Tipping in France

Do you tip in France? How much is a good amount? If you’re dining in a restaurant and are from a “tipping culture,” seeing people around you just walk away without leaving a tip behind can be confusing.

Short answer: No, you do not have to tip in France. Service is already included in menu prices, so a tip is an optional thank you for service you loved, and a few coins or a rounded up bill is plenty.

As a tourist, figuring out cultural norms can be pretty overwhelming, trying to understand and speak the language, navigate the metro system, and figure out which level of politeness to use…the list is endless. How much to tip in France is just one more question on the list.

Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! Here is everything you need to know about tipping in France and how much you’re expected to tip, if at all. 

One thing has genuinely changed since I first wrote this guide: French card machines now ask whether you want to leave a tip, which used to be unheard of, and I cover exactly how to handle that little screen further down.

Are you expected to tip in France?

Tipping in France is different from tipping in the United States. While it is polite to leave a tip for great, or even good, service, you’re not expected to tip in France; no one will be furious if you leave without tipping. 

In France, all workers in the service industry must be paid at least the minimum wage (which is a living wage, not like minimum wage in the US) and are required to take time off, which means the tip that you’re leaving is more of a ‘thank you for a great service’ rather than an income that they need to depend on.

Furthermore, the service charge you receive is already included in the total cost of your bill. This is where it can get confusing for tourists, as they often ask if the tip is included, and when the waiter says no, they believe they have to pay extra.

In France, the tip you leave for table service is called a service charge, and French menus often state service compris, meaning the service charge is included in the meal. The tip for good service is called un pourboire, which is not included in your bill and is not compulsory.

Who do you tip in France and how much?

Although the French Ministry of Economy website says no profession can demand a tip, you may leave one if you wish. It is left to the customer’s discretion and is by no means a necessity or a compulsion.

If you do wish, you can tip anywhere between 5% and 20% of your total bill. It is totally acceptable to leave a few coins, usually one or two euros. In some professions, it is customary to tip a few euros: cinema ushers, valet, tour guides, beauticians, but remember, it is neither required nor expected. 

In practice, most French diners leave far less than 20%. Even at a nice restaurant, 5 to 10% is considered generous, and many people simply leave their small change.

generous, and many people simply leave their small change.

Here is a quick reference you can screenshot and keep on your phone for the trip:

Situation	Typical tip	Expected?
Sit-down restaurant	Round up, or 5 to 10% for great service	Optional
Cafe or terrace drink	Leave the small coins, 10 to 20 centimes	Optional
Fast food or takeaway	Nothing	No
Bar (standing)	A euro or two	Optional
Bar (table service)	Service is already included. Round up, or 1 euro per person for a large group	Optional
Hotel porter	1 to 2 euros per bag	Nice to do
Housekeeping	1 to 2 euros per night	Optional
Taxi or transfer	Round up, or a euro or two per bag	Optional
Hair or beauty	A few euros for a service you loved	Optional
Tour guide	5 to 10 euros for a memorable tour	Appreciated
Free walking tour	Around 5 to 7 euros per person	Appreciated
Theater or cinema usher	1 to 2 euros (private venues only)	Optional
Bathroom attendant	1 to 2 euros	Optional

Tipping in cafes and restaurants

Tipping in French cafes and restaurants is not compulsory as the service charge is included in the total bill, but if you want, you can round up the bill, usually to the nearest euro if it’s a small amount or about two or three euros.

For example, if the total is €7.35, you can round up to €8. In cases where your amount is higher, for example, €57, you can leave behind 60 if you had good service. (At a fine dining or Michelin-star restaurant, 5 to 10% is a generous thank you.) It’s always good to appreciate the waiting staff if they went out of the way to accommodate you or if you were a particularly fussy guest.

Tipping at a terrace or a cafe is not the norm in France. These are very casual eating or drinking places, and no one expects a tip here. If you’re feeling generous, you can leave 10 or even 20 centimes, but anything more than this is usually not needed.

Then again, you don’t have to feel like a Scrooge if you pay only the amount of your bill. Very rarely would you see French people tipping in casual restaurants. This used to be partly because French card machines couldn’t add a tip, but that is changing quickly, and many now ask if you want to leave one when you pay, which I explain in the card section below.

In France, you don’t need to tip if you receive bad service, not even one centime.

Tipping for take-out or fast-food

Fast food restaurants are the most casual places to eat and are self-service, so the service charge isn’t included on the bill because you’re not receiving table service. Most restaurants will have a tipping jar at the cash counter where you can drop some coins if you want, but it’s not necessary to do it every time you visit one.

Tipping in bars

Tipping in bars is more common than in cafes or restaurants. If you’re sitting at a table, the service charge should already be included in your bill, but not if you’re standing. In this case, leaving one or two euros is acceptable.

Most bars have a tipping jar near the cash counter where you can leave cash or coins. If you have a larger group and the barman was quite accommodating, you can also leave behind a larger amount, one euro per person or 5-10% of your bill. If you are seated at a table, the included service charge already covers the basics, so anything extra is simply a thank you.

