Tip Calculator

Tipping customs vary dramatically from country to country, and what is considered generous in one place might be insulting in another. In the United States and Canada, leaving 15-22% at a restaurant is standard practice because servers depend on tips as a significant part of their income. Skip the tip and you are making a statement.

Across much of Europe, the picture is different. In France and Italy, service is built into the bill, so any extra you leave is purely a gesture of appreciation. Germany and the Netherlands fall somewhere in the middle: rounding up or adding 5-10% is customary but there is no expectation of American-style generosity.

In East Asia, the rules shift again. Japan and South Korea have no tipping culture at all. In Japan, attempting to leave a tip may confuse or even offend your server. Excellent service is considered a point of professional pride, not something to be incentivized with extra money.

In many countries in the Middle East, South Asia, and North Africa, tipping is not only expected but woven into daily life. Egypt has a long tradition of baksheesh, where small tips are exchanged across a wide range of service encounters. India and Morocco follow similar patterns, with 10% tips at restaurants and small amounts for porters, drivers, and guides.

The best approach is to research tipping norms before you travel. When in doubt, observe what locals do, check whether a service charge is already included on your bill, and carry small denominations of local currency for situations where a cash tip is appropriate.