Tipping abroad follows no worldwide rule: it is expected in the United States, optional in the United Kingdom and Australia, and unusual in Japan. Before you leave, two questions are enough: is a service charge already added to the bill, and what is the local custom? This guide answers country by country, using only national tourism boards and official authorities. Whatever you are used to at home, check the local custom: what counts as generous in one country can be unnecessary, or even awkward, in another.
We deliberately limited the table to countries where an official source publishes a recommendation, checked on 23 October 2026. Customs change and vary between businesses: take these figures as rules of thumb, not legal obligations.
Tipping abroad: the essentials
- United States: expected; 18 to 20% of the pre-tax bill in restaurants (Visit The USA).
- United Kingdom: optional; 10 to 15% in restaurants if no service charge is added (VisitBritain).
- Australia: optional; about 10% in upscale restaurants (Tourism Australia).
- Japan: not customary in restaurants, bars, taxis or hotels (Japan National Tourism Organization).
- Quebec: tip suggestions on payment terminals must be calculated before taxes (Office de la protection du consommateur).
- Everywhere: first look for a « service charge » already on the bill.
Tipping country by country: what the official sources say
| Country | Restaurant | Taxi | Hotel, guides | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Expected: 18 to 20% of the pre-tax bill for table service | Not specified by the source | Housekeeping: a few dollars a night; guides and drivers: $10 to $20 per person for a half or full day | Visit The USA |
| United Kingdom | Optional; a service charge is sometimes added (and is then optional); otherwise 10 to 15% is welcome | Round up to the next pound; 10 to 15% if you want to give more | Porter: about £2; hotel staff in general: not expected | VisitBritain |
| Australia | Always your choice; no service charge added; about 10% in upscale restaurants for good service | Not specified by the source | Not specified by the source | Tourism Australia |
| Japan | Not customary | Not customary | Not customary at hotels; a private guide or interpreter may accept one, discreetly, in an envelope | Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) |
| South Korea | Not specified by the source consulted | Most taxis run on the meter and do not require a tip | Not specified by the source consulted | VisitKorea |
| Quebec (Canada) | Percentage tip suggestions are calculated on the price before GST and QST; a « custom amount » option is mandatory | The same rules apply to any terminal that suggests a tip | Same rules | Office de la protection du consommateur du Québec |
How much to leave on a bill of 50?
Calculation by Destination de Voyage from the percentages published by the tourism boards above, for a bill of 50 units of local currency before tax and with no service charge added:
| Country | Reference rate | Tip on 50 before tax |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 18 to 20% | $9 to $10 |
| United Kingdom | 10 to 15% | £5 to £7.50 |
| Australia (upscale restaurant) | 10% | AU$5 |
| Japan | not customary | none |
In the United States, the calculation is made on the amount before tax, which is then added to the bill: a useful habit so you don’t overtip. To convert amounts, use our currency converter, and for your payment methods, our guide to currency exchange.
Special cases to know
Service charge already included
In the United Kingdom, VisitBritain points out that some bars and restaurants automatically add a service charge, shown on the bill, and that you can choose whether to pay it. In Japan, leaving a tip is not customary. The first move is therefore always to read the bill.
Payment terminals that suggest a tip
In Quebec, the Office de la protection du consommateur regulates the suggestions shown on terminals: percentages calculated on the price before GST and QST, with amounts and a free option presented uniformly, without pushing you toward one choice. If a terminal does not follow these rules, the merchant is in breach. Elsewhere, check which amount the suggested percentage applies to before you confirm.
Guides and drivers
In the United States, Visit The USA suggests $10 to $20 per person for a guide, driver or helicopter pilot for a half or full day. In Japan, a private guide used to foreign visitors may accept a tip, but it is not expected: slip it discreetly into an envelope (sold in convenience stores).
Common mistakes
- Tipping in a restaurant or taxi in Japan: it is not the custom.
- Adding a tip in the United Kingdom when a service charge is already on the bill.
- Calculating the American tip on the total including tax.
- Confirming without reading a payment terminal’s suggestion.
- Leaving without small change where tips are expected (porters, housekeeping).
- For other countries, see the « practical tips » section of our destination guides, and consider a travel eSIM to check an exchange rate on the spot.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I tip in the United States?
Visit The USA gives 18 to 20% of the pre-tax bill for table service, a few dollars a night for housekeeping, and $10 to $20 per person for a guide or driver for a half or full day.
Should I tip in Japan?
No: according to the Japan National Tourism Organization, it is not customary in restaurants, bars, cafes, taxis or hotels. A private guide may accept one, discreetly, in an envelope.
Is tipping compulsory in London?
No. VisitBritain says it is not expected as in some other countries; 10 to 15% is appreciated in restaurants if no service charge is already added, and taxi fares are rounded up to the next pound.
Should I tip in Australia?
It is always your choice according to Tourism Australia; in upscale restaurants about 10% is common for good service.
How do I calculate the tip in Quebec?
The suggestions shown by terminals must be calculated on the price before GST and QST, with an option to choose your own amount (Office de la protection du consommateur).
Our sources
- Visit The USA (Brand USA), page « Route 66: Albuquerque to the Grand Canyon », tipping section, consulted 23 October 2026.
- VisitBritain, « Useful information », Tipping section, consulted 23 October 2026.
- Tourism Australia, « Useful tips », consulted 23 October 2026.
- Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), tipping page, consulted 23 October 2026.
- VisitKorea (Korea Tourism Organization), « Taxi » page, consulted 23 October 2026.
- Office de la protection du consommateur du Québec, « Suggestions de pourboire » (modified May 5, 2025), consulted 23 October 2026.
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026.