Tipping Abroad: How Much to Tip by Country

In the United States, tipping is woven into how service workers are paid, and the customary restaurant tip runs 15–20%. Even at home the rules feel slippery: in Pew Research Center’s 2023 survey, only about a third of Americans said it’s easy to know whether to tip. Abroad, the uncertainty doubles. In many countries service is already built into the price, and a large American-style tip can range from unnecessary to genuinely awkward.

The good news is that official tourism boards answer this question directly. Below is what they say for five popular destinations, followed by a method that works anywhere else.

NoneTipping is not common in Japan’s bars, cafés, restaurants, taxis or hotelsJNTO

15%Service charge included in almost all French restaurant pricesFrance.fr

~10%A safe tip in Britain if you’re unsureVisitBritain

10–15%Customary in Mexican restaurants, bars and street standsVisit México

Tipping around the world: the explorer

Choose a country. Gilded tiles have tipping guidance from an official tourism board; for the rest, we don’t guess — the panel shows how to check locally.

Passport stamp

Japan

Thanks, not cash: a sincere “arigatō gozaimasu.”

Restaurants: Not customary
Taxis: Not customary
Hotels & other: Not customary; if you insist, use an envelope and be discreet

Source: JNTO

Not customary
Modest or included
Included, plus a little / 10–15%
Expected: 15–20%
No data here: check locally

Tipping by country

Tipping customs according to official tourism boards, October 2026
Country	Restaurants	Taxis	Hotels & other
Japan	Not customary	Not customary	Not customary; if you insist, use an envelope and be discreet
France	Service included (15%); leave 2–3% or small change for good service; 15% if service non compris	Check locally	Hairdressers about 10% (assistant 5%); about €1 for cloakroom and washroom attendants, ushers and museum guides
United Kingdom	Not expected as in the US; about 10% if unsure; check for a service charge	Round up to the nearest pound	Hotel porter about £2; no tip at the pub bar
Germany (Berlin)	Service and VAT included; 10–15% extra is usual	About 10%	Porters €2–3 per bag
Mexico	10–15% in restaurants, bars and street stands	A few coins	A few coins for porters and housekeeping
Other countries	Check locally: look for a service charge on the bill, read the national tourism board’s advice, or ask your hotel.

Sources: JNTO, France.fr, VisitBritain, visitBerlin, Visit México.

Country notes

Japan: thanks, not cash

Japan is the classic example of a country where you don’t tip. The national tourism organization says it’s not common to tip for services in bars, cafés, restaurants, taxis and hotels. Excellent service is part of the job, and a sincere “arigatō gozaimasu” is the appropriate thanks. In the rare case, such as a private guide or a ryokan host who went far beyond the usual, a gratuity (kokorozuke) is given discreetly, placed in an envelope rather than handed over as bare cash.

France: service compris

French menu prices include service. France’s official tourism site says almost all restaurants include tax and a 15% service charge in their prices. Leaving a few extra percent, or your small change if you paid in cash, is a customary way to say the meal was particularly good. If you see service non compris, service isn’t included and a 15% tip is appropriate.

United Kingdom: optional, modest

VisitBritain says tipping isn’t expected in Britain as it is in some other countries. Check the bill: if a service charge has already been added, you don’t need to tip again. Otherwise about 10% is appreciated. For taxis, round up to the nearest pound. At the pub, tipping isn’t expected when you order at the bar.

Germany: included, plus a little

Visit Berlin notes that tips and VAT are already included in all prices, but adding something remains common: around 10% for taxis, 10–15% in restaurants, and €2–3 per bag for porters.

Mexico: closest to US habits

Of these destinations, Mexico is the closest to American practice. The official tourism site says it’s customary to tip 10–15% of the bill in restaurants and bars and at street stands, and to give a few coins to porters, taxi drivers and cleaning staff.

How to figure out tipping anywhere

For countries not listed here, don’t guess from home habits. Work through these steps:

Read the bill. Look for words like “service,” “servizio,” “service charge” or “gratuity.” If service is included, extra is optional.
Check the national tourism board. Most have a “money” or “practical information” page that addresses tipping directly.
Ask your hotel’s front desk. They know local norms and are asked all the time.
Watch what locals do, especially in cafés and taxis.
Carry small local notes and coins. Rounding up a fare or leaving small change is a safe, low-stakes gesture in many places.
Tip in local currency. Foreign notes cost the recipient time and fees to exchange.

Do

Say thank you in the local language; it’s welcome everywhere
Tip private tour guides and drivers if that’s the local custom
Keep a separate pocket of small change for porters and taxis

Don’t

Leave 20% by default because it’s what you’d do at home
Push money on someone who has politely declined it
Tip twice when a service charge is already on the bill

Back home in the US? See our full US tipping guide, or run the numbers with the tip calculator. For greetings, dress and dining customs in each of these countries, read cultural etiquette by country.

Frequently asked questions

Is it rude to tip in Japan?

Tipping is not customary in Japan. The Japan National Tourism Organization says it is not common to tip in bars, cafes, restaurants, taxis or hotels. If you want to thank someone for exceptional service, do it discreetly with the money in an envelope.

How much should I tip in a French restaurant?

Usually very little. France's official tourism site says almost all restaurants include a 15% service charge (service compris) in their prices. Leaving another 2-3% or your small change for particularly good service is customary. If the bill says service non compris, a 15% tip is appropriate.

Do you tip in British pubs?

Not at the bar. VisitBritain says tipping at the pub isn't expected; pubs with table service may add a service charge to the bill.

Should I tip in local currency or dollars?

Local currency is almost always more useful and more polite, because the recipient doesn't have to pay to exchange it. Keep some small notes and coins handy for porters and taxis.

Sources

Statistics are quoted from the linked publishers as of October 2026. See our methodology.