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Guide · Tipping

How much to tip at a restaurant, country by country.

Tipping fatigue is real: the card reader spins round, three percentages glow, and someone behind you is waiting. The honest answer to “how much?” depends almost entirely on where you are — and on a line of the bill most people never read. Here is the table, the bill-reading guide and some fast mental maths.

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In short

At a sit-down restaurant in the US, tip 15–20% of the pre-tax bill; in Canada about 15–18%, more for big groups. In the UK, check for a 12.5% discretionary service charge, or leave 10–15%. In Japan and South Korea, don’t tip. In Singapore, the Philippines and much of Indonesia a service charge is often already on the bill, and in France service is included in the price, so any extra is a small thank-you.

Checked

The table

Restaurant tipping by country.

These are customs, not laws, and they shift. Treat the table as a starting point and the printed bill as the final word.

Restaurant tipping norms by country, checked October 2026
Is a tip expected?The usualCheck the bill for
United StatesYes15–20% of the pre-tax bill at a sit-down restaurantAn automatic gratuity for large groups
CanadaYes15–18%, often closer to 18–20%; 18–20% for groups over fiveA service charge already added
United KingdomUsually covered10–15% if no service chargeA 12.5% “discretionary service charge”
FranceNoRound up, or a small extra for great service“Service compris” — service is in the price
JapanNoNothing; say thank youUsually nothing — the price is the price
South KoreaNoNothing; pay at the counterUsually nothing extra
SingaporeNoNothing extra unless service was exceptional“++”: a 10% service charge plus 9% GST
Indonesia (Bali)No5–10% if no service charge; nothing expected at warungsA service charge, often 5–10%
PhilippinesNoA little extra is kind, not requiredA service charge, which goes in full to staff
AustraliaNoAround 10% for great service, if you likeAny surcharge line on the bill

Read the bill first

Service charge, tip or tax?

  • Service charge — a percentage the restaurant adds itself. Where it appears, it usually replaces the tip. In the UK, tips and service charges must by law be passed to workers without deductions (since 1 October 2024). In the Philippines, a 2019 law sends service charges in full to staff other than managers.
  • “Discretionary” or “optional” — you may ask to have it removed, especially if service was poor. It can feel awkward; it is still your right.
  • “++” (Singapore and nearby) — menu prices exclude the service charge and GST, which are added on top. GST is charged on the service charge too.
  • “Service compris” (France) — service is already built into the menu prices. Anything extra is a gesture, not an obligation.
  • Tax — never part of the tip. In the US and Canada, work out the tip on the amount before tax.
  • The card reader — preset buttons are suggestions. Typing your own amount is completely reasonable, and so is checking whether a service charge is already on the bill before you tap.

Mental maths

Work out a tip in five seconds.

  1. 10%Move the decimal point one place left. A bill of 64.00 becomes 6.40.
  2. 20%Double the 10% figure: 12.80.
  3. 15%Take the 10% figure and add half of it again: 6.40 plus 3.20 is 9.60.
  4. 18%Work out 20%, then take away a fifth of the 10% figure: 12.80 minus 1.28 is 11.52. Or pick a round number between 15% and 20%.

Awkward moments

The situations everyone asks about.

  • Service was bad. Where tipping is customary, a quiet word with a manager does more than a zero tip. Where there is a discretionary charge, you can ask to remove it.
  • Big group. Some restaurants in the US and Canada add an automatic gratuity for large tables. Check before you add a second one.
  • Buffet or counter service. Less is expected than at full table service; a small tip is common in the US.
  • Takeaway. Not usually expected, though appreciated for large orders.
  • Paying cash in Bali or Manila. Small local notes are easiest for staff; tip in the local currency, not leftover foreign money.
  • Japan, Korea. Leaving money on the table can cause confusion rather than gratitude. A warm thank-you is the custom.

After the meal

Remember what the night came to.

Weeks later, “how much was that place?” is a surprisingly common question. PlateDiary keeps an optional “What was the bill?” on every moment, and its receipt scan reads the receipt on your phone, then deletes the photo. It never converts currencies, so a trip’s bills stay in the money you actually paid. It does not split anything — for that, see how to split a restaurant bill.

Sources

Where the facts come from

  1. Tipping guide (US) — MIT International Students Office
  2. Tipping etiquette in Canada — blogTO
  3. Code of practice on fair and transparent distribution of tips — GOV.UK
  4. Tipping in London — London Councils
  5. Tipping in France — N26
  6. Tipping in Japan — Japan National Tourism Organization
  7. Tips for Korean restaurants — Stars and Stripes Korea
  8. What is a service charge in Singapore? — Food&HotelAsia
  9. Tipping in Bali — Bali Holiday Secrets
  10. The new law on service charges (RA 11360) — Conventus Law
  11. Tipping culture in Australia — Mozo

Questions

Questions people ask.

How much should I tip at a restaurant in the US?

15–20% of the pre-tax bill is the usual range for a sit-down meal, toward the top for great service or a high cost-of-living city.

Should I tip on the total before or after tax?

Before tax. In the US and Canada the common advice is to work out the tip on the pre-tax amount, since the tax goes to the government, not the staff.

Do you tip in Japan?

No. Japan’s national tourism organization says tipping is not common in restaurants, cafes, bars, taxis or hotels. A sincere thank-you is enough.

Is a service charge the same as a tip?

It does the same job in most places: if a service charge is on the bill, you usually don’t add a tip on top. Rules on who receives it vary by country.

How much do you tip in the UK?

Many restaurants add a 12.5% discretionary service charge. If there isn’t one, 10–15% is normal for table service. No tip is expected for drinks ordered at a pub bar.