Tipping at a café around the world
Tipping at a café is customary in 5 of the 15 countries we track, including France, Germany, Canada, Mexico, and 1 more. In the United States, $0.50–$1 per drink, or skip the prompt. It is unusual or unwelcome in Japan, South Korea, and China.
Coffee shops, tea houses, and casual cafés. Customs vary widely — here is what to expect country by country.
Europe
| Country | Expectation | Typical amount |
|---|---|---|
| 🇬🇧United Kingdom | Optional | £0 — round up or drop change in tip jar |
| 🇫🇷France | Appreciated | Round up or leave 20–50 centimes per drink |
| 🇮🇹Italy | Optional | €0.10–0.20 at the counter ("al banco"); €1 if seated with table service |
| 🇪🇸Spain | Optional | No tip needed; leave loose change (€0.20–0.50) if you wish |
| 🇩🇪Germany | Appreciated | Round up to next euro — say "Stimmt so" |
North America
| Country | Expectation | Typical amount |
|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸United States | Optional | $0.50–$1 per drink, or skip the prompt |
| 🇨🇦Canada | Appreciated | $1–$2 per drink, or 10–15% via POS prompt |
| 🇲🇽Mexico | Appreciated | 5–10 MXN per drink, or 10% if you sit down |
Asia
| Country | Expectation | Typical amount |
|---|---|---|
| 🇯🇵Japan | Unusual | ¥0 |
| 🇨🇳China | Unusual | ¥0 |
| 🇰🇷South Korea | Unusual | ₩0 |
| 🇹🇭Thailand | Optional | No tip, or leave loose change (฿5–20) |
Oceania
| Country | Expectation | Typical amount |
|---|---|---|
| 🇦🇺Australia | Optional | Drop coins in the tip jar, or nothing |
South America
| Country | Expectation | Typical amount |
|---|---|---|
| 🇧🇷Brazil | Optional | Round up to the nearest real; coins in the jar |
Middle East
| Country | Expectation | Typical amount |
|---|---|---|
| 🇦🇪United Arab Emirates | Appreciated | Round up the bill, or AED 5–10 in the jar |
Tipping at a café: common questions
Do you tip at a café?
It depends on the country. Tipping at a café is expected or appreciated in 5 of the 15 countries we track — including France, Germany, Canada, Mexico, and the United Arab Emirates — and is unusual in Japan, South Korea, and China.
How much do you tip at a café?
In the United States, $0.50–$1 per drink, or skip the prompt. Across all countries the usual range is 15% of the bill. Amounts vary by country — see the table above for each one.
Where should you not tip at a café?
Tipping at a café is unusual or can cause awkwardness in Japan, South Korea, and China. A polite thank-you is enough.
Should you tip at a café in cash or by card?
Cash is the safer choice in France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Thailand, and 4 more, where card tips may not reach staff. Elsewhere adding the tip to a card payment is normally fine.