Tipping Etiquette Around the World

Giving a tip is an act of gratitude and appreciation for the specialized services offered to you. Even though it is not a legal binding, not giving a tip can be considered socially unethical. If you are traveling abroad or going on a world tour, it is important to know how much tip you will need to give for different services.

Tips are commonly given to waiters/waitresses, barbers, coat room attendant, valet parking attendants, taxi drivers, etc. To make sure that you give the right amount of tip at the right place, and in the correct manner, go through the list given below.

Germany - In Germany, services charge is added to the bill, but if you leave a tip of 10%, it will definitely be appreciated. Though, you will need to be careful about how you tip the waiter/waitress. You should not leave a tip on the table and walk away, but instead you should give the tip to the waiter/waitress in his/her hand directly.

Keep this in mind, you certainly don't want to make a bad impression.

France - You don't really need to give a tip when in France. This is because the restaurant already adds a 15% service charge to your bill. So, you may tip them only if you feel like. However, if you are in Paris, it is customary to give a tip of 10%.

Italy - A service charge is normally added to the final bill. Therefore, you don't really need to leave a tip. However, it is customary to leave a tip in the form of rounding-up the total bill amount. You can leave an additional tip of 5% or 10% for a good service.

Spain - It is not a customary practice tipping in Spain, as services charges are added to the final bill. Though, it is common to leave a tip in the form of rounding-up your bill amount. There is no specific percentage of tip you need to pay.

Switzerland - You are not expected to leave a tip when you are in Switzerland. Though it is a common practice to leave the change as a tip.

Portugal - It is a customary practice to give a tip in Portugal. Though, it is not a compulsion to tip in a particular percentage. It's fine if you leave just the change.

Netherlands - It is not a customary practice to give a tip in Netherlands. So, you can give any amount of tip you like or not.

Norway - In Norway, you can leave a tip between 5% to 10% of the total bill. Check if the service charges are added or not, then accordingly increase the tip from 5% to 10%.

Ireland - You don't need to leave a tip if service charges have been included in the final bill. If it has not been included, then leave a tip ranging between 10% to 20%.

Greece - You are not really expected to tip in Greece, if a service charge has been added to your bill. Confirm it, and if the service charge has not been added then leave a tip ranging between 10% to 20%.

Amsterdam - When in Amsterdam, how much should you leave for a tip is a decision that entirely depends on the patron. The waiters/waitresses at Amsterdam are not really dependent on the tips they receive. They are paid above the 'minimum wage'.

So, leave a tip if you are pleased with the service you received. It's a common practice to round-up your bill and leave the change.

Denmark - In Denmark, service charges are normally added to the bill. Therefore, you are not really expected to leave a tip. However, if service charges are not added, or you like someone's service exceptionally, you can leave a tip anywhere between 10% to 15%.

UK - In the UK, it is a customary practice to leave a tip, if service charges have not been added to your bill. Leaving a tip of 10% to 15% will be fine.

China - How much you tip in China depends on where in China you are. If you are at a metropolis in China, then you need to give a tip between 10% - 15%. However, if you are going to a non-metropolis Chinese region, then you are not actually expected to pay a tip. Though, you can tip them any amount, if you feel like it.

India - It is not a compulsion to give a tip India. Though the waiters/waitresses do expect you to tip them, anywhere between 5 to 10% is fine. 5% tip is usually given to mediocre restaurants and you can give a 10% tip to the top rated restaurants.

Japan - "DO NOT TIP IN JAPAN". Giving a tip in Japan is considered to be an act of rudeness.

South-Korea - Customers are not expected to leave tips when in South Korea. Many restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill. So, if service charge is not added to your bill, leave a tip of 10%.

Malaysia - The typical Malaysian restaurants do not expect you to leave a tip. Most of them don't even charge you a service fee. Though food chains, like McDonalds, Papa John's, etc., do add the service charge and also expect a tip.

Indonesia - You are not expected to tip in restaurants in Indonesia, though it is not considered an offense if you do. They do charge a service fee and add it to the bill. So, if you are really pleased with their service, then you may tip the waiter/waitress with 10% of the total bill.

Singapore - You are not expected to tip in Singapore. Normally, the bill includes the service charges. You've gotta be careful while tipping in Singapore as it is not allowed in many places, like airports and hotels.

Thailand - In Thailand, a service charge is added to your bill. They do not expect you to leave an additional tip. Though, you can leave a tip anywhere between 10% to 15%, if you like.

The system and tradition of tipping, is more developed and extensively used in the USA. In the US, a tip is expected for most of the personalized services, like the cab service, salon services, hotel room services, etc. It is a customary practice to give a tip, ranging between 15% - 20%, in most of the states in the US.

Tip to be given at the restaurants in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador is around 10%. In Mexico you can tip anywhere between 10% to 15%.

Service Provider : Tip to be Paid

• Sommelier : 15% - 20%
• Bartender : 15% - 20%

• Coatroom Attendant : USD 1 per coat
• Valet Parking Attendant : Around USD 2
• Taxi Driver : 15.00%
• Food Delivery : 10.00%
• Barber : 15% - 20%
• Spa Service : 15% - 20%
• Staff at Coffee Joints : Optional
• Skycap at Airport : USD 1 or 2
• Hotel Doorman : USD 1 per bag
• Hotel Housekeeper : USD 2 to 5

South Africa - It is a common practice to leave a tip in the South Africa. Though if service charges are added, you have the option of not leaving an additional tip. If the service charges are not added then, you can leave a top anywhere between 10% to 15%.

Morocco - You can leave a tip of 10%, if the service charges are not included in the bill.

Egypt - It is not necessary to leave a tip, if the service charges have been added to your bill. You can leave a tip of 10%, otherwise.

You are not really expected to tip in Australia. If you wish, you can leave a tip of 10% to the waiter/waitress.

New Zealand - In New Zealand it is not customary to leave a tip though a tip is given as a token of appreciation to the waiter/waitress.

Yemen - In Yemen, a tip of 10% is good enough for a good restaurant.

Saudi Arabia - In Saudi Arabia, you can tip the waiter/waitress anything between 10% to 15%.

Qatar - The tips given in Qatar lie anywhere in the range of 15% - 20%.

Lebanon - In Lebanon, you can pay a tip around 10%. The food there is really delicious. I am sure you'd want to willingly pay them a good tip.

Jordan - In Jordan, the service charges are included in the bill, but you still need to pay a tip of 5 - 10%.

Iran - There is no customary practice of tipping in Iran. If you like the food and the service, you may only complement them and it makes them really happy. You can tip them as much as you like.

Israel - Tips are normally included in the bill itself. But you will need to pay some tip depending on the number of customers. You pay around USD 1 for three people.

United Arab Emirates

Dubai - Restaurants in Dubai add service charges to the bill. Above which, you can give a tip of 10% if you like the service.

Abu Dhabi - Abu Dhabi and Dubai follow the same tipping traditions. The service charges are already included in your bill. Though, you can leave an additional 10% tip to the waiter/waitress, if you please.

Tipping as an etiquette can be anything from legally compulsory, to a part of traditional behavior, to an offensive practice, depending on which place you are in. It is a very important thing to know when you are out in a new place. Even if it is not a compulsion, tipping is an act of gratitude you should show whenever you can. If nothing else, you will bring a smile to a person's face.

"Know how and how much to tip people who expect gratuities, even in the case of poor service." - Marilyn vos Savant.