Restaurants · Germany
Do you tip at restaurants in Germany?
Short answer
5–10%
Round up by 5–10%, stated when you pay.
Common
Five percent for a casual meal, closer to 10% at a nicer restaurant. The convention is to round to a clean figure and tell the server that total as you pay, rather than leaving money behind. Bills are usually settled at the table, and splitting a bill several ways is completely normal in Germany.
In practice
- A €37 bill → say 'forty' and pay €40
- A €92 dinner → pay €100
Tip calculator
- 5%
- —
- 10%
- —
Cash or card?
Card is now widely accepted but cash remains common. When paying by card, state the total including the tip before the server enters the amount.
Common questions
- Do you tip at restaurants in Germany?
- Round up by 5–10%, stated when you pay. Five percent for a casual meal, closer to 10% at a nicer restaurant. The convention is to round to a clean figure and tell the server that total as you pay, rather than leaving money behind. Bills are usually settled at the table, and splitting a bill several ways is completely normal in Germany.
- How much should you tip at restaurants in Germany?
- 5–10%. Round up by 5–10%, stated when you pay.
- Can you tip by card in Germany?
- Card is now widely accepted but cash remains common. When paying by card, state the total including the tip before the server enters the amount.
More on tipping in Germany
Tipping at restaurants elsewhere
← Full tipping guide for Germany
Reviewed by Greg Kockott on 3 September 2026.
Compiled from widely reported guidance for Germany. Not yet source-checked.