Tipping in Canada
Tipping is expected in Canada. Not tipping can be considered rude.
Calculate your tip
Tipping quick reference
| Service | Recommended | Range | Payment | Service charge? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurant 15–20% is standard, mirroring US norms (slightly more in Quebec) | 18% | 15–20% | Card or cash | No |
| Taxi 10–15% of the fare; round up for shorter rides | 15% | 10–20% | Card or cash | No |
| Hotel housekeeping C$2–5 per night, left daily | C$3 per night | C$2–C$5 | Cash only | No |
| Hotel porter C$1–2 per bag for bellhop service | C$2 per bag | C$1–C$5 | Cash only | No |
| Bar C$1–2 per drink at the bar, 15–20% on a tab | 18% | 15–20% | Card or cash | No |
| Café Counter tipping common; 10–15% on the tablet prompt | 10% | 0–15% | Card or cash | No |
| Hairdresser 15–20% of the bill | 18% | 15–20% | Cash only | No |
| Tour guide C$10–15 per day for group tours; more for private | C$15 per person | C$10–C$25 | Cash only | No |
| Food delivery 10–15% of the order | 15% | 10–20% | Card or cash | No |
| Spa & massage Therapists are commonly tipped around 20% of the treatment | 20% | 15–25% | Cash only | No |
| Valet parking A small cash tip when the car is returned is customary | C$5 per service | C$2–C$10 | Cash only | No |
Tipping Culture in Canada
Canadian tipping is close enough to US norms that most visitors barely notice the difference — 15–20% at sit-down restaurants, similar percentages at bars and salons — but it’s also at the centre of a genuine national backlash right now. Digital payment terminals prompting for a tip have spread far beyond restaurants into cafés, takeout counters, and even retail, and surveys through 2026 show a large majority of Canadians say tipping culture has gone too far. Many now openly favor moving toward higher base wages and away from tipping altogether — a debate you’ll likely notice in the news if you spend any time here.
That tension matters for how to actually tip well: the classic 15–20% at a full-service restaurant is still solidly expected, but a tip prompt at a self-serve counter or a quick takeout order is a newer, more optional ask — locals increasingly skip it or hit “no tip” without any awkwardness. Quebec adds one more layer: it maintains a separate, lower minimum wage for tipped employees than the general rate, which is part of why tipping still carries real weight for service workers there.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Tip on the pre-tax subtotal. Canadian sales tax (GST/PST/HST, depending on the province) shouldn’t factor into your tip calculation.
- It’s fine to decline a tip prompt at counter service. Quick-service and takeout tip requests are a recent expansion, not an established norm — many Canadians routinely select “no tip” there.
- Quebec has a separate tipped minimum wage. As of 2026 it’s a few dollars below the general minimum wage, so tips there genuinely supplement income rather than being purely a bonus.
- A full-service restaurant meal still calls for 15–20%. That expectation hasn’t changed, even as attitudes toward tipping elsewhere have shifted.
Tipping FAQ for Canada
How much should I tip at a Canadian restaurant? 15–20% of the pre-tax bill is standard for sit-down service, in line with US norms.
Do I have to tip at self-serve or takeout counters? No. Tip prompts have spread to many quick-service settings, but it’s increasingly common and socially fine to decline them.
Is tipping the same across all of Canada? Mostly, though Quebec maintains a separate, lower minimum wage for tipped workers, and surveys show slightly less “tip creep” fatigue there than in provinces like British Columbia.
Should I tip before or after tax? Before tax — calculate your tip on the pre-tax subtotal shown on the bill.