Tipping customs vary hugely: in the United States 18-22% is expected, in most of Europe you round up or add 5-10%, and in Japan and South Korea tipping is not done at all. Pick a country below to see what is normal, which service or cover charges to expect on the bill, and how to ask for the bill in the local language.
Japan
- Tipping
- Service and cover charges
- Ask for the bill
Tipping at restaurants in every country we cover
| Country | Tipping | Service and cover charges | Ask for the bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | 10–15% About 10%, ideally in cash | A cubierto (cover charge for bread and table) is common. | La cuenta, por favor |
| Australia | Round up Not expected; 10% for excellent service | Weekend and public-holiday surcharges of 10–15% are common and shown on the menu. | Could I get the bill, please? |
| Austria | 5–10% Round up or add 5–10% | Service is included in prices. | Zahlen, bitte or Die Rechnung, bitte |
| Bangladesh | 5–10% About 5–10% in sit-down restaurants | Some upscale restaurants add a service charge; check the bill. | Billta din (Bangla: “the bill, please”) |
| Belgium | Round up Round up; 5–10% for great service | Service is included in prices. | L’addition, s’il vous plaît (French) or De rekening, alstublieft (Dutch) |
| Brazil | 10–15% 10% service (serviço) is usually added to the bill | The 10% is officially optional but almost always paid. | A conta, por favor |
| Canada | 15–20%+ 15–20% at sit-down restaurants | Sales tax is added at the till, not included in menu prices. | The bill, please; in Quebec, L’addition, s’il vous plaît |
| Chile | 10–15% About 10%, usually suggested on the bill | Staff often ask whether to include the propina. | La cuenta, por favor |
| China | Not expected Not expected in restaurants | Upscale hotels may add a service charge. | Mǎidān (买单) |
| Colombia | 10–15% About 10%, suggested on the bill | You will often be asked ¿desea incluir el servicio? (include the service?). | La cuenta, por favor |
| Croatia | 5–10% About 10% for good service | Service is not usually included. | Račun, molim |
| Czechia | 5–10% Round up or about 10% | Check the bill for any added service. | Účet, prosím |
| Denmark | Not expected Not expected; round up if you like | Service is included by law in prices. | Regningen, tak |
| Egypt | 10–15% About 10%, in cash | Bills often include a service charge (around 12%) that may not reach staff; many people still leave about 10% extra. | El-hesaab, min fadlak |
| Finland | Not expected Not expected | Service is included in prices. | Lasku, kiitos |
| France | Round up Round up or leave a few euros | Service is included by law (service compris). | L’addition, s’il vous plaît |
| Georgia | 5–10% Check the bill first; add 5–10% if no service charge | Many Tbilisi restaurants add a 10–18% service charge. | Angarishi, tu sheidzleba |
| Germany | 5–10% Round up or add 5–10% | Service is included in prices. | Die Rechnung, bitte or Zahlen, bitte |
| Greece | 5–10% About 5–10%, left in cash | A small charge for bread may appear on the bill. | To logariasmó, parakaló |
| Hong Kong | Round up Usually nothing extra | Most sit-down restaurants add a 10% service charge. | M̀h gōi, maai daan |
| Hungary | 5–10% Check the bill; otherwise about 10% | A 10–15% service charge is often added in Budapest. | A számlát, kérem |
| Iceland | Not expected Not expected | Service is included in prices. | Reikninginn, takk |
| India | 5–10% About 5–10% if no service charge | Some restaurants add a service charge; it should be optional. | Bill dijiye (Hindi) |
| Indonesia | Round up Nothing extra if service is added | Prices marked “++” have tax and a service charge added, common in Bali. | Minta bon |
| Ireland | 10–15% About 10–12.5% for table service | Some restaurants add a service charge for groups; check the bill. | Could we have the bill, please? |
| Israel | 10–15% 12–15% or more | Service is rarely included. | Heshbon, bevakasha |
| Italy | Round up Round up or leave a euro or two | A coperto (cover charge per person, often €1–€4) is common and legal. | Il conto, per favore |
| Japan | Not expected Not done; it can cause confusion | Izakaya charge a small otōshi (starter) per person as a table charge. | Okaikei onegaishimasu |
| Kenya | 5–10% About 10% | Upscale restaurants may add a service charge. | Naomba bili (Swahili) |
| Malaysia | Not expected Not expected | Restaurants often add a 10% service charge plus tax. | Kira or Bil, please |
