Most travelers know the anxiety well. The bill arrives, and you reach for your wallet, wondering if leaving a few extra dollars will earn a smile or a baffled stare. Tipping customs are deeply tied to local wage structures, cultural values, and what a society understands “good service” to actually mean. What reads as generosity in one country can read as condescension in another.
The gap between tipping cultures is genuinely wide. Even seasoned travelers can get confused when it comes to tipping etiquette. It might be an expectation in some cultures, particularly in North America, while in others, such as Japan, it might even be considered offensive. The guide below covers both ends of that spectrum, starting with the places where you’re better off keeping your change in your pocket.
1. Japan
Tipping in Japan is seen as an insult rather than an act of gratitude. The culture values integrity and excellence, and workers believe accepting extra money undermines their commitment to providing the best service. The logic runs deep: if an employer pays their staff well and the staff takes pride in their craft, a tip implies something is missing from that equation.
As a service charge is typically included as part of bills at hotels and restaurants, tipping is generally not practiced in Japan. In addition, Japan has a set of traditions and customs regarding giving money as a gift, so tipping may cause confusion or be considered rude if the money is given without being placed in a special gift envelope first. At a restaurant, you may even find yourself chased down the street by employees looking to return the extra money you left behind.
2. South Korea
Tipping is not customary in South Korea because service employees are paid adequate wages. Many restaurant and hotel workers see tipping as a foreign practice that disrupts the existing wage system. The sentiment is similar to Japan, where the professionalism of service workers is considered its own reward, not a platform for unsolicited bonuses.
South Korea operates a lot like Japan when it comes to tipping. You don’t tip in restaurants, taxis, or cafes. In fact, offering a tip might make the person uncomfortable, especially in older, more traditional areas. They may feel it implies they’re not earning enough, which is awkward for both sides.
3. Mainland China
Tipping used to be considered rude in China – it was a point of pride to care for guests without expecting extra compensation – but that view is changing as more and more foreign tourists visit. Still, outside of luxury hotels and international chains, the expectation simply isn’t there. In mainland China, tipping isn’t standard, especially outside major hotels or international chains. If you try tipping at a small restaurant or in a cab, you might get a puzzled stare – or the money handed right back to you.
In some regions of China tipping the taxi driver is illegal. Therefore, remember that insisting on tipping could land the recipient in hot water. That’s worth knowing before you hand over extra cash to a driver who seemed friendly and helpful.
4. Singapore
In Singapore, bars and restaurants typically add a ten percent service charge, which is subject to the nine percent Goods and Services Tax. Excess tipping is not practiced and is rarely expected in most instances. Tips may be regarded as an insult or mistaken for illegal bribery. That last point makes the stakes higher than most travelers anticipate.
Taxi drivers given a tip will mistake it for overpayment, and return the exact change. Since the service charge is already baked into virtually every bill in Singapore, the practical case for adding more money on top is genuinely thin. Locals don’t do it, and visitors who do often find their gesture quietly reversed.
5. Denmark
Somewhat surprisingly, Danish law decrees that service charges in restaurants have to be included in the price. This may seem a little harsh to outsiders; however, the majority of hospitality workers here pocket a good salary. Alongside this, benefits include maternity and paternity leave, childcare, disability coverage, and paid vacation from the government or their employer.
Danish culture emphasizes equality, and that includes how people are paid. Restaurant and hospitality staff are paid fair wages, and service charges are typically included in the bill. The societal compact here is essentially already taken care of before the meal is even ordered. Adding a tip on top doesn’t offend anyone deeply, but it does signal that you didn’t quite understand the system.
6. Iceland
In Iceland, tipping is not a common practice. The service charge is included in the bill, and rounding up for exceptional service is appreciated but not necessary. Iceland consistently ranks among the highest-wage economies in Europe, and hospitality workers there are compensated accordingly through their base pay rather than gratuities from customers.
Tipping in Iceland? Don’t. Service charges are included, and locals don’t expect – or want – extra cash on the table. The general attitude is that the price you pay already accounts for everything, and visitors who insist on adding a tip are often simply waved off with a polite but firm decline.
7. Switzerland
Federal laws in Switzerland mandate that all service charges be included in published prices, so you don’t need to tip extra at nail salons, spas or anywhere else for that matter. This is a nationwide legal standard, not a cultural suggestion. The price on the menu is the full price, full stop.
Hotel and restaurant staff, such as housekeeping and bellhops, won’t expect a tip, but they won’t be offended if you offer a little extra money at the end of your stay or meal. In Switzerland, service charges are included in the listed price, so tipping isn’t expected. With a high standard of living and strong worker rights, employees are well-compensated. Adding a tip to the bill is generally seen as unnecessary.
8. Australia
Tipping is not expected or required in Australia. The minimum wage in Australia is reviewed yearly, and as of 2025, it was set at A$24.95 per hour – A$31.18 for casual employees – and this is fairly standard across all types of venues. Tipping at cafés and restaurants, and tipping of taxi drivers and home food deliverers, is not required or expected.
Similar to New Zealand, tipping in Australia isn’t expected. Wages are high, and service staff don’t rely on tips to survive. Casinos in Australia – and some other places – generally prohibit tipping of gaming staff, as it is considered bribery. That broad wage foundation is what makes the entire tipping framework unnecessary there, though no one will refuse a few extra dollars if you genuinely want to offer one.
1. The United States
Tipping etiquette in America is typically expected by servers. That’s because the U.S. hourly wage they receive could be as low as $2.13 an hour. In general, a twenty percent tip on your bill shows your server that you believe all your needs were met during your meal. Some people will choose to tip slightly less if your group didn’t receive enough attention or there were problems with the meals.
