Tipping in France
Do You Tip in France?
The Complete Answer
Tipping is one of the most common sources of anxiety for visitors to France — and the good news is that it is genuinely simpler than in many other countries. Here is exactly what to do in every situation.
The Law: Service Is Already Included
This is the single most important fact to understand about tipping in France: by law, a 15% service charge is built into the price of every item on a restaurant, café, or bar menu. This is called <em>service compris</em> (service included), and it is not optional for the business — it is a legal requirement, and it goes towards paying staff.
This is fundamentally different from countries like the United States, where waitstaff are often paid a lower base wage specifically because tips are expected to make up the difference. In France, restaurant and café staff are paid a proper wage regardless of how much (or whether) customers tip. This means, strictly speaking, you do not need to tip anything at all in France and no one will consider it rude.
You may occasionally see the term <em>service non compris</em> on an older menu or receipt, indicating service is not included — this is now rare, as the law has applied broadly since the 1950s, but it is worth knowing the phrase in case you encounter it.
The Key Takeaway
In France, tipping is a bonus for good service, never an obligation to cover a wage shortfall. You will never be viewed as rude or cheap for not tipping. This single mental shift resolves most tipping anxiety for visitors.
Restaurants and Cafés
While tipping is not required, leaving a small amount for genuinely good service is common and appreciated — this is called <em>laisser un pourboire</em>. It is a discretionary gesture of appreciation, not a calculated percentage.
| Setting | Common Practice |
|---|---|
| Café / bar (coffee, drinks) | Rounding up to the nearest euro, or leaving small coins |
| Casual restaurant / bistro | Rounding up to the nearest €5, or leaving a few euros in cash |
| Nicer restaurant, good service | €5–€10, or roughly 5% in cash, left on the table |
| Exceptional service / special occasion | Up to 10% is generous and will be genuinely appreciated |
Tips are almost always left in cash, even if you paid the bill by card — this ensures the money goes directly to staff rather than through the business's accounting. If leaving cash, place it discreetly on the table as you leave, rather than handing it directly to the waiter.
Taxis and Rideshare
Rounding up to the nearest euro is the standard practice for taxis — for example, rounding a €13.40 fare up to €14 or €15. For particularly good service (help with heavy luggage, a driver who went out of their way), a little more is appropriate but never expected. Rideshare apps like Uber typically build tipping into the app itself, and it follows the same "nice but optional" logic.
Hotels
| Role | Typical Amount |
|---|---|
| Porter (carrying bags) | €1–€2 per bag |
| Housekeeping | €1–€2 per day, left in the room (optional, increasingly common) |
| Concierge (special help, reservations) | €5–€10 for a genuinely useful favour |
| Doorman (calling a taxi, opening doors) | A euro or two, or nothing — entirely optional |
Tour Guides and Excursions
For a private or small-group tour where the guide has clearly put in real effort, €5–€10 per person for a half-day tour, or €10–€20 for a full-day tour, is a reasonable and appreciated gesture for good service. For free walking tours (which typically operate on a "pay what you feel" model), a tip of €10–€15 per person is the expected way the guide is actually compensated — check whether this is the case, as it changes the etiquette from "optional bonus" to "the actual payment model."
When NOT to Tip
Tipping is not customary and can even seem unusual at: bakeries and pâtisseries (counter service), supermarkets, fast food chains, and most takeaway food. You also don't need to tip for basic, functional service anywhere — tipping in France should always reflect a genuine sense that the service exceeded a normal, adequate standard.
Tipping Vocabulary
| French | English |
|---|---|
| le pourboire | tip |
| service compris | service included (in the price, by law) |
| Gardez la monnaie. | keep the change |
| C'est pour vous. | that's for you (when leaving a tip) |
| Rendez-moi la monnaie. | give me my change (if you don't want to tip) |
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