Skip to content

Tipping in Italy

Not expectedEUR (€)Tips: cash preferred

Here's the tip.

Italians barely tip. Rounding up is enough.

Tipping is not part of everyday Italian life. Restaurant bills usually carry a coperto (cover charge) or servizio, and many people leave nothing on top. Visitors who round up or leave a few euros after a good meal are being polite, not meeting an obligation.

At a glance

Card tipping. Card machines rarely prompt for a tip, and adding one to a card payment is unusual. Leave cash if you want to tip.

  • Coperto is a per-person cover charge for bread and table service. It is not a tip and does not go to your server.
  • If the bill says servizio incluso, service is already added. Nothing further is needed.
  • Coffee is cheaper standing at the bar than seated; the price difference is a table charge, not a tip.

Tip calculator

5%
—

ITALY

The tipping cheat sheet

  • RestaurantsRound up, or 5%
  • Cafés10–20 cents
  • BarsRound up
  • TaxisRound up to the nearest euro
  • Hotel porters€1–2 per bag
  • Housekeeping€1–5 per day

WhatTheTipwhatthetip.com/italy

Share on WhatsAppSave image

The image works offline once it’s on your phone

Embed on your siteFree, and it updates itself

Things to do in Italy

Where are you actually going? These are the best rated in each place.

RomePizza and Gelato Making Experience with Fine Italian Wine in Rome5.0·252 reviews·from €99FlorenceThe Florence Pottery Experience: Factory Tour & Masterclass5.0·237 reviews·from €120NaplesDiscover the Magic of the Amalfi and Sorrento Coast by Vespa5.0·254 reviews·from €360VeniceLuxurious Photoshoot in Venice5.0·130 reviews·from €300

Some links may earn WhatTheTip a commission at no extra cost to you.

Travelling in Italy?

Stay connectedGet an eSIM before you land so you can check fares, maps and this guide without roaming charges.View eSIM plansAirport transfersBook a fixed-price transfer in advance and skip the taxi-rank negotiation.Book a transfer

Some links may earn WhatTheTip a commission at no extra cost to you.

Common questions

Do you tip in Italy?
Italians barely tip. Rounding up is enough. Tipping is not part of everyday Italian life. Restaurant bills usually carry a coperto (cover charge) or servizio, and many people leave nothing on top. Visitors who round up or leave a few euros after a good meal are being polite, not meeting an obligation.
How much do you tip at a restaurant in Italy?
Round up, or 5%. Round up the bill, or leave about 5% after a big meal.
Can you tip by card in Italy?
Card machines rarely prompt for a tip, and adding one to a card payment is unusual. Leave cash if you want to tip.

Reviewed by Greg Kockott on 3 September 2026.

Figures checked against the sources below on 4 September 2026.

Sources