Tipping hotel staff is customary for services such as housekeeping, bellhops, and concierge services. It’s common to leave a tip of one to two dollars per night for housekeeping, one to two dollars per bag for bellhops, and five dollars or more for concierge services. Tipping is also expected for taxi and rideshare drivers, tour guides, delivery services, and spas and salons. The breadth of tipping culture here is really unmatched globally.
2. Canada
Tipping etiquette in Canada is similar to that of the United States. Gratuity is almost never included in the check. Fifteen to twenty percent is standard, but around eighteen percent is expected for good service. In Quebec especially, it’s considered impolite to leave a restaurant without tipping.
Tipping practices in Canada are similar to the United States, with tipping around fifteen to twenty percent in restaurants and other service sectors. The standard tip for good service is around fifteen to twenty percent of the total bill before tax, while at bars it’s typical to leave around one to two dollars per drink or fifteen to twenty percent of the total bill for a tab. Skipping the tip in Canada, especially in a sit-down restaurant, is generally read as a sign of dissatisfaction.
3. Mexico
In Mexico and Canada, tipping practices closely mirror the U.S., where fifteen to twenty percent is considered standard for good service. Mexico’s servers could see tips that are a little higher, between ten and twenty percent of the bill. Service workers in Mexico’s hospitality sector often depend on tips as a meaningful portion of their income, which gives tipping there a practical weight beyond social convention.
In Argentina, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Peru, servers are used to a little less, with ten to fifteen percent gratuity being the norm. However, in tourist-heavy areas – coastal resorts, major city restaurants, tourist transport – expectations often run closer to the higher end of that range. Carrying small bills specifically for tipping is strongly recommended throughout the country.
4. Egypt
Egypt is similar to the U.S. in that tipping is a part of everyday life. Egyptians regularly tip the door person at their apartment, the parking attendant who helps them find a space, and the cleaner who comes to their home. Known locally as “baksheesh,” this tipping culture extends well beyond restaurants and hotels into almost every service interaction a visitor might have.
Workers have low salaries, so tips for services are key to their income. Tipping culture in Egypt shows thanks and can lead to better service. In Egypt, tips are mandatory. Budgeting an extra ten to fifteen percent of overall trip costs specifically for gratuities is a widely shared piece of practical advice for travelers heading there.
5. The United Arab Emirates (Dubai)
Federal law in Dubai mandates that a ten percent tip be automatically added to every service bill. So while you’re technically tipping, you aren’t expected to leave extra money. If you receive excellent service, it’s fine to leave an extra ten to twenty percent on top of the built-in tip.
In Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, servers are used to receiving a fifteen to twenty percent tip. Even in cities like Dubai, which requires a ten percent service charge be added to the bill, restaurant workers expect an additional fifteen to twenty percent gratuity for their efforts. The automatic charge is a floor, not a ceiling, and workers are well aware of the difference.
6. South Africa
In South Africa, tipping is common, and is generally around ten percent the cost of the service. In Cape Town, South Africa, tips may start at ten percent, but excellent service may be increased to twenty percent. The country’s service industry has a strong tipping culture that aligns it more closely with North American norms than with many of its African neighbors.
South Africa’s hospitality sector is large and well-developed, drawing millions of international visitors each year. Tipping gas station attendants, restaurant staff, hotel porters, and tour guides is genuinely expected rather than optional. Not tipping after a meal in a full-service restaurant would be considered quite unusual and is generally interpreted as a sign of poor service rather than a cultural preference.
7. Brazil
It’s standard practice to leave a tip for your waiter in Brazil. Like many other countries on this list, a ten percent gratuity is often included in your check, but if not, you can leave a small additional tip. Another word to the wise: Sales tax is included in the menu prices, not added to the bill at the end of the meal.
In Brazil, a tip is a standard practice as it is in America and Canada. It’s expected. When you go out, have enough for the meal and the tip. Brazil standards are around the ten percent mark. While the percentage is lower than North American norms, the expectation itself is firm. Visitors who skip the gratuity entirely – especially when no service charge is included – risk leaving a genuinely poor impression.
8. Morocco
In Morocco, tipping is not mandatory, but rounding up the bill and leaving tips at restaurants and cafés, or to the service providers, is a standard practice and appreciated. In practice, though, the expectation for tourists is considerably firmer than “appreciated” might suggest. Guides, drivers, hotel staff, and restaurant servers all work within a system where tips form a meaningful part of their income.
In Rabat, Morocco, for instance, a server may hope for a ten percent tip. In the medinas and souks, small tips for assistance – even unsolicited guidance through markets – are standard. Travelers who come without small change for gratuities quickly find themselves in awkward exchanges throughout the day.
9. The United Kingdom
In the UK, tipping is less obligatory. A service charge may be included in your bill, but if not, ten to fifteen percent is appreciated in restaurants. Pubs usually don’t expect tips, and rounding up the bill is sufficient. Still, the restaurant context is worth taking seriously – skipping a tip after a sit-down meal in London, Manchester, or Edinburgh can land awkwardly.
Though tipping is usual in restaurants, you won’t find as widespread a tipping culture in the UK as in North America. It’s customary to tip between ten and fifteen percent of the bill when ordering a meal at a restaurant, but note that some restaurants will levy a service charge instead, in which case there’s no need to tip. Checking the bill before adding anything extra is genuinely the smartest move here.
Tipping is one of those topics that rewards a small investment of research before you travel. Getting it wrong rarely causes a serious incident, but getting it right consistently signals something real: that you took the time to understand where you are and how things work there. That small effort tends to matter more than the money itself.
