💰 Tip Calculator & Bill Splitter
Calculate perfect tips and split bills instantly. Compare tipping standards across USA, Europe, Asia, and more.
💰 Tip Calculator
Calculate the perfect tip and split the bill with ease
USA: 15% (adequate), 18% (good), 20% (great), 25% (excellent)
🧮 Calculation Results
⚠️ Tipping customs vary significantly by country, region, and type of establishment. This calculator provides general guidance only. Always check local tipping customs and whether service charges are included.
💡 Have suggestions? Help us improve this calculator!
Send Feedback🌍 Tipping Around the World: Complete Country Guide
Tipping customs vary dramatically around the world. What's considered generous in one country might be offensive or unnecessary in another. This comprehensive guide covers 25+ countries to help you tip appropriately wherever you travel.
🌎 North America
🇺🇸 United States
Tipping is mandatory. Service workers rely on tips for income—many servers earn just $2.13-5/hour base wage.
Bars: $1-2/drink or 15-20%
Taxis/Rideshare: 15-20%
Hotels: $2-5/night housekeeping
Hair Salon: 15-20%
Valet: $2-5
Expected: Yes, always
🇨🇦 Canada
Very similar to USA. Service workers earn low base wages and depend on tips.
Expected: Yes, same as USA
🇲🇽 Mexico
Tipping is common, especially in tourist areas where workers rely on tips.
All-Inclusive Resorts: $1-2 per service despite "all-inclusive"
Expected: Yes in tourist areas, optional elsewhere
🇪🇺 Europe
Key Difference: Most European countries include service charges in the bill. Tips are appreciated but not mandatory like in the USA.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Standard: 10-15% if service not included
Check bill for "service charge" first. Pubs: no tip for drinks at bar.
🇫🇷 France
Standard: Round up or 5-10% for exceptional service
"Service compris" means tip included. Extra tip not expected but appreciated.
🇮🇹 Italy
Standard: Round up or 5-10%
Look for "coperto" (cover charge) and "servizio" (service). If included, extra tip optional.
🇪🇸 Spain
Standard: 5-10% or round up
Not obligatory. Leaving small change is common. 10% for excellent service.
🇩🇪 Germany
Standard: 5-10%, round up to nearest €5-10
Say your total including tip when paying: "25 Euro, bitte" for a €23 bill.
🇳🇱 Netherlands
Standard: 5-10% or round up
Service included in bill. Small tip appreciated for good service.
🇨🇭 Switzerland
Standard: Round up, 5-10% for exceptional
Service always included. Tipping is truly optional.
🇸🇪 Sweden/Nordics
Standard: Not expected
Workers earn fair wages. Rounding up is polite but not necessary.
🌏 Asia & Pacific
🇯🇵 Japan
Standard: NO TIPPING
Tipping can be seen as insulting. Excellent service is the standard expectation.
🇨🇳 China
Standard: Not expected (except luxury hotels)
Traditionally not part of culture. High-end international hotels may expect 10%.
🇰🇷 South Korea
Standard: Not expected
Service included. Tipping not customary and can cause confusion.
🇹🇭 Thailand
Standard: 0-10%
Tourist areas: 10% appreciated. Street food/local spots: round up 20-40 baht.
🇻🇳 Vietnam
Standard: 5-10% in tourist areas
Not traditional but increasingly expected in Saigon/Hanoi tourist restaurants.
🇸🇬 Singapore
Standard: Not expected (10% service charge included)
Look for "Service Charge" on bill. Additional tip optional, 5-10% for excellent service.
🇮🇳 India
Standard: 10% in cities, less in rural areas
Becoming more common in urban restaurants. Round up for street vendors/taxis.
🇦🇺 Australia
Standard: Not required, 10% for exceptional
Workers earn fair wages. Tipping for outstanding service only.
🇳🇿 New Zealand
Standard: Not expected
Similar to Australia. Optional 10% for exceptional service in upscale venues.
🌍 Middle East & Africa
🇦🇪 UAE (Dubai/Abu Dhabi)
Standard: 10-15%
Service charge often included. Additional tip expected in upscale venues.
🇹🇷 Turkey
Standard: 5-10%
Check for service charge first. Round up for taxis and cafes.
