practice varies sharply between countries and between tourist-facing and local venues, so check the specific destination.
  • Australia and New Zealand — tipping is optional and uncommon, with rounding up for good service.

Practical points that avoid awkwardness

  • Read the bill before adding anything. A service charge is often already on it.
  • Carry small notes and coins. Where tipping is customary, exact change makes it straightforward.
  • Cash reaches staff more reliably than a card tip in many countries.
  • A tip is not a way to fix poor service, and over-tipping is not a courtesy everywhere.
  • When in doubt, rounding up is almost never wrong and almost never offensive.

Frequently asked questions

How much should I tip when traveling abroad?

It depends entirely on the country. Some expect 15–20% at restaurants, others include service in the bill, and a few consider tipping unusual. Check the destination before you go so you neither under-tip nor overpay.

Is tipping expected in restaurants outside the US?

Often less than in the US, and in many countries a service charge is already included. Rounding up or leaving a small amount is common in some places and unnecessary in others — customs vary widely by region.

Should I tip taxi drivers while traveling?

In many countries rounding up to the nearest convenient amount is enough, while in others no tip is expected at all. A quick check of local norms avoids awkward situations.

Do tipping customs vary by country?

Significantly. The same gesture can be generous in one country and out of place in another, so it helps to review expectations for restaurants, taxis, hotels, and tours at your specific destination.