How Much to Tip, by Country
Pick a country and enter the bill to see how much to tip, whether a tip is expected or optional, and what each person owes, with rules reviewed every year
Bill & Tipping Rules
How often does this change? Customary percentages usually shift slowly, over years. Legal rules and payment practices can change within a year. We review every country once a year. Always check your bill and the venue's own rules.
Norms and rules last reviewed on October 1, 2026.
How to use this tool
- Select the country; each one has its own customary range and rules.
- Enter the bill amount and the number of people splitting it.
- Tick the box if the bill already includes a service charge, then choose a service level or enter a custom percentage.
- Read the suggested tip, the total with tip and the amount per person.
Worked example
In the United States, an $80 bill split between 2 people with “Good service” at 18% gives a tip of $14.40, a total of $94.40 and $47.20 per person, which includes $7.20 of tip each. The tool shows a typical range of 15–25% there. Pick a country such as France or Spain instead and the scale changes to small steps and rounding, because a US-style percentage would look out of place there. Norms are customs, not rules, and some bills already add a service charge, so always check the bill first.
Methodology
A tip is a social convention, not a formula. This tool applies a plain percentage to your bill and pairs it with each country's customary range and legal status. The satisfaction scale is a guide: where tipping is discreet (France, Spain, Portugal, the UK, Australia) it uses small steps and rounding instead of US-style percentages.
The same 87.40 bill, tipped the local way
| Country | Scale step used | Tip | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Good service (18%) | $15.73 | $103.13 |
| Canada | Good service (18%) | CA$15.73 | CA$103.13 |
| Mexico | Good service (15%) | MX$13.11 | MX$100.51 |
| Germany | Good service (10%) | €8.74 | €96.14 |
| Brazil | Okay service (10%) | R$8.74 | R$96.14 |
| United Kingdom | Okay service (10%) | £8.74 | £96.14 |
| France | Round up | €2.60 | €90.00 |
| Spain | Round up | €2.60 | €90.00 |
Each row uses the tool’s default step for that country on a bill of 87.40 in the local currency (nothing is converted between currencies). Round up lifts the total to 90.00 here: the tool picks the next multiple of 5 when that costs at most 10% of the bill, otherwise the next whole unit. Percentages are applied to the bill as entered, so where tipping is calculated before tax (US, Canada, Mexico) enter the pre-tax amount. These are customs, not rules; if the bill already shows a service charge, tick the box and the tip drops to zero.
Travel Essentials for Tipping Abroad
Handy gear for carrying cash, documents and chargers when you travel
HERO Neck Wallet, RFID-Blocking Passport Holder (Army Gray)
Worn under your clothes, it keeps your passport, cards and cash close, with RFID-blocking material for your card data.
Ceptics 45W Universal Travel Adapter (3 USB-A + 2 USB-C)
45W fast charging with five USB ports. Plug types A, C, G and I are used in the US, Canada, Mexico, the UK, most of Europe and Australia.
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Frequently asked questions
Is tipping required by law in any of these countries? ▼
No. In all 11 countries a tip is voluntary, even in the US, where it is a strong social expectation. What can look mandatory is a service charge that the venue discloses: in Brazil the 10% is optional, in the UK a discretionary service charge can be removed on request, in Portugal a charge clearly stated on the menu is payable, and in Mexico a tip cannot be added to the bill automatically.
What is the difference between a service charge and a tip? ▼
A service charge is a line the venue adds to the bill (often 12.5% in the UK, 10% in Brazil). A tip is the extra you decide to give. Since October 2024 UK staff must receive 100% of both, and Brazil's Lei 13.419/2017 requires the service charge to be shared with employees (the employer may keep part of it to cover payroll charges). If a service charge is already on the bill, you don't need to add a tip on top.
Should I tip on the amount before or after tax? ▼
Before tax in the US, Canada and Mexico (before IVA). Quebec made this a rule for payment terminals on May 7, 2025: suggested tips must be calculated on the pre-tax subtotal. In Europe tips are small and usually based on the total or simply rounded up, so the difference is minor.
If a French menu says “service compris”, do I still need to tip? ▼
No. Since the arrêté of March 27, 1987, French menus must show prices including taxes and service. Leaving a few coins, or 5–10% for exceptional service, is a courtesy, and leaving nothing is normal.
How often do tipping rules change? ▼
Customary percentages move slowly: the US full-service average stayed near 19% over the last two years. Legal and payment rules move faster: the UK tips law took effect in October 2024, Quebec's Bill 72 in May 2025, and Australia is reforming card-payment surcharges. That is why every country is reviewed once a year and the review date is shown at the top.