Tipping Guide Abroad
Check tipping customs for 25+ countries. See expected percentages for restaurants, taxis, hotels and more with local etiquette notes for each destination.
United Kingdom
Currency: GBP
Restaurants
Optional. Often added automatically at 12.5%.
Bar
Discretionary, not expected.
Taxi
Round up or add 10%.
Hotel Bellhop
Appreciated but not obligatory.
Delivery
Rarely tipped.
Hairdresser
Good service appreciated.
Tip: Always check your bill to see if service charge is already included. When in doubt, tip 10-15% or round up.
How Tipping Norms Differ by Country
Tipping is wildly inconsistent globally and getting it wrong reads either as cheap or as ignorant. The US sits at the high end: 18 to 20% in restaurants is now standard because tipped wages can be as low as $2.13 an hour federally, so servers depend on tips. In Japan, the same 18% gesture is genuinely embarrassing - tipping is not part of the culture and waiters have been known to chase you down the street to return the money.
France banned the requirement to tip in 1987 with the "service compris" law: a 15% service charge is built into every restaurant bill. Leaving small change for excellent service is appreciated but absolutely not expected. The UK sits in the middle at 10 to 12.5%, often added automatically as an "optional" service charge that you can ask to remove. China and Japan are essentially zero, while Australia is genuinely optional because hospitality wages are higher.
Beyond Restaurants: Bellhops, Taxis, Hairdressers
Restaurant tipping gets all the attention, but the real travel awkwardness is in the gaps. In the US tip the bellhop $1 to $2 per bag, the taxi 15 to 20%, the hotel housekeeper $2 to $5 per night left on the pillow. In France give €1 to €2 per bag, round up the taxi, leave nothing for housekeeping. In Thailand tip the bellhop 20 to 50 baht, round taxi fares to the nearest baht, but tip restaurant staff 10% if no service charge is shown.
When in genuine doubt, watch what locals do or check your bill carefully for an existing service charge before adding more. The tool covers ten countries with country-by-country rules per service type, plus notes on whether service is already included. Pair it with the [Currency Converter](/currency-converter) to translate the recommended cash tip into your home currency before you draw from the ATM.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is service charge the same as a tip in the UK?
Often, but not always. The Tipping Act 2024 in the UK requires that 100% of tips and service charges go to staff, with employers no longer permitted to retain any portion. If you see "service charge included" on your bill it should be reaching the team. You can request its removal if service was poor. Cash tips are still common and go directly to the server.
Why is tipping rude in Japan?
Japanese service culture treats good service as the baseline expectation, not something requiring extra reward. Offering money implies the staff would otherwise have done less - which is insulting. The few exceptions are personalised services like ryokan (traditional inn) attendants, where a small amount in an envelope is acceptable as omotenashi (hospitality) etiquette.
Should I tip on the pre-tax or post-tax amount?
Pre-tax is the technically correct calculation in the US, where sales tax can add 8 to 10% to bills and isn't service. In practice most diners tip on the post-tax total because the maths is faster and the difference is small. In Europe, where VAT is already included in the menu price, this question doesn't arise.
Do I tip the bartender for every drink?
In the US: yes, $1 per drink minimum, or $2 for a cocktail. In the UK: optional, not expected, but "have one yourself" or rounding up after a long session is appreciated. In France and Italy: no, especially at the bar where prices are lower than at a table. In Japan: never.
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