Tipping norms vary wildly
In the United States, 15 to 20% is customary and service staff wages assume it. Across much of Europe, 5 to 10% or rounding up is generous, and service is often already included as a charge on the bill. In Japan and South Korea tipping is not practised and can even cause confusion. In India, 5 to 10% is appreciated in restaurants but far from obligatory.
The single most useful habit when travelling: check the bill for a service charge before adding anything. Tipping on top of an included 12.5% service charge is a double payment few venues will point out.
Tip on the pre-tax amount?
Convention in most tipping cultures is to tip on the pre-tax subtotal, though many people simply tip on the total for simplicity. On typical tax rates the difference is small; on a large bill it is worth the ten seconds of arithmetic this tool does for you.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I tip?
Depends on the country: 15 to 20% in the US, 5 to 10% or round up in much of Europe, nothing in Japan. When unsure, ask a local or check whether service is already included.
Should I tip on the pre-tax or post-tax amount?
Convention favours pre-tax, but tipping on the total is common and slightly more generous. Either is acceptable in practice.
What if a service charge is already included?
Then a further tip is optional and often unnecessary. Check the bill for a service line before adding more.
How do we split an uneven bill fairly?
This tool splits evenly. When one person ordered far more, use our bill split calculator which handles an uneven share explicitly.
Is it rude not to tip?
In tipping economies like the US, yes, since wages assume it. Elsewhere it ranges from unremarkable to actively confusing. Local norms rule.
Should I tip on delivery orders?
Where tipping is customary, delivery drivers typically receive 10 to 15% or a flat few units of currency, more in bad weather.