🇬🇧 UK Tip Calculator
UK Tipping Etiquette and Standards 2025
Restaurant tipping in the UK typically ranges 10-15%, with 12.5% most common for table service. Unlike the US where 20% is standard, UK servers receive minimum wage (£11.44/hour for ages 21+, £8.60 for 18-20 from April 2024) making tips supplementary rather than essential income. £60 restaurant bill warrants £7.50 tip (12.5%), £100 bill deserves £12.50. Many restaurants add discretionary service charge (usually 12.5%) automatically to bills—check before adding extra tip to avoid double-tipping. Service charges appear as separate line item and legally belong to staff, though restaurants can use them for any purpose including wages.
Fine dining expectations differ: Michelin-starred restaurants expect 15-20% tips for exceptional service, casual chains like Pizza Express or Nando's accept 10% or rounding up. Pubs serving only drinks don't expect tips (buy bartender a drink instead), but gastropubs serving food follow restaurant norms. Fast food, takeaways, and self-service establishments require no tips. Coffee shops increasingly have tip jars or card machine prompts—£3 coffee might prompt 50p-£1 tip (17-33%), though not obligatory. Delivery services like Deliveroo and Uber Eats allow in-app tipping (10-15% typical), but check if delivery fee already includes driver payment.
When to Adjust Your Tip in the UK
Service quality determines appropriate tip amount. Exceptional service (attentive, knowledgeable, friendly) deserves 15-20%—waiter accommodated dietary restrictions, recommended perfect wine pairing, timed courses perfectly. Good standard service earns 12.5% baseline. Adequate but unremarkable service warrants 10%. Poor service (inattentive, mistakes, wrong orders, rude behavior) justifies reducing or withholding tip entirely. Explain concerns to manager before leaving no tip—problems might be kitchen's fault not server's. Slow service during obvious understaffing shouldn't penalize waitstaff.
Group dining complications: large parties (8+ people) often incur automatic 15% service charge noted on menu. Verify bill doesn't double-count if you add tip. Split bills require coordinating tips—£200 bill for 6 people with 12.5% tip = £225 total, £37.50 each. Some diners prefer splitting bill evenly including tip, others calculate individual shares plus proportional tip. Card payments increasingly common: most UK card machines prompt for tip percentage (0%, 10%, 12.5%, 15%, custom), adding amount to total charge. Cash tips go directly to server avoiding potential tip-pooling systems where tips distribute among all staff. Tipping taxi drivers: round up fare (£8.50 becomes £9) or add 10% for longer journeys, no tip expected for short trips under £5.
UK Service Charges vs Tips Explained
Service charges (SC) differ from tips legally. Discretionary service charge can be removed if service was poor—ask manager to remove it, legally obligated to comply. Mandatory service charge cannot be removed and acts like additional menu price. Always discretionary unless explicitly stated "mandatory" or "compulsory." Restaurants must clearly display service charge policy: menu should state "A discretionary 12.5% service charge will be added to your bill" before ordering. Unclear charges warrant questioning—don't assume percentage.
Service charge distribution varies by establishment. Some restaurants distribute 100% to staff (tronc system overseen by troncmaster), others use service charges to top up wages to minimum wage levels, keeping surplus. Since October 2024, new tipping regulations require businesses to pass 100% of tips and service charges to workers without deductions for credit card processing fees or administration. Tips must be distributed fairly and transparently within one month of receipt. Workers can request written tipping policy. Check receipts carefully: "Service Charge £7.50" means £7.50 added to bill, while "Suggested tip £7.50" means tip not yet added—confusion causes double-tipping. Ask "Is service included?" before adding tip. Tipping with card via service charge ensures tip is documented for fair distribution, cash tips might be pocketed by specific server.
Tipping in Other UK Service Industries
Hotel staff tipping practices: porters £1-2 per bag, housekeeping £2-5 per night left in room with note, concierge £5-10 for exceptional service booking hard-to-get reservations or tickets. Room service already includes delivery charge; additional £2-3 tip appropriate. Valet parking deserves £2-5. No tips expected for front desk check-in/out. Spa treatments typically include 10-15% tip for therapist, either added to bill or cash in envelope. Some spas include service charge; verify to avoid double-tipping.
Hair salons expect 10-15% tip for stylist, plus £2-5 for hair washer/assistant if separate person. £50 haircut merits £5-7.50 tip. Some high-end salons include service in pricing—ask if unsure. Taxi/Uber: round up or add 10% for good service, helpful luggage handling, or route knowledge. Minicabs and ride-sharing drivers increasingly expect tips via app (10-15%). Black cabs traditionally round up to nearest pound. Tour guides deserve £3-5 per person for half-day tour, £5-10 for full-day tour. Private tour guides warrant 15-20% of tour cost. No tipping expected for museum guides, National Trust volunteers, or free walking tours (though £5-10 appreciated). Tattoo artists receive 15-20% tip for good work—£200 tattoo deserves £30-40 tip, either cash or added to card payment.