International Tipping Guide
Tipping norms in 55 countries — percentages where a percentage is the custom, and flat per-bag, per-night and per-day amounts where it isn’t.
Inputs
About International Tipping Guide
How much do you tip a bellhop or housekeeper?
Hotel tips are flat amounts, not a percentage of the room bill. Bellhops are tipped per bag carried and housekeepers per night stayed — roughly $2-3 per bag and $3-5 per night in the United States, about $1-2 per bag and $1-2 per night across most of Europe. A $500 room bill and a $150 room bill earn the same tip when the bags and nights are the same, which is why this calculator asks for bags and nights instead of applying a percentage to your bill.
How much do you tip a tour guide?
Guides and drivers are tipped per person, per day rather than as a share of the tour price: commonly $10-20 per person per day in the United States, $5-10 across most of Europe and Asia, and $10-20 per person per day for safari guides in Kenya and Tanzania. Multiply by everyone in your party and by the number of days you spend together, and hand it over at the end of the trip.
Which currency are the flat amounts in?
The per-bag, per-night and per-day figures are US-dollar equivalents, which is how travel guidance normally quotes them. Pay the local-currency equivalent, in cash — small notes are easier for staff to split than a card tip line, and in many countries a card tip never reaches them.
Why Japan has no tipping
Japanese service culture treats high-quality service as standard. Tipping can be seen as implying the service was unexpectedly good — slightly insulting. Modern hotels may have a 10% service charge instead.
Service charge already included
Many European countries auto-include 10-15% as "service compris" or "servizio incluso". Check the bill — adding more on top is generous but not required.
US is an outlier
US tipping has expanded enormously since 1900. Now 15% is the minimum, 20% common, 25% generous. Restaurant servers earn $2-7 base wage + tips in most states.
Countries covered
Tipping customs for 55 destinations: United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Poland, Czechia, Hungary, Greece, Turkey, Croatia, Romania, Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, India, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Kenya and Tanzania. Use the “All countries” tab to search or sort every norm at once.