The global tipping divide
Professor Michael Lynn at Cornell University has spent decades studying tipping behavior across cultures. His landmark 1993 study with George Zinkhan and Judy Harris counted how many of 33 service professions are customarily tipped in each of 30 countries, then tested whether the differences track national values. They mostly do, but not the way you might guess.
its values predicted lots of tipping, yet almost no one tips there.
The pattern surprised the researchers. Across all 30 countries, tipping reached more professions where scores on Geert Hofstede’s power distance and uncertainty avoidance scales were higher. With Japan set aside as an outlier, masculinity joined them, and individualist countries tipped in fewer professions, not more, though individualism explained nothing once the other values were taken into account. To explain Japan, the authors suggest, without testing it, that on, the Japanese sense of a debt of gratitude, may be the answer: a tip creates exactly the kind of obligation between near strangers that people there prefer to avoid.
Sources: Lynn, Zinkhan & Harris, “Consumer Tipping: A Cross-Country Study,” Journal of Consumer Research, 1993; Lynn & Lynn, “National Values and Tipping Customs: A Replication and Extension,” Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research, 2004; NYC Tourism + Conventions, “Tipping, Payments and Sales Tax”; JNTO, “Tipping in Japan” (both checked November 2026)
Why tipping norms differ so dramatically
Tipping is big money. Ofer Azar’s 2007 review of the tipping literature in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology puts tipping in U.S. restaurants alone at $27 billion a year. Four things help explain why expectations differ from country to country:
US federal law lets employers pay tipped workers a $2.13/hour cash wage, as long as tips bring them up to the full minimum, so tips make up much of take-home pay. Australia has one minimum wage for everyone (A$26.44/hour from July 2026), and tipping there is optional.
In Lynn’s data, tipping reaches more professions in countries that accept bigger status gaps (power distance) and dislike uncertainty, and, once Japan is set aside, in countries that value achievement (masculinity).
Many European and Asian countries include service in menu prices (service compris). Tipping on top feels like double-paying.
A tip thanks someone or puts them in your debt. Where small debts between strangers feel uncomfortable, as Lynn suggests may be true in Japan, tipping may struggle to take hold.
“Tipping differs from most economic transactions in that consumers who tip are paying a nonobligatory amount for a service that has already been received.”
- Lynn, Zinkhan & Harris, “Consumer Tipping: A Cross-Country Study,” Journal of Consumer Research, 1993
Sources: Ofer Azar, “The Social Norm of Tipping: A Review,” Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 2007; Lynn, Zinkhan & Harris, Journal of Consumer Research, 1993; U.S. Department of Labor, “Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees,” 2026; Squire Patton Boggs, “2026 Annual wage review decision,” 2026
North America: The tipping heartland
North America has the world’s strongest tipping expectations. The US federal minimum cash wage for tipped workers is $2.13/hour, the level Congress froze it at in 1996, making tips essential income rather than a bonus.
Tipping is customary and expected. Federal law lets employers pay servers as little as $2.13/hour in cash wages; many states require more. New York City’s tourism board calls 20% of the pre-tax bill the standard for table service, and Toast’s platform data put the average full-service tip at 19.1% in Q2 2025.
The Government of Canada’s newcomer guide says the standard tip is usually 15% of the bill. Strong tipping culture mirroring the US. Provincial minimum wages apply but tips remain expected.
Profeco, Mexico’s consumer agency, calls a tip (propina) a voluntary gratuity. No official percentage turned up.
The $2.13 problem: Congress froze the US federal tipped minimum wage in 1996, and it hasn’t gone up since. In states without higher tipped minimums, servers legally earn $2.13/hour before tips. It’s part of why American tipping expectations are so high - and why the norms don’t apply elsewhere.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, “Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees,” 2026; U.S. Department of Labor, “History of Changes to the Minimum Wage Law”; country figures checked November 2026, per NYC Tourism + Conventions; Toast; Government of Canada; Profeco.
Western Europe: Service included
Many Western European countries include service in menu prices. The phrase service compris (service included) means the service charge is already in the menu price, so tipping is genuinely optional.
France’s tourism site says almost all restaurants include a 15% service charge in their prices. If the meal was particularly good, another 2-3% is customary, or the small change if you pay cash. If service isn’t included, it says 15% is appropriate.