Tipping at a hotel in France

While staying at a hotel, whether luxury or not, tipping for every service person you encounter is optional. For example, if the hotel concierge was particularly helpful in finding places that match your interests or was able to book you a reservation at a fully booked restaurant, €5-10 is a good way to show appreciation.  

For porters, it is common to give €1 per luggage item. Depending on the duration of your stay, you can leave between €5-20 in an envelope in the room. Room service is similar to take-outs; you can tip one or two euros (or 5-10%) or not give anything at all. For valets, it is a good idea to tip €10: €5 when they take your car in at the beginning, and €5 later when they bring it back. 

Tipping delivery workers

Tipping for food or grocery delivery has become quite common, as most apps let you leave a pre-defined or custom amount when placing the order, and sometimes even after delivery. If paying in cash, you can round up to the next euro or leave a little extra if your place was hard to find.

Tipping for taxi drivers

Tipping taxi drivers is not mandatory, but locals commonly round up to the nearest euro or leave a tip of up to 5 percent. If the driver assists with your luggage, especially if it is bulky, it is customary to tip one or two euros per bag.

Tipping for beauty services

When you go to a beauty salon or a masseuse, it is normal to pay for your haircut or your massage without adding any extra tips. If you were particularly happy with the service, the same rule of one or two euros as a tip applies here.

Keep in mind that if you tip for the first time and plan to return, the worker might expect a tip every time you come back. 

Tipping tour guides in France

Tipping a tour guide is never required, but it is a kind gesture, and the table above shows a typical amount for a memorable paid tour. Free walking tours work a little differently, because the guide is usually paid only through tips. For those, around 5 to 7 euros per person is a commonly suggested amount.

Tipping ushers and bathroom attendants in France

You might recall this from Emily in Paris. In Season 2, Episode 1, Mindy performs (and works as Madame Pipi) at the La Nouvelle Eve club in Pigalle.

In private theaters and cinemas, ushers appreciate 1 or 2 euros, but you never have to leave anything. Public theaters such as the Paris Opera do not accept tips. If a bathroom attendant is on duty, a euro or two is a kind thank you.

Tipping by card in France

Short answer: yes, you can often tip by card now, but you never have to, and you can always choose no tip.

For years the honest answer to “can I tip by card in France?” was no, because the machines simply had no button for it. That has changed. Since 2022, France has exempted voluntary tips, including card tips, from income tax and social contributions for most customer-facing staff, and that exemption has been renewed every year (the 2026 finance law extends it through 2028). Alongside it, more and more cafes, restaurants, and bars use terminals that ask if you want to add a little something when you tap or insert your card.

When that screen appears, you will usually see a few set amounts, often one, two, or five euros, or a percentage, along with an option for another amount or no tip at all. The options vary by location. Recent reports describe percentage screens that run anywhere from 2% to 15%, which can be more than French diners usually leave, and some terminals have no percentage option at all.

Tapping no tip isn’t rude, so please don’t feel cornered by the screen. If you do add one, the tip should reach the staff, so a card tip can be as kind as leaving coins on the table, though cash is the surest way to ensure it goes straight to the person who served you.

If there is no tip screen and you would still like to tip by card, tell your server before you pay, because they have to enter it for you. Otherwise, a euro or two in coins is the simplest option.

Tipping for Other Services in France

Remember, France is not big on tipping, and people in the service industry don’t have to rely on tips to make a good living, but you can, of course, leave a small tip for almost any service profession.

If someone goes out of their way to accommodate your needs, it is good to appreciate their effort with a tip, usually one or two euros, but it can be higher depending on the effort and difficulty. 

Tipping Etiquette in France: Quick Rules to Remember

• Make sure you have spare change. Tipping is easier if you have one or two euro coins and a couple of centimes with you. More and more French card machines now let you add a tip right on the screen, but plenty still do not, so a little cash saves any awkwardness with a larger bill.
  • I recommend a coin purse for anyone traveling to Paris.
• If you’re in a large group, it is a good idea to leave behind a tip. Everyone can either chip in one euro or go by percentages (anywhere between 5-10% is appreciated).
• There’s absolutely no need to tip if you receive bad service. If you tip in spite of poor service, you’re only enabling that behavior.
• If you see a sign stating “pourboire interdit,” it means tipping is not allowed. It’s best not to tip in such cases.
• Tipping is at your discretion. No one will call you a penny pincher if you leave only 5%.

Tipping in France FAQ

At the end of the day, tipping in France should be easy, not stressful. Pay what is on the bill, round up or leave a couple of euros when someone takes lovely care of you, and put your energy into the food and the view instead of the math. If this is your first trip, you might also like my guide to Paris for the first time and my full Paris travel guide, which cover the other little customs that catch travelers out.

If you enjoy picking up these small customs, my guide to French market etiquette is a great next read.

How about you? Have you encountered other situations where you wondered whether to tip? What has your experience been? Do share!