Tipping an airport porter around the world
Tipping an airport porter is customary in 11 of the 15 countries we track, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, and 7 more. In the United States, $2 per bag standard, $3–$5 for heavy/oversized. It is unusual or unwelcome in Japan and South Korea.
Airport porters and curbside baggage check. Customs vary widely — here is what to expect country by country.
Europe
| Country | Expectation | Typical amount |
|---|---|---|
| 🇬🇧United Kingdom | Appreciated | £1–2 per bag (porter service is rare at UK airports) |
| 🇫🇷France | Appreciated | €1 per bag if you use a porter (rare) |
| 🇮🇹Italy | Appreciated | €1–2 per bag for porters |
| 🇪🇸Spain | Appreciated | €1–2 per bag if a porter assists |
| 🇩🇪Germany | Appreciated | €1–2 per bag if you use a porter |
North America
| Country | Expectation | Typical amount |
|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸United States | Expected | $2 per bag standard, $3–$5 for heavy/oversized |
| 🇨🇦Canada | Expected | $2 per bag for skycap/porter |
| 🇲🇽Mexico | Expected | 20–40 MXN per bag |
Asia
| Country | Expectation | Typical amount |
|---|---|---|
| 🇯🇵Japan | Unusual | ¥0 |
| 🇨🇳China | Optional | ¥5–10 per bag for skycap-style airport porters; no tip for hotel-shuttle drivers |
| 🇰🇷South Korea | Unusual | ₩0 |
| 🇹🇭Thailand | Appreciated | ฿20–50 per bag for porters |
Oceania
| Country | Expectation | Typical amount |
|---|---|---|
| 🇦🇺Australia | Optional | A$2–5 per bag if a porter assists (rare) |
South America
| Country | Expectation | Typical amount |
|---|---|---|
| 🇧🇷Brazil | Appreciated | R$5 per bag |
Middle East
| Country | Expectation | Typical amount |
|---|---|---|
| 🇦🇪United Arab Emirates | Expected | AED 5–10 per bag |
Tipping an airport porter: common questions
Do you tip an airport porter?
It depends on the country. Tipping an airport porter is expected or appreciated in 11 of the 15 countries we track — including the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and 6 more — and is unusual in Japan and South Korea.
How much do you tip an airport porter?
In the United States, $2 per bag standard, $3–$5 for heavy/oversized. Amounts vary by country — see the table above for each one.
Which countries expect you to tip an airport porter?
A tip is genuinely expected in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the United Arab Emirates. In these countries staff often rely on tips as part of their income.
Where should you not tip an airport porter?
Tipping an airport porter is unusual or can cause awkwardness in Japan and South Korea. A polite thank-you is enough.
Should you tip an airport porter in cash or by card?
Cash is the safer choice in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, and 8 more, where card tips may not reach staff. Elsewhere adding the tip to a card payment is normally fine.