Italy’s tourism portal says tipping isn’t compulsory, but it’s customary to leave close to 10% when you’re satisfied. Look for coperto (cover charge) and servizio (service) on your bill.
VisitBritain says tipping isn’t expected but is polite after good service, and that 10-15% is well received if nothing has been added. A service charge on the bill is optional. Taxis: round up.
Tipping (Trinkgeld) is voluntary. Berlin’s city guide says 5-10% is appropriate at casual restaurants and 10% at nice ones. Say the total you want to pay when handing over money.
The US Commerce Department’s travel guide says tips for good service are normally up to 5%. Madrid’s tourism office says tipping isn’t customary and leaves it up to you.
Holland.com, the Dutch tourism board’s site, says about 10% is quite acceptable, and that waitstaff don’t live off tips.
Brussels’ tourism office says service is always included, that tipping in restaurants is customary, and that 5-10% is acceptable but not mandatory.
AHRESP, Portugal’s hospitality trade body, says tipping is common but not obligatory, and leaves the choice to the customer. No official percentage turned up.
Country figures checked November 2026, per France.fr; Italia.it; VisitBritain; Berlin.de; US Commerce Department (Spain); esMadrid; Holland.com; visit.brussels; AHRESP.
Scandinavia: No tipping necessary
Scandinavian countries set minimum pay through collective agreements: the ILO notes that no Nordic country has a statutory minimum wage. Tipping is optional across the region.
Visit Sweden says tipping is always welcome but not expected. Rounding up to the nearest big number is common, and adding 10% is a nice, easy tip.
Visit Norway says tipping isn’t common outside bars and restaurants, where tips tend to stay within 5-15% of the bill. It’s entirely up to you.
VisitDenmark says service charges are included in restaurant bills, and that there is no set etiquette if you want to tip for great service.
Visit Finland says tipping isn’t expected and service is always included. At most, people round up or leave a couple of euros for great service.
Visit Reykjavík says service is typically included at fine-dining restaurants, and that rounding up is appreciated if you’re thrilled. No official percentage turned up.
Switzerland Tourism says guests aren’t obliged to tip, but in many restaurants it’s customary to leave about 10% or round up.
The Scandinavian model: Minimum pay comes from collective agreements, and in Denmark and Finland service is already on the bill. A tip there is a thank-you on top.
Country figures checked November 2026, per Visit Sweden; Visit Norway; VisitDenmark; Visit Finland; Visit Reykjavík; Switzerland Tourism; ILO, “Minimum wages in Nordic countries,” 2016.
Eastern Europe: Modest expectations
Eastern European countries generally have modest tipping expectations - typically rounding up or about 10%. Post-Soviet nations have developed varying customs as their tourism industries have grown.
The City of Poznań’s site says a tip should generally be 10% of the bill, though the custom is less commonplace in Poland than in other countries.
CzechTourism says customary tips run up to 10%.
The Hungarian Tourism Agency says the usual tip is 10%. A 10-15% service charge is starting to spread: if it’s on the bill, you don’t need to tip.
The Croatian National Tourist Board says there’s no special service fee and tipping isn’t mandatory. If you do tip at a restaurant, it recommends at least 10-15%. In cafés and bars, round up.
The official Athens guide says bars and restaurants have no service charge, and that 5-15% is the norm but not the rule.
Vienna’s tourist board says the usual tip is 5-10%. Check the bill first: if the tip is already included, don’t pay it again. Say the amount you want to pay: “Machen Sie [amount].”
Country figures checked November 2026, per City of Poznań; CzechTourism; Hungarian Tourism Agency; Croatian National Tourist Board; This is Athens; Vienna Tourist Board.
East Asia: Where tipping doesn’t belong
East Asian countries represent the clearest “no tipping” zone globally. In Japan, South Korea, and China, official guides say tipping is uncommon or not expected.
JNTO says it isn’t common to tip at bars, cafes, restaurants, taxis, or hotels. A gratuity can suit a private guide or interpreter, given discreetly in an envelope. More in our guide to tipping in Japan.
Seoul’s tourism organization says tipping isn’t a Korean custom and won’t be expected. Many major hotels and upscale restaurants add a 10% service charge.
Shanghai’s government says tipping isn’t expected in most restaurants and hotels, though a tip can show your satisfaction. Some restaurants and bars add a 10-15% service charge.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board says most restaurants add a 10% service charge, though some cafes and diners don’t. Check your bill first.
