🇬🇧United Kingdom · Café / Coffee Shop
How much to tip at a café in the United Kingdom (2026 Guide)
OptionalCash or card
£0 — round up or drop change in tip jar
Tipping calculator
£
Cultural notes
UK café culture is casual about tipping. Chain coffee shops (Costa, Caffè Nero, Starbucks) usually have a tip jar; independent cafés the same. Most Brits do not tip for a takeaway flat white. Table service at a café follows the same loose 10% guideline as a restaurant if you stay and eat.
Frequently asked questions
Do I tip the barista?
No expectation — drop coins in the tip jar if you would like.
What about table service at a café?
Treat it like a small restaurant: round up or leave roughly 10% if it was a real meal.
Tipping other services in the United Kingdom
- Sit-down restaurant10–12.5% — check bill first; many restaurants add a discretionary service charge
- Counter / takeaway£0 — not customary; round-up or tip jar appreciated
- Bar£0 — or offer "one for yourself" (~£1)
- Housekeeping£2–5 per night for mid- to high-end stays
- Porter£1–2 per bag
- Concierge£5–20 if they secure something hard to get
- TaxiRound up to nearest £ or ~10%
- RideshareOptional — £1–2 or ~10% via app
- Food delivery£1–3 or ~10% via app
- Grocery delivery£0 for supermarkets (Tesco/Sainsbury's policy bars it); £1–2 for app couriers
- Hairdresser10% standard
- Spa0–10%; many high-end spas add service charge
- Tour guide10–15% of tour cost, or £5–10 per person for free walking tours
- Tattoo artist£0 — not customary; 10–20% if you do tip
- Valet£2–5 on return of vehicle
- Airport baggage£1–2 per bag (porter service is rare at UK airports)
- Busker£1–5 if you stopped to listen
- Movers£20–50 per mover for a good job
- Tradesperson£0 — not customary; tea and biscuits preferred
Tipping at a café in nearby countries
Last verified: · Sources: travelawaits.com, starlingbank.com