🇿🇦 South Africa
Standard: 10-15%
Tipping expected and important for service workers' income.
🇪🇬 Egypt
Standard: 10-15%
Baksheesh (tipping) is cultural. Expected for most services including guides.
🌎 South America
🇧🇷 Brazil
Standard: 10% (often included as "serviço")
Check bill for 10% service charge. If not included, 10% is standard.
🇦🇷 Argentina
Standard: 10%
Not included in bill. 10% is standard, more for excellent service.
🇨🇱 Chile
Standard: 10%
Similar to Argentina. 10% customary in restaurants.
🇵🇪 Peru
Standard: 10%
Tourist areas expect tips. Local spots: round up or 5-10%.
🎯 Quick Reference: Tipping by Region
Golden Rule: When in doubt, ask hotel staff or observe local customers. Carry small bills in local currency for tipping.
💡 Quick Mental Math Tricks
10% Method
Move the decimal one place left to get 10%. Double for 20%, triple for 30%.
$47.50 → $4.75 (10%)
× 2 = $9.50 (20% tip)
Divide by 5 (20%)
Fastest way to calculate 20%: divide the bill by 5.
$60 ÷ 5 = $12 (20% tip)
$85 ÷ 5 = $17 (20% tip)
15% Shortcut
Calculate 10% (move decimal), then add half of that amount.
$80 → $8.00 (10%)
+ $4.00 (half) = $12 (15%)
Round Up Strategy
Round the bill to nearest $10, calculate on rounded amount.
$47.80 → round to $50
$50 × 20% = $10 tip
💼 Complete Service Tipping Guide (USA)
Comprehensive guide covering 30+ services. These are standard USA tipping guidelines for 2026.
🍽️ Food & Beverage Services
White tablecloth restaurants
Most sit-down restaurants
Clears plates, refills drinks
Per drink or full tab
Wine expert/pairing service
Counter service
Mobile vendors
Someone packaged your order
🏨 Hotels & Hospitality
Luggage assistance
Reservations, recommendations
Leave daily, not at end
If gratuity not included
When car returned
Hailing taxi or help with bags
💇 Personal Care & Beauty
Haircut, style
If separate from stylist
Salon assistant
Nail services
Spa or independent
Facial, body treatments
Men's haircuts
Permanent art
🚕 Transportation & Delivery
Traditional cab
Rideshare
Shared transport
Luxury transport
More in bad weather
Shopping + delivery
Heavy items
🏠 Home Services
Per person, by time
IKEA, etc.
Regular service
Yard work crew
Bathing, haircuts
Regular service
Childcare
🎉 Events & Entertainment
Usually included in contract
Entertainment
Group or private
Table games
Per item
💡 Regional Variation: These are USA guidelines. Tips may be 20-30% higher in major cities (NYC, SF, LA) and 10-15% lower in rural areas. Always adjust based on service quality and local standards.
🧠 The Psychology of Tipping: Why We Tip
Tipping is more than a transaction—it's a complex social behavior rooted in psychology, economics, and culture. Understanding why we tip can help you make confident decisions about when and how much to give.
🔄 The Reciprocity Effect
When someone does something for us, we feel psychologically compelled to return the favor. This is why servers who bring mints with the check receive 3-23% higher tips according to Cornell University research.
Research Finding:
One mint = 3% higher tip. Two mints = 14% higher. Server returns with "extra special" mint = 23% higher tip.
👥 Social Norms & Pressure
We tip partly because "everyone else does it." This social conformity is strongest in cultures with established tipping norms. Digital payment screens suggesting 18-25% tips capitalize on this psychology—we feel judged choosing "custom tip."
The Guilt Factor:
Restaurant POS systems showing suggested tips increased average tips by 15-20% by making lower tips feel "cheap."
⚖️ Power Dynamics
Tipping creates a power imbalance where workers depend on customer generosity. Studies show servers modify behavior—smiling more, touching customers lightly, writing "thank you" on receipts—to increase tips by 10-40%.
The Reality:
In the USA, 2.6 million servers earn $2.13-5/hour base wage, relying on tips to reach minimum wage. This system transfers wage responsibility from employers to customers.
🔮 Future Service Motivation
Economists once argued we tip to ensure good future service. Research disproves this—most restaurant visits are one-time events. However, tipping generously at regular spots (neighborhood cafe, favorite bar) does improve future treatment.
