🇨🇳China · Café / Coffee Shop
How much to tip at a café in China (2026 Guide)
Unusual
¥0
No calculator for this service in China— tipping isn't practiced here in a way that maps to a percentage.
Cultural notes
Local chains (Luckin, Manner, Cotti) do not have tip jars, and Starbucks China removed branded tipping years ago. A handful of independent specialty cafes in Shanghai's Former French Concession or 798 Beijing have token jars for foreign customers, but locals rarely contribute. Coffee is ordered and paid through the brand's mini-program — there is no payment interaction with the barista.
Frequently asked questions
Should I tip in the jar I see at a Shanghai indie cafe?
Optional. ¥2–5 in coins is fine if you sat for a while; locals usually do not.
Tipping other services in China
- Sit-down restaurant¥0; 10% service charge sometimes added at hotel/luxury restaurants
- Counter / takeaway¥0
- Bar¥0 at local bars; ¥10–20 at high-end Western cocktail bars
- Housekeeping¥10–20 per day at international 5-star hotels; ¥0 elsewhere
- Porter¥5–10 per bag at international hotels; ¥0 elsewhere
- Concierge¥50–100 for substantial help; otherwise none
- Taxi¥0
- Rideshare¥0 — DiDi has no in-app tipping for standard rides
- Food deliveryOptional ¥1–5 via in-app "reward rider" (打赏骑手)
- Grocery delivery¥0
- Hairdresser¥0
- Spa¥20–50 at high-end hotel spas; ¥0 at local foot-massage shops
- Tour guide¥100–200 per day private English guide; ¥50–100 per day for drivers
- Tattoo artist¥0
- Valet¥10–20 at international 5-star hotels; ¥0 elsewhere
- Airport baggage¥5–10 per bag for skycap-style airport porters; no tip for hotel-shuttle drivers
- BuskerSmall change (¥1–10) if you stop to listen; payment via WeChat QR is more common
- Movers¥0; ¥20–50 per worker for stairs, heavy items, or long hours
- Tradesperson¥0 — the quoted price is the price
Tipping at a café in nearby countries
Last verified: · Sources: chinasurvivalkit.com