| Mexico | 10–15% 10–15% (propina) | Service is rarely included, except in some tourist areas. | La cuenta, por favor |
| Morocco | 5–10% About 10% | Service is rarely included. | L’addition, s’il vous plaît or L-hsab, afak (Darija) |
| Netherlands | Round up Round up or add 5–10% | Service is included in prices. | De rekening, alstublieft |
| New Zealand | Not expected Not expected | Public-holiday surcharges (around 15%) are common. | Could I get the bill, please? |
| Norway | Not expected Not expected; round up if you like | Service is included in prices. | Regningen, takk |
| Peru | 5–10% About 10% | Upscale restaurants may add service; check the bill. | La cuenta, por favor |
| Philippines | 5–10% About 10% if no service charge | Many restaurants add a 10% service charge. | Bill out, please or Pa-bill po |
| Poland | 5–10% About 10% | Service is rarely included. | Poproszę rachunek |
| Portugal | 5–10% About 5–10% | Bread, olives and snacks brought to the table (couvert) are charged if you eat them; you can send them back. | A conta, por favor |
| Singapore | Not expected Not expected | Prices marked “++” add a 10% service charge plus GST. | Can I have the bill, please? |
| South Africa | 10–15% 10–15% | Service is rarely included, except for large groups. | Can I have the bill, please? |
| South Korea | Not expected Not done | Service is included in prices. | Gyesan-hae juseyo |
| Spain | Round up Round up or leave 5–10% at sit-down meals | Service is included in prices. | La cuenta, por favor |
| Sweden | Not expected Not expected; round up if you like | Service is included in prices. | Notan, tack |
| Switzerland | Round up Round up | Service is included by law. | Die Rechnung, bitte or L’addition, s’il vous plaît |
| Taiwan | Not expected Not expected | Upscale restaurants add a 10% service charge. | Mǎidān |
| Thailand | Round up Not expected; leave small change or 20–100 baht | Upscale restaurants add service charge and VAT (“++”). | Check bin, khrap/kha |
| Turkey | 5–10% About 5–10% | Service is rarely included. | Hesap, lütfen |
| United Arab Emirates | 5–10% 10–15% if no service charge | Some restaurants add a service charge; check the bill. | Al-hisaab, min fadlak |
| United Kingdom | 10–15% 10–12.5% for table service | A discretionary service charge (often 12.5%) is frequently added; do not tip twice. | Could we have the bill, please? |
| United States | 15–20%+ 18–22% at sit-down restaurants | Sales tax is added to the bill, not included in menu prices. | Can I get the check, please? |
| Vietnam | Round up Not expected; round up or leave small change | Upscale restaurants may add a service charge. | Tính tiền (the bill) |
Five rules that work almost everywhere
- Read the bill before you tip. Look for words like service, servizio, service charge or “++” on menus. If service is already added, you rarely need to add more.
- Cash reaches staff more reliably. In many countries a tip added on a card goes to the business, not the server.
- Hand it over, do not leave it. In Germany, Austria and Czechia you tell the server the total you want to pay when you hand over the money.
- Street food and counters are different. Hawker stalls, market stands and counter-service cafes rarely expect tips.
- A thank-you in the local language goes further than a big tip. The table above shows how to ask for the bill in each country.
Frequently asked questions
Which countries do not expect tipping?
Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia do not expect tips at restaurants, and in the Nordic countries service is included in prices. In Japan a tip can even cause confusion.
What is a cover charge?
A fixed charge per person for bread and table setting, such as the coperto in Italy or the cubierto in Argentina. It is legal and normal, and it is not a tip. In Portugal the bread and olives brought to the table (couvert) are charged only if you eat them.
Should I tip if a service charge is already on the bill?
Usually not. In the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Brazil and many hotel restaurants the service charge is the tip. Add a little extra only for exceptional service.
How accurate is this guide?
It reflects common practice in each country, reviewed in September 2026. Customs differ between cities and types of restaurant, so treat it as a guide and follow what locals do. If something has changed, let us know.
Planning the whole trip? Use our food travel budget calculator, which includes typical tipping for each country, or browse food guides by destination.