Tip Calculator with Bill Split (US/UK)

International Tipping Guide

What should I know about US Tipping?

US restaurants: 18-22% standard, 25%+ for excellent service. Tipping has effectively replaced wages — many US servers earn $2-3/hour base, relying on tips. NOT tipping is considered grossly rude in the US except for serious service failures. Quick service / counter service: $1-2 or 10-15% optional. Bars: $1-2 per drink, or 15-20% on a tab. Hotel housekeeping: $2-5 per day. Hotel bellhop: $1-2 per bag. Taxi/Uber: 15-20%. Tour guides: 15-20% of tour cost. Hairdresser/spa: 18-20%. Delivery drivers: 15-20% of the order total, or a minimum of a few dollars for smaller orders, is generally considered fair.

What do I need to know about UK and Ireland Tipping?

UK restaurants: 10-12.5% standard if not already included. Many UK restaurants automatically add 'optional service charge' (10-15%) — you can request removal if service was poor. Tipping is much less universal in UK than US. Pub orders at the bar: no tip. Table service in a pub: 10% optional. Taxis: round up to nearest pound. Hairdressers: 10% optional. Hotel staff: not standard. UK culture sees tipping as recognition of good service, not obligatory wage supplementation. UK servers earn at least the National Minimum Wage regardless of tips, unlike in the US, which is why tipping culture in the UK is more optional and modest by comparison.

What do I need to know about Europe and Australia Tipping?

Europe (France, Germany, Italy, Spain): 5-10% in restaurants if service warrants. Often a small service charge (1-2 euros per person) already included. Most casual establishments: rounding up is sufficient. Tipping not done at bars. Tour guides: small amount for good tours. Australia and New Zealand: tipping is genuinely optional. 10% in restaurants for excellent service. Most Aussies don't tip — minimum wage covers it. Asian countries vary enormously: Japan does NOT tip, and it can even be seen as insulting; China generally has no tipping culture either, and in some contexts it can cause confusion rather than be appreciated.

Tip on Pre-Tax or Post-Tax?

Etiquette experts (Emily Post Institute) recommend tipping on pre-tax bill. Tax is a government charge, not service. However, many people calculate tip on total — the difference is usually small. $60 bill + 8% tax = $64.80. 20% tip: pre-tax $12.00, post-tax $12.96. 96-cent difference, not worth arguing about. Major exception: bills with very high tax (>10%), where the difference becomes meaningful. NYC restaurants with 8.875% tax: $200 bill + tax = $217.75. 20% pre-tax = $40; post-tax = $43.55.