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Last reviewed · Sep 2026

About Tipping Rules

Independent tipping guidance for 200+ destinations — reviewed against current sources

Tipping Rules is an independent travel reference for understanding when tipping is expected, how much is customary, and when no tip is needed. We publish structured guidance across 212 destinations, including country guides, a free tipping calculator, an interactive world tipping map, and a downloadable global tipping dataset. No app download or account is required.

What you get

  • Country guides with a clear Quick Answer for restaurants, taxis, hotels, tours, and related situations where we have solid editorial guidance.
  • A tip calculator that follows each destination's published norms: percentages, round-up, fixed amounts, or service included.
  • The world tipping map: typical tipping expectations across all 212 destinations.
  • The World Tipping Guide: a browsable reference table across all 212 destinations (not a ranking).
  • The Global Tipping Dataset: download and cite the structured CSV (CC BY 4.0), with field definitions and methodology.
  • Regional and event guides for focused travel questions.
  • Optional trip essentials on some country pages (tours, eSIM, money tools), kept separate from tipping research.

Independent by design

Tipping Rules is independently built and maintained. We are not part of a travel agency or booking company, and commercial partnerships do not decide what we publish about tipping.

How we work

We research one destination at a time, compare several current sources, check updates before they go live, and revise when better evidence shows up. Published guidance is tied to reviewed sources on each destination page (and in the structured Index snapshot). We aim for clear, practical guidance rather than rigid rules, and we do not invent tip amounts when the evidence is too weak. Details: How tipping rules are reviewed.

Country pages show a Last reviewed date. The Global Tipping Dataset carries the public version label for the structured snapshot used by the Guide and map.

In the press

Tipping Rules and its global tipping dataset have been featured by independent travel and news publications.

Travel essentials & affiliate links

On some country pages we show optional third-party travel tools (for example eSIM, transfers, or activities). They are optional, and we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate partnerships do not influence our tipping guidance.

Corrections and feedback

Customs evolve. If something looks outdated, contact us with the destination, situation, and a supporting source when you have one. We review corrections before changing published guidance.