Even though tipping is a global practice, it is not perceived in the same way depending on the country, the culture and the different industries. The amount of money and how to tip depends on the individual.
To understand it better, we will explain everything there is to know about how to tip properly in France.
Do You Have to Tip in France?
Tipping in France is not mandatory. Even though it is always appreciated, it’s up to the customers to decide if they want to tip or not.
Unlike other countries, the price of the service is included in the total cost of the bill. You will never be asked to tip, but it’s common to leave one if the service was good.
Tipping or not is entirely at your discretion.
However, it is not always obvious to know how to proceed, especially if you are not familiar with the country. It is not easy either to know what amount is appropriate to the context.
How to Tip for Each Service
In France, tips go from 5 to 20% of the total price, and the amount of the tip depends on the type of service.
There are no strict rules about tips, but there are general patterns that you can follow.
What to tip at the restaurant in France?
At the restaurant, the price of the service is included in the bill and the waiters are directly paid with that amount (generally around 15% of the total cost). If you are pleased with your experience, it is acceptable to tip 5% of the total price of the bill.
For example, if the bill is €50, leave a €2.50 tip. In most cases, the tips will go directly to the waiter, who will appreciate it.
What to tip at the bar in France?
In bars, it is generally accepted to leave one euro per drink if you are happy with the service. If you have opened a full bottle, then you can leave €2 per bottle.
At any time, you can leave more if you feel like it. For example, the barman prepared a special drink to meet your taste or he answered a specific demand.
What to tip at the hotel in France?
Hotels, and especially luxury hotels, gather various jobs in the service industry, and you have the possibility to leave tips for them. In this kind of establishment, tipping is very common.
Here a few job examples and the generally-accepted tips:
- Parking valet: €10 (or €5 at the beginning of your stay, €5 at the end)
- Porter: €1 per luggage
- Cleaner: depending on the duration of your stay, leave 5, 10 or 20 euros in an envelope on the bed or the nightstand
- Concierge: if they made your life easier during your stay, consider tipping them generously (€30, €50 or more, it is up to you)
This list is non-exhaustive. If they helped you, don’t hesitate to thank any other staff member with a tip.
Concerning the restaurant, which is most certainly top-of-the-range, you can follow the same rules previously mentioned. However I recommend you to be generous with the waiter, whose work will certainly have been flawless.
What to tip a driver in France?
Tipping a taxi driver is usually decided on the spot and depends on how helpful the driver is, as well as the quality of the service.
If a taxi driver steps out of his vehicle to help take care of your luggage, if he is friendly or if he goes above and beyond so that you don’t miss your flight, you can round up to the next euro or tell him to keep the change.
Concerning private drivers that you find on applications such as Uber or Lyft, it is good manners to leave a tip, especially if the driver has done everything to make your ride enjoyable and in the best conditions possible (drinks, a smooth driving, an unexpected passenger, etc.).
Other services
You can leave tips for all professions that include any kind of service.
The amounts are similar. Two to five euros will be appreciated by your hairdresser or esthetician.
People will be especially thankful of your generosity if it’s indicated that the person who is serving you is paid only with tips (cinema ushers for example).
If the circumstances are unclear and that you are hesitating, just remember that one or two euros will never be taken as an offense and it is not overboard.
What to Do if I Don’t Know How to Leave a Tip?
Tipping is sometimes not easy if you don’t know how to do it. Do you have to give it yourself, leave the money on the table? Most of the time, tipping is in cash.
In cafés, you can leave the coins in the little plate that comes with your bill (if you are paying with cash). For delivery men, you often have to pay beforehand by card. In that case, you can give them a few euros in person.
If in doubt, you will notice that in most shops, there are little containers of various shapes and colors near the cash register. These boxes are often displayed with a handwritten note to encourage you to tip. People will always be thankful if you leave a few coins in these boxes.
Note that the only places where tips will be explicitly asked are on applications such as Uber, Uber Eats, Lyft or Deliveroo. If the delivery man was nice, it is good manners to round up to the next euro. The applications also offer to let you decide on the exact amount you wish to tip. One or two euros will be appreciated.
Despite all these unofficial rules regarding tips, note that it is always good to adapt the amount to the effort that the person has put into helping you. If a waiter found a well-located table during a rush, if the delivery man accepted to climb all the stairs to your door, if the driver was especially helpful, do not hesitate to tip a little more than what you originally planned.
Conclusion
Each tip is always at the discretion of the customer. There might be some general patterns but tipping is always facultative and even though it will be traditionally appreciated in certain fields, you will never be blamed for not tipping.
If you decide to tip, just follow the few unofficial rules and generally-accepted amounts mentioned above, or just leave a few euros. Tips will always be welcome and appreciated.
Summary Table
| Amount of the tip | |
|---|---|
| Restaurant | Around 5% of the total cost |
| Bar | €1 per drink, €2 per bottle |
| Luxury Hotel | Parking valet: €10 Porter: €1 per luggage Cleaner: 5, 10, 20€ Concierge: 30, 40€ (to your discretion) |
| Driver | Round up to the next euro or keep the change |
| Other Services | €2 to €5 |
I aim to share my tips and recommendations for the beautiful country of France. My goal is to help you plan your next adventure, whether it’s a weekend getaway or a once-in-a-lifetime trip. From finding the best hotels and restaurants, to discovering unique activities and sights, I’ve got you covered!
