Tipping in Lebanon
Tipping is expected in Lebanon. Not tipping can be considered rude.
Calculate your tip
Tipping quick reference
| Service | Recommended | Range | Payment | Service charge? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurant ~15% customary at restaurants; since the currency crisis, small US dollar notes are widely used for tips | 15% | 10–15% | Card or cash | No |
| Taxi A tip of around 10% or rounding up the fare is customary | 10% | 5–15% | Card or cash | No |
| Hotel housekeeping A small daily cash tip for housekeeping is customary | ل.ل200000 per night | ل.ل100000–ل.ل300000 | Cash only | No |
| Hotel porter A small tip per bag for porters is customary | ل.ل100000 per bag | ل.ل100000–ل.ل200000 | Cash only | No |
| Bar Small change or a note per drink is appreciated | ل.ل100000 per drink | ل.ل0–ل.ل200000 | Card or cash | No |
| Café Small tips or tip jars are common at counters | 5% | 0–10% | Card or cash | No |
| Hairdresser Tipping around 10% is customary in salons | 10% | 5–15% | Cash only | No |
| Tour guide Guides are commonly tipped per person for a tour or day | ل.ل500000 per person | ل.ل200000–ل.ل1000000 | Cash only | No |
| Food delivery A small tip for delivery drivers is customary | 5% | 0–10% | Card or cash | No |
| Spa & massage Therapists are commonly tipped around 10% of the treatment | 10% | 5–15% | Cash only | No |
| Valet parking A small cash tip when the car is returned is customary | ل.ل100000 per service | ل.ل100000–ل.ل200000 | Cash only | No |
Tipping Culture in Lebanon
Tipping in Lebanon is genuinely expected — around 15% at restaurants is customary — but the more useful thing to understand before you go is what actually happens to the money once you leave it. Since 2019, the Lebanese pound has lost roughly 98% of its value against the US dollar, and while the exchange rate has held relatively steady at around 89,500 LBP per dollar since February 2024, the underlying economy remains fragile, with reserves declining and regional conflict adding further risk in 2026. In response, daily life in Lebanon — including tipping — has become heavily dollarized: US dollars are the currency people actually want, save, and use for anything beyond small change.
That’s why small US dollar bills are the most practical way to tip in Lebanon today, particularly for restaurant staff, hotel workers, and tour guides. Lebanese pounds still work for smaller amounts and everyday tips, but the sheer scale of the numbers involved — tipping in the hundreds of thousands of LBP for a single meal — makes dollars the simpler, more genuinely useful currency for both visitors and recipients.
Lebanon’s banking system adds a practical wrinkle: capital controls imposed since the 2019 crisis have made card payments and bank transfers unreliable, and many Lebanese still can’t freely access dollar deposits frozen in local banks. Cash — specifically physical dollars — is the most dependable way to pay for almost everything, tips very much included.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Small US dollar bills are the practical tipping currency. Lebanese pounds still work for everyday tips, but USD is what most service workers actually want and use.
- The exchange rate has stabilized, but the economy remains fragile. 89,500 LBP per dollar has held since February 2024, though regional conflict risk could still disrupt it.
- Cash is essential — card payments are unreliable. Lebanon’s banking system has been under capital controls since 2019, making cash the dependable option for tips and most transactions.
- 15% is the restaurant benchmark, in whichever currency you use. Calculating in USD is often simpler than working with large LBP figures.
Tipping FAQ for Lebanon
Should I tip in US dollars or Lebanese pounds in Lebanon? US dollars are the more practical choice — Lebanon’s economy has become heavily dollarized since the 2019 currency crisis, and dollars hold real, stable value in a way pounds increasingly don’t for savings purposes.
Why did the Lebanese pound lose so much value? It’s lost about 98% of its value against the US dollar since the 2019 financial crisis, though the rate has held relatively steady at around 89,500 LBP per dollar since February 2024.
Can I tip using a card in Lebanon? It’s best not to rely on it — capital controls since 2019 have made card payments and bank transfers unreliable; cash is the dependable option.
How much should I tip at a Lebanese restaurant? Around 15% is customary for good service — calculating in US dollars is often simpler than working with large Lebanese pound figures.