Tipping in Australia
Not expectedAUD ($)
Here's the tip.
Not expected. Staff are paid a proper wage.
Australia has one of the world's highest minimum wages and hospitality staff are paid accordingly, with penalty rates on evenings, weekends and public holidays. Tipping is genuinely optional, and leaving nothing is completely normal. A tip is a compliment, not a top-up.
At a glance
- RestaurantsOptionalNot expected. 10% for excellent service
- CafésNot expectedNot expected
- BarsNot expectedNot expected
- TaxisOptionalRound up
- Hotel portersOptional$2–5 per bag
- HousekeepingNot expectedNot expected
- Tour guidesOptional$5–10 per person
- Private driversOptionalRound up, or $10
- Boat & yacht chartersOptionalNot expected. 5–10% for a great crew
Card tipping. Card terminals increasingly show a tip prompt, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne. It is entirely optional and skipping it is normal.
- A surcharge of 10–15% on Sundays and public holidays reflects penalty rates paid to staff. It is not a service charge and does not replace a tip.
- Card payment surcharges of 1–2% are common and are a processing fee, not a gratuity.
Tip calculator
- 10%
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AUSTRALIA
The tipping cheat sheet
- RestaurantsNot expected. 10% for excellent service
- CafésNot expected
- BarsNot expected
- TaxisRound up
- Hotel porters$2–5 per bag
- HousekeepingNot expected
WhatTheTipwhatthetip.com/australia
Common questions
- Do you tip in Australia?
- Not expected. Staff are paid a proper wage. Australia has one of the world's highest minimum wages and hospitality staff are paid accordingly, with penalty rates on evenings, weekends and public holidays. Tipping is genuinely optional, and leaving nothing is completely normal. A tip is a compliment, not a top-up.
- How much do you tip at a restaurant in Australia?
- Not expected. 10% for excellent service. Nothing required. Round up or leave 10% if it was great. Leaving nothing at an Australian restaurant is perfectly normal and nobody will react. Rounding up the bill, or leaving around 10% at an upmarket restaurant after a genuinely good meal, is the outer edge of what locals do. Cafés and counter service take nothing at all.
- Can you tip by card in Australia?
- Card terminals increasingly show a tip prompt, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne. It is entirely optional and skipping it is normal.
Other destinations
Editorial review pending. These figures reflect widely reported norms for Australia and have not yet been checked against cited sources.