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Where tipping is expected, optional, or considered impolite — covering restaurants, taxis, hotels, and spas in 50+ countries. Use the full country guides for scenario-specific advice and cultural context.
USA, Canada
Strong tipping culture. 15–20% in restaurants is standard, not optional. Taxi drivers, hotel porters, and bartenders all expect tips. Skipping a tip is considered rude and signals poor service.
Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Peru
Mixed. Mexico and Brazil have growing tipping cultures in restaurants (10–15%). Argentina is complicated by inflation. Smaller countries and informal meals typically don't expect tips.
UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal
Service charges are often included. Where they are, no additional tip is expected. Leaving small change or rounding up is appreciated but never obligatory. Spain and Scandinavia have the weakest tipping cultures.
Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania
Tipping at restaurants (10%) is expected and appreciated — more so than in Western Europe. Staff wages are generally lower. Round up taxi fares.
Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan
Japan is the clearest case: tipping is considered insulting — it implies the service was unexpected or that the worker needs charity. South Korea and China are similar. Hong Kong is more accepting due to Western influence.
Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines
Tipping is appreciated but not expected. Round up the fare, leave 20–50 local currency units at restaurants, and tip hotel staff who assist with luggage. Amounts are small in absolute terms but meaningful to workers.
India
Tipping is expected at restaurants (10%) and for hotel staff. For taxis, rounding up or leaving a small amount is appreciated. The hospitality sector relies partly on gratuity.
UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco
Mixed and culturally complex. Egypt has a strong baksheesh culture (small tips for many services). UAE upscale venues add service charges. Morocco: restaurants and taxis expect rounding up.
South Africa
South Africa has a strong tipping culture similar to North America: 10–15% at restaurants, tips for petrol station attendants, guides, and safari staff.
Australia, New Zealand
Minimum wage legislation means workers are not dependent on tips. Tipping is appreciated but genuinely optional. Rounding up or adding 10% for exceptional service is fine; not doing so is perfectly acceptable.
15–20% restaurant; 15–20% taxi; $1–5/bag porter
15–18% restaurant; 10–15% taxi
10–15% restaurant; round up taxi fare
10–15% restaurant; round up taxi
10% restaurant; round up taxi; say total when paying
10–15% restaurant; common to tip drivers
10% restaurant; round up taxi
10–15% restaurant; round up taxi
10% service charge common; additional 5–10% welcome
Baksheesh culture — small tips expected for many services
10–15% restaurant; 10% taxi; R5–10 petrol attendant
10% usually included; round up otherwise
Round up; inflation makes cash tips complex
10% optional in restaurants; not for taxis
10% in restaurants; round up taxi fares
10% in upscale restaurants; not for metered taxis
10–12.5% restaurant; round up taxi; service often included
Service compris included; leave coins if happy
Round up to nearest €; say "stimmt so" (keep the change)
€1–2 coperto included; small tip for exceptional service
5–10% if satisfied; round up taxi
5–10% for good service; round up taxi fare
Service usually included; round up if not
Round up or 5–10%; say amount when paying
Service included by law; small tip for good service
Round up at restaurants; not expected elsewhere
10% in restaurants appreciated; not for taxis
5–10% restaurant; round up taxi; €1–2 porter
10–15% restaurant; round up taxi
5–10% restaurants; not expected for taxis
10% in upscale restaurants; not for regular taxis
10% service usually added; small tip appreciated
20–50 THB restaurant; round up taxi; 20–50 THB porter
10% restaurant; round up taxi or Grab
5–10% restaurant; round up Grab/Gojek
5–10% service usually added; not for taxis
10% restaurant; 10 INR per bag porter; round up taxi
10% service often added; AED 5–10 tip for drivers
10% in upscale restaurants; not for taxis
10% restaurant; round up taxi; negotiate not to tip guides upfront
10–15% restaurant; round up taxi; MAD 5–10 porter
Minimum wage laws mean tipping less expected; 10% appreciated
Not expected; 10% for exceptional service
Tipping is not customary; small tip appreciated in tourist areas
Service included; tipping not expected
Service included in bill; tipping declining
Tipping not traditional; uncommon
Tipping not customary; may cause awkwardness
Not expected; tourist-facing staff may appreciate it
Not customary; high-end hotels may expect it
10% GST already added; no additional tipping expected
| Country | Taxi tip | Typical amount |
|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 USA | Expected | 15–20% |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | Expected | 10–15% |
| 🇬🇧 UK | Optional | Round up |
| 🇫🇷 France | Optional | Round up |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | Optional | Round up |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | Not expected | Not expected |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | Not expected | Not expected |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | Expected | 10% |
| 🇦🇪 UAE | Optional | AED 5–10 |
| 🇲🇽 Mexico | Optional | Round up |
| 🇹🇭 Thailand | Optional | 20–50 THB |
| 🇻🇳 Vietnam | Optional | Round up |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | Can be rude | Do not tip |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | Not expected | Not expected |
| 🇨🇳 China | Not expected | Not expected |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | Not expected | Not expected |
"Tipping is rude everywhere in Asia"
Reality: Only in East Asia (Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan). Across Southeast Asia — Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines — tipping is appreciated and often important to workers' livelihoods.
"Service charge means I don't need to tip"
Reality: Service charges don't always reach the staff who served you. In the UK and many European countries, how service charge is distributed varies by venue. Ask if unclear.
"I should tip the same everywhere"
Reality: Tipping norms are deeply cultural and context-specific. 20% in the USA is expected; 20% in Japan would be confusing or offensive. A 10% tip in Vietnam is generous; in the USA it signals dissatisfaction.
This overview covers the basics. Hootling's full tipping guide gives you scenario-by-scenario advice — restaurants, taxis, hotels, spas, tour guides — with local cultural context generated specifically for the country you're visiting.
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