Tipping guide

Tipping in Canada

Canada tips much like the US, a notch lower. Card terminals prompt you every time, and the suggested percentages have crept upward faster than the custom has.

This calculator needs JavaScript. The country guidance below works without it.

What are you paying for?
How was the service?
Split between
1 person
Enter a bill amount to see your tip

Tipping in Canada at a glance

Tipping is expected, a notch below US levels

  • Restaurant (sit-down)
    15-20%
  • Cafe / Bar
    10-15%
  • Taxi / Rideshare
    10-15%
  • Food delivery
    10-15%
  • Tour guide / Driver
    10-15%
  • Spa / Salon / Barber
    15-20%
  • Hotel housekeeping
    $4.00 per night
  • Hotel porter / Bellhop
    $3.00 per bag
  • Valet parking
    $6.00 per car
  • Hotel concierge
    $10.00 per request

Card terminals almost always prompt with suggested percentages. Those suggestions run high — 15% is still perfectly normal.

Rates shown are typical amounts, converted to local currency at approximately 27 Aug 2026. Tipping customs evolve and vary from region to region, so treat this as your best starting point rather than a hard rule. Where a bill already shows a service charge, that is usually the tip.

Common questions

How much do you tip in Canada?

15-18% is standard for restaurant table service, 20% for service you were genuinely happy with.

Is the tip calculated before or after tax?

Custom is on the pre-tax subtotal, but most terminals calculate on the total including GST/PST. On a large bill that difference is worth noticing.

Do you tip in Quebec differently?

No — the same 15-18% applies. You will just see the suggestions labelled in French, and the pre-tax figure is often printed helpfully on the receipt.

International tipping guides by country

Open the free online tipping calculator — or read the guidance for another destination.