Restaurants · France
Do you tip at restaurants in France?
Short answer
Round up, or 5%
Nothing is required. Leave a few euros if you enjoyed it.
OptionalCash preferred
Because service is included, leaving nothing is completely acceptable and common among locals. After a good meal many people leave loose change or round up; 5% at a nicer restaurant is generous. Leave it in cash on the table, adding it to the card payment is unusual.
In practice
- A €76 dinner for two → leave €80
- A €38 lunch → leave €40
Tip calculator
- 5%
- —
Cash or card?
Card terminals in France almost never prompt for a tip. If you want to leave one, use cash.
Common questions
- Do you tip at restaurants in France?
- Nothing is required. Leave a few euros if you enjoyed it. Because service is included, leaving nothing is completely acceptable and common among locals. After a good meal many people leave loose change or round up; 5% at a nicer restaurant is generous. Leave it in cash on the table, adding it to the card payment is unusual.
- How much should you tip at restaurants in France?
- Round up, or 5%. Nothing is required. Leave a few euros if you enjoyed it.
- Can you tip by card in France?
- Card terminals in France almost never prompt for a tip. If you want to leave one, use cash.
More on tipping in France
Tipping at restaurants elsewhere
← Full tipping guide for France
Reviewed by Greg Kockott on 3 September 2026.
Compiled from widely reported guidance for France. Not yet source-checked.