23 Countries Where Restaurants Expect Super High Tips
In 1974, tipping was a feel-good gesture. Fast forward to 2024, and many Americans feel pressured to leave higher tips than ever before for services that have already become pricier due to inflation.
Americans know they pay high tips. But how do our tipping practices compare to other countries in the world?
Hawaiian Islands crunched the numbers to determine where tipping practices are the highest and lowest. The results might make you want to pack your bags and travel to a country that isn’t on this list.
Restaurant Tip Averages
Hawaiian Islands used data from TripAdvisor to analyze the average tipping percentages expected in 162 countries. They analyzed average tips for restaurant staff, hotel staff, and taxis. For simplicity, this ranking is based on the highest tips that the restaurant industry expects.
The data was published in 2023. We can only hope that future updates to the data will result in a decrease in expected tipping percentages.
The Flip Side
Now you know where the highest tipping percentages are expected. But what about countries with low tips? That’s refreshingly the wrong question. These are some countries where no tip is expected:
- China
- Australia
- Japan
- Denmark
That said, whereas countries like Japan view tipping as rude, countries like Denmark already bake a service fee into their bills, making tipping unnecessary.
Tipping Fatigue
Many Americans are tired of tipping, which has given birth to the phrase “tipping fatigue.” According to one study, nearly 20% of Americans tip for a greater array of services than they did in the past. One of the driving reasons? An iPad that’s pushed into their faces requesting a tip.
But just like the question, “Did the chicken or the egg come first?” it’s easy to stumble into a cycle of wondering if tipping fatigue or tipping guilt came first. Tipping guilt is the feeling of needing to tip even though you wouldn’t.
Regardless, this much is true: Tipping fatigue and tipping guilt are two emotions Americans would rather not feel.
Tip for a Queen
When Stacy Knutson entered her shift as a server at Fryn’ Pan Restaurant in Moorhead, Minnesota, she likely never would have imagined that she’d be leaving there with a $12,000 tip. Or rather, almost leaving there; the $12,000 went through the police’s hands before they deemed it okay for her to keep the money.
This is one among many stories of customers who have been exceedingly generous with their tips. And let’s face it: When one tips well because they genuinely want to, it’s a great feeling.
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