The US Commerce Department’s travel guide says tipping isn’t common and is generally not expected, and that most restaurants and hotels include a 10% service charge.
Singapore’s tourism board has no current tipping guidance we could read. Check your bill for a service charge before adding anything.
Country figures checked November 2026, per JNTO; Seoul Tourism Organization; Shanghai Municipal Government; Hong Kong Tourism Board; US Commerce Department (Taiwan).
Southeast Asia & Oceania
Southeast Asia has mixed practices, often influenced by tourism and Western visitors. Australia and New Zealand, like Scandinavia, have living wage structures that make tipping unnecessary.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand says tipping isn’t a usual practice but is becoming more common, and that most restaurants add a 10% service charge. Thais commonly leave the coins.
Vietnam Tourism says tipping isn’t a normal part of the culture, and that tips in restaurants and cafes are not expected but always appreciated. No official percentage turned up.
No official tipping guidance turned up. Check if a service charge is included.
No official tipping guidance turned up. Check your bill for a service charge first.
Tourism Australia says restaurants don’t add service charges and tipping is your choice. It isn’t expected in most venues, though 10% is common for good service in upmarket restaurants. The national minimum wage is A$26.44/hour from July 2026.
New Zealand’s Commerce Commission says tipping is optional. No official percentage turned up.
Country figures checked November 2026, per Tourism Authority of Thailand; Vietnam Tourism; Tourism Australia; New Zealand Commerce Commission; Squire Patton Boggs (Australian minimum wage).
Middle East & Africa
Middle Eastern countries generally have moderate tipping expectations. Africa varies widely - tourist-facing services expect tips, while local establishments may not.
Visit Dubai’s guide gives 10-15% for restaurants and says tipping is customary but not compulsory. Check whether service is already on the bill.
Tel Aviv’s municipal guide says tipping is customary with waiter service and usually means adding 10-15%. Some add service charge - check bill. Taxis: round up.
Baksheesh (tipping) is an integral part of the economy. No official percentage turned up.
No official tipping guidance turned up. Riads may include service. Check before adding more.
South African Tourism says 10-20% of the bill is acceptable at restaurants. Tables of more than six get an automatic 10% service charge.
No official tipping guidance turned up.
Country figures checked November 2026, per Visit Dubai; Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality; South African Tourism.
South America
South American tipping customs generally fall between European modesty and North American generosity. Some bills suggest a tip or add a service fee (taxa de serviço in Brazil).
Abrasel, Brazil’s restaurant trade body, calls the tip voluntary, though many places charge it as a service fee: the familiar “10%”, which can run higher or lower. Check your bill.
Visit Argentina says tipping isn’t mandatory but is a widespread custom, and that the usual amount is 10% of the bill.
Chile’s labor authority says employers must suggest a tip of at least 10% on each bill. You can decline it.
Colombian law calls the tip voluntary and caps a tip suggested on the bill at 10%. Your server must ask whether you want it on the bill.
No official tipping guidance turned up. Check if service is included.
Country figures checked November 2026, per Abrasel; Visit Argentina; Dirección del Trabajo; Ley 1935 de 2018.
Quick reference: 28 countries
The at-a-glance guide, from the sources above. Green = no tipping expected. Yellow = modest. Orange = around 10-15% or more. Red = high expectations (15%+). No color = no official figure found.
When NOT to tip (anywhere)
Regardless of country, certain situations don’t call for tips:
Always check your bill. If service is already added, additional tipping is optional.
Don’t tip the owner of a business. They set prices and take profits. Tips go to employees.
Never tip government workers, customs officials, police, etc. In many countries this is illegal (bribery).
Doctors, nurses, and medical staff should not be tipped. Professional ethics prohibit it in most countries.
If your tip is declined, don’t insist. In Japan, South Korea, and elsewhere, pushing tips can be uncomfortable for everyone.
Check your package terms. Many all-inclusive resorts include gratuities. Additional tips may not reach staff.
The universal challenge: group bills abroad
Here’s what the research tells us about international dining - and how it informed splitty’s design:
Source: Freeman, Walker, Borden & Latané, “Diffusion of Responsibility and Restaurant Tipping: Cheaper by the Bunch,” Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 1975
