Tipping in Germany is modest and never mandatory: round up the bill or add 5-10% at restaurants for good service, round up at bars and taxis, and always state the total to your server when you pay ('Stimmt so') rather than leaving cash on the table.
Germany tip calculator
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Tip is calculated on the bill before tax and any service charge.
Tipping rates in Germany
| Service | What to tip |
|---|---|
| Bars Locals round up to the nearest euro — a €17.90 bar bill becomes €20. Add a couple of euros for a complicated order or a big round. If you're seated and getting table service, follow restaurant rules (N26). |
Round up |
| Hotels At fancier hotels and for longer stays: €2-3 per bag for porters, and €2-4 per night for housekeeping if you're happy with the service. Budget B&Bs, guesthouses, and hostels don't expect tips unless staff go out of their way to help you (N26). |
€2–3/bag |
| Restaurants A reasonable tip is 5-10% of the bill; 15% is very generous. When the server brings the bill, hand over the money and state the total including the tip (e.g. 'Stimmt so' — keep the change) — never leave coins on the table, which is frowned upon in Germanic countries. Service is normally included in menu prices, so the tip is a bonus, not an obligation (N26; Rick Steves). |
5–10% |
| Taxis Round the fare up to the nearest euro or add 5-10% for a comfortable ride, luggage help, or traffic-dodging. It's considered generous and courteous rather than mandatory (N26; Rick Steves). |
Round up / 5–10% |
| Tour guides Give the guide a cash tip at the end: €1-5 per person in a large group, or around 5-10% if you booked a private tour (N26). If you've already paid for a group tour or sight admission, a couple of euros for a job well done is plenty (Rick Steves). |
€1–5/person |
Tipping at restaurants in the USA? Use the main tipping calculator.
Example
Your restaurant bill comes to €48 and the service was good. When the server brings the bill, hand over €50 and say 'Stimmt so' — 'keep the change.' That's a solid German tip of about 4%, and for genuinely great service you could round to €52 instead. What you never do is leave coins behind on the table: in Germany, you state the total at the moment you pay.
Why tipping works this way in Germany
In Germany, a tip is called Trinkgeld — literally 'drink money' — from the original idea that you'd give the server enough to buy themselves a drink and toast your health. Because waiters, bartenders, and drivers are paid by the hour and don't rely on gratuities to live, the tip stays a small, direct gesture of appreciation for good service — modest by American standards, and delivered face-to-face at the moment of payment. The ritual of stating the total out loud keeps everything tidy, honest, and coin-free, which suits German directness: no tip jar guilt, no percentage anxiety, just rounding up.
Tipping mistakes tourists make in Germany
- Leaving coins or cash on the table as you walk out — considered slightly rude in Germanic countries; hand the money to the server and state the total, since otherwise the waiter may think you forgot your change or the wrong party pockets it (Rick Steves).
- Tipping 15-20% American-style — 5% is adequate, 10% is already generous, and 15% is 'very generous'; overtipping is 'unnecessary, if not culturally ignorant' and messes up the local balance (Rick Steves; N26).
- Assuming a card-paid tip reaches the server — cash is the reliable route in Germany, since card tips don't always make it to staff in full; if you pay by card, leave the tip in cash separately (N26).
- Tipping extra on top of a misleading 'tip is not included' note — some restaurants in well-touristed areas add this English-language line, but menu prices in Germany already include service, so don't add anything more (Rick Steves).
Germany tipping FAQs
Do you tip in Germany?
Tipping is appreciated but never mandatory in Germany. Staff are paid by the hour and don't depend on gratuities, so a tip is a small gesture of appreciation for good service — modest, direct, and always in cash when possible.
How much do you tip in Germany?
At restaurants, 5-10% for good service (15% is considered very generous). At bars, cafés, and taxis, simply round up to the nearest euro. For tour guides, €1-5 per person in a large group, or around 5-10% for a private guide. Hotel porters get €2-3 per bag.
Is 10% a good tip in Germany?
Yes — 10% is generous in Germany. Rick Steves puts it plainly: around 5% is adequate, 10% is generous, and 15-20% can look excessive or 'culturally ignorant.' Resist the urge to tip American-style; you're just raising the bar and messing up the local balance.
How do you actually give the tip in Germany?
You tell your server the total, including the tip, at the moment you pay. For example, if your €48 bill was good, hand over €50 and say 'Stimmt so' ('keep the change'). Don't leave cash or coins on the table — in Germanic countries that's considered slightly rude, and the wrong person might pocket it. If paying by card, tip in cash so it goes straight to the server.
Do you tip taxi drivers in Germany?
It's customary but not mandatory. Round the fare up to the nearest euro, or add 5-10% if the driver carried your bags, dodged traffic, or otherwise made the ride comfortable. If the service was bad, there's no obligation at all.
Do I need to check for a service charge first?
Usually there's nothing to spot: unlike most European countries, German restaurants typically don't add a service charge — menu prices already include service. Keep an eye out for the word 'Bedienung' (service) on the menu or bill, which means a charge is included. Even then, rounding up a little is common, since the service charge is taxable and doesn't go directly to your server.
See all tipping guides for Europe
Tipping customs verified September 2026.