Regular vs. Tourist:
Bartenders remembered and prioritized regular customers who tipped well 73% of the time vs. 31% for average tippers.
❤️ Altruism & Empathy
Many people tip generously from genuine empathy, especially after learning about low service wages. Customers who previously worked in food service tip 19.2% on average vs. 16.8% for those who haven't, according to Yale behavioral economics research.
Empathy Connection:
Servers who make brief personal connections ("I'm Sarah, I'll take care of you") earn 2-5% higher tips than those who don't.
😰 Guilt & Obligation
Not tipping (or under-tipping) creates psychological discomfort in high-tipping cultures. This guilt is so powerful that 63% of Americans report tipping even when service was poor, and 89% feel anxious when uncertain about tipping norms in new situations.
The Guilt Threshold:
Diners feel most guilt tipping below 15%, even when service was mediocre. This "guilt floor" keeps average tips high regardless of service quality.
📊 The Service Quality Paradox
Multiple studies reveal a surprising truth: service quality has minimal impact on tip amounts. Research by Michael Lynn at Cornell found service quality accounts for only 1-5% of tip variation.
What Actually Predicts Tip Size:
- Bill size (correlation: 0.6-0.7)
- Customer personality/generosity
- Weather (sunny = higher tips)
- Payment method (credit cards = higher)
What Barely Affects Tips:
- Service speed
- Food quality
- Server friendliness (minor effect)
- Accommodation of special requests
Why This Matters:
Most diners already decided their tip percentage before sitting down. Only extreme service (terrible or exceptional) changes tips by more than 2-3%.
🌍 Why Some Countries Don't Tip
Countries like Japan, South Korea, and Denmark view tipping as insulting or unnecessary because: (1) Service workers earn livable wages without tips ($15-25/hour), (2) Excellent service is considered a baseline professional expectation, not "above and beyond," and (3) Tipping is seen as creating uncomfortable power dynamics between customers and workers.
💡 The lesson: Tipping culture isn't universal—it's a choice societies make about how to compensate service workers.
✨ Tipping Etiquette Do's & Don'ts
✅ Do This
Tip on pre-tax amount - Calculate your tip based on the subtotal before tax.
Tip in cash when possible - Servers receive cash tips immediately without processing fees.
Consider the effort - Tip higher for complex orders, accommodations, or exceptional service.
Check for auto-gratuity - Large groups often have automatic 18-20% service charges included.
❌ Avoid This
Don't skip tips for slow service - Kitchen delays aren't the server's fault. Tip normally unless service itself was poor.
Don't tip less on discounts - Tip on the original price before coupons or discounts were applied.
Don't forget takeout tips - 10% is appropriate for takeout orders (someone still packaged and prepared it).
Don't use coins for small tips - Leaving a handful of loose change can be seen as insulting. Round up to bills.
🤔 Difficult Tipping Situations: What to Do When...
Tipping isn't always straightforward. Here's how to handle awkward, confusing, or frustrating tipping scenarios with confidence and fairness.
😠 The Service Was Terrible
The Dilemma: You want to express dissatisfaction, but you also know servers depend on tips. How low can you go without being cruel?
❌ Bad Reasons to Lower Tips:
- Food quality (not server's fault)
- Kitchen delays (not server's fault)
- Restaurant policy you disagree with
- Menu prices too high
✅ Valid Reasons to Lower Tips:
- Forgot your order multiple times
- Rude or dismissive attitude
- Never refilled drinks despite requests
- Ignored your table for 20+ minutes
💡 Best Approach:
10% minimum for genuinely poor service. Speak to a manager if service was unacceptable—feedback helps them improve. Leaving 0% makes a statement but may be assumed as forgetting to tip. If service was offensively bad (server was hostile, discriminatory, or inappropriate), 0% tip + manager complaint is justified.
📝 There's Already an Automatic Gratuity
The Dilemma: The bill includes an 18-20% service charge, but there's still a tip line on the receipt. Do you tip again?
Common Scenarios:
Large Party (6+ people):
Restaurants add automatic 18-20% gratuity to prevent undertipping on split bills. No additional tip required unless service was exceptional (add 2-5% extra).
