Heading across the Tasman? New Zealand’s tipping customs are similarly relaxed — see my guide to tipping in New Zealand.
Tipping in Australia is not expected anywhere — pay the bill as written and nobody thinks twice. If service truly impressed you, ~10% at a sit-down restaurant is the welcome thank-you; otherwise rounding up a fare or tipping a great tour guide is plenty.
Australia tip calculator
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Tip is calculated on the bill before tax and any service charge.
Tipping rates in Australia
| Service | What to tip |
|---|---|
| Restaurants Nothing is expected at casual spots. At upscale restaurants with attentive table service, ~10% is the standard gesture of appreciation (Traveloka). |
10% — optional, excellent service at sit-down restaurants |
| Bars No tip expected at bars or pubs; leaving small change after a long evening is a friendly gesture, not a norm (Traveloka; PocketCultures). |
0% — not customary |
| Hotels Most guests don't tip hotel staff. AUD 2 per bag for porters at upscale hotels is reasonable; housekeeping tips are uncommon (Traveloka). |
0% — AUD 2 per bag for porters at upscale hotels |
| Taxis Drivers don't expect tips; rounding up the fare (e.g., $23 → $25) is the typical courtesy, and Uber in-app tips are usually skipped (Traveloka; PocketCultures). |
0% — round up to the nearest dollar or two |
| Tour guides One of the clearest tipping situations in Australia: AUD 10–15 per person for a half-day tour, AUD 20–30 for a full day, in cash at the end (Traveloka). |
AUD 10–30 per person for day tours (not percentage-based) |
Tipping at restaurants in the USA? Use the main tipping calculator.
Example
At a fine-dining restaurant, a AUD 120 bill with excellent service calls for about a 10% tip — AUD 12, for a AUD 132 total. At a pub, café, or casual bistro, that same AUD 120 means no tip at all: pay the bill and walk out with a clear conscience.
Why tipping works this way in Australia
Australia never built a tipped-wage system: hospitality workers earn the full national minimum wage — AUD 23.23 per hour — with penalty rates for weekends and holidays, so tips were never a wage subsidy. That makes an Australian tip what it says on the tin: a voluntary thank-you for service that genuinely impressed you, which is why most locals leave nothing and think nothing of it (Traveloka).
Tipping mistakes tourists make in Australia
- Treating the card terminal's tip prompt (5%/10%/15%) as an obligation — locals routinely tap 'no tip' with zero awkwardness (Traveloka).
- Leaving a US-style 20% at restaurants — the appreciative gesture for excellent fine-dining service is ~10%, and casual spots expect nothing at all (Traveloka; PocketCultures).
- Tipping café staff and bartenders — not expected at cafés, bars, or pubs; 'keep the change' is the local move (PocketCultures).
- Tipping to make up for low wages — Australian hospitality staff earn the full minimum wage with weekend penalty rates, so a tip is pure appreciation, not a wage subsidy (Traveloka).
Australia tipping FAQs
Do you tip in Australia?
No — it's genuinely optional everywhere. Staff aren't financially dependent on tips thanks to the national minimum wage, and nobody will be offended if you don't tip (Traveloka).
How much do you tip at restaurants in Australia?
Nothing is expected at casual restaurants, bistros, or pubs. At upscale sit-down restaurants, ~10% for excellent service is the standard appreciative gesture (Traveloka).
Do you tip at cafés and bars in Australia?
Not expected. You may see a tip jar — dropping in small change is entirely voluntary and unnoticed either way (Traveloka; PocketCultures).
Should I tip my taxi driver or Uber driver in Australia?
Drivers don't expect a tip. If you want to, round up to the nearest dollar or two — a $23 fare becomes $25. Most locals skip the Uber in-app tip option (Traveloka; PocketCultures).
Do you tip tour guides in Australia?
One of the clearest yes-if-you-want-to cases: AUD 10–15 per person for a half-day tour, AUD 20–30 for a full day, in cash at the end (Traveloka).
The card terminal asked for a tip — do I have to tip?
No. The EFTPOS tip prompt is a nudge so people who want to tip don't forget; locals press 'no tip' without any social cost (Traveloka).
Sources
See all tipping guides for Oceania
Tipping customs verified September 2026.