Tourist Areas/Hotels:
Some resorts add "service charges" that may not go to servers. Ask: "Does this service charge go directly to staff?" If unclear, add 10% extra to be safe.
Deceptive Receipts:
Watch for receipts with auto-gratuity PLUS suggested tip calculations (which include the gratuity in the base). This is intentionally misleading—you're already tipped.
💡 Pro Tip:
Draw a line through the "Additional Tip" line if gratuity is included, write "Gratuity Included" and circle the auto-gratuity on the receipt. This prevents accidental double-tipping and documents you noticed.
🧍 Counter Service / Tip Jars Everywhere
The Dilemma: You ordered at a counter, the cashier turned the iPad screen with 18-22-25% suggested tips. No table service happened. Do you tip?
No Tip Expected
- Fast food (McDonald's, etc.)
- Self-serve frozen yogurt
- Grab-and-go convenience stores
- Standard retail checkout
Tip jar present: optional $0-1
10-15% Fair
- Coffee shops (specialty drinks)
- Bakeries (boxed your order)
- Counter-service restaurants
- Smoothie/juice bars
They prepared something custom
15-20% Appropriate
- Casual dining (order at counter, food brought to table)
- Baristas making complex orders
- Food trucks with custom preparation
Substantial prep + some service
💡 Reality Check:
Those aggressive tip screens are designed to guilt you. You're not obligated to tip for no-service transactions. If someone just rang you up and handed you a pre-packaged item, 0% is fine. Don't let the screen intimidate you—press "No Tip" or "Custom: $0" without guilt.
🪤 Double-Tipping Traps
The Dilemma: You're not sure if you already tipped, or if multiple people are expecting tips for the same service.
🚨 Delivery App + Restaurant Tip
You ordered through DoorDash and tipped 20% in the app. The restaurant receipt also has a tip line.
✅ No additional tip needed. App tip goes to driver. Restaurant didn't provide table service. Exception: Add $1-2 if you picked up in person and they brought it to your car.
🚨 Salon: Multiple People
You got a haircut (stylist), shampoo (assistant), and blow-dry (another person). Who gets tipped?
✅ Tip 20% to stylist, $3-5 to assistant. If unsure who did what, give total tip to receptionist and say "please split this among everyone who helped me."
🚨 Hotel: Everyone Expects Tips
Bellhop carried bags, concierge made reservations, housekeeping cleaned room, valet parked car. That's 4 tips!
✅ Yes, all four should be tipped separately. Budget $20-40/day for hotel staff tips. This is standard in USA hotels—bring small bills ($1, $5).
💸 What If You Can't Afford to Tip?
The Dilemma: Money is tight. Can you skip the tip?
Harsh Truth:
In the USA, if you can't afford to tip 15-20% at a full-service restaurant, you can't afford to eat there. Servers make $2.13-5/hour base pay. Choosing not to tip means that server paid to serve you (they tip out bussers, bartenders based on sales).
✅ Budget-Friendly Alternatives:
- Fast casual (order at counter)
- Food trucks
- Takeout from restaurants
- Buffets (still tip 10%)
- Cook at home
❌ Don't Do This:
- Order full service, leave $2 on $50 bill
- Say "I'll tip next time" (never happens)
- Justify stiffing server because "it's the employer's fault"
- Order 3-course meal, tip 5%
💡 Compromise Solution:
If you must eat out on a tight budget: order appetizers instead of entrees, drink water, choose lunch specials, and tip 20% on the smaller bill. A $15 lunch with $3 tip is better than a $50 dinner with $5 tip (same total, but fair to server).
👔 Should You Tip the Owner?
The Dilemma: Your hairstylist owns the salon, or the chef-owner served your table. Do owners get tipped?
Traditional etiquette: No, you don't tip owners—they set their own prices and keep all revenue. Tipping is meant to supplement employee wages, not boost owner profits.
Modern reality: Most small business owners (hair stylists, tattoo artists, personal trainers) appreciate tips even though they own their space. They have overhead costs (rent, supplies, insurance).
💡 Best Approach:
Tip owners 10-15% instead of the standard 20% for employees. If owner explicitly says "no tip necessary," respect that and consider leaving a positive online review instead—that's worth more than money to small businesses.
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