Tipping in Singapore is not expected — a 10% service charge plus 9% GST is already baked into most restaurant bills, so put your wallet away and skip the extra tip.
Tipping rates in Singapore
| Service | What to tip |
|---|---|
| Bars No tipping at bars, cafés or spas — Singapore's no-tipping culture covers them all. Upscale hotel bars and spas may add a service charge, so check the bill before leaving anything extra (Traveling-Up; xellow). |
0% — no tipping |
| Hotels Tipping isn't customary — hotels typically add a 10% service charge, so nothing extra is expected. Still, S$1–2 per bag for a bellhop and S$2–5 per day for housekeeping are understood, appreciated gestures at international hotels; S$10–20 for a concierge who goes well beyond the call of duty (xellow). |
0% — S$1–2/bag; S$2–5/day housekeeping (optional) |
| Restaurants The standard restaurant bill already includes a 10% service charge and 9% GST — no further tip is expected or necessary. At hawker centres, kopitiam and food courts, tipping simply isn't practised. Cash on top is a personal gesture for exceptional service only (xellow). |
0% — 10% service charge + 9% GST already added |
| Taxis Drivers don't expect tips — round the metered fare up to the nearest dollar or two, or tell the driver to keep the change. Grab rides need no tip through the app. Never hand over foreign currency (xellow). |
round up to nearest S$1–2 |
| Tour guides Sources differ: Qantas says tipping tour guides isn't customary, while xellow calls S$15–20 per person the standard range for a full-day guide (typically shared with the driver). Either way it is a bonus for good service, not an expectation — a private driver hired for the day gets roughly half (xellow; Qantas). |
0% — S$15–20/person/day full-day (optional) |
Example
A S$120 restaurant bill in Singapore comes with a 10% service charge (S$12) plus 9% GST (S$11.88) — you pay S$143.88 and no tip is expected. At a hawker centre, a S$6 plate comes with no service charge and no tip; returning your own tray is the custom.
Why tipping works this way in Singapore
Singapore deliberately built a no-tipping culture: the government discourages tipping in favour of competitive wages, and restaurants, hotels and service businesses add a compulsory 10% service charge instead. In a high-wage, well-regulated city-state, good service is priced into the bill — so a tip is a personal bonus for exceptional service, never an expectation (xellow; Qantas).
Tipping mistakes tourists make in Singapore
- Tipping on top of a bill that already carries a 10% service charge and 9% GST — check first. The service charge is compulsory but, as Qantas notes, 'isn't the same as a tip' and goes to the business, so adding more is purely optional.
- Trying to tip at hawker centres, kopitiam or food courts — tipping simply isn't practised there. Return your own tray instead (xellow).
- Trying to tip staff at Changi Airport — they aren't allowed to accept tips (Qantas).
- Tipping in US dollars — always use Singapore dollars; foreign currency creates hassle for staff and 'will not be appreciated' (xellow).
Singapore tipping FAQs
tipping in Singapore
Tipping in Singapore is not expected. Restaurant bills already carry a 10% service charge plus 9% GST, and tipping isn't practised at hawker centres, kopitiam or food courts. Extra cash is a personal gesture for exceptional service only (xellow).
do you tip in Singapore
No — Singapore has a well-established no-tipping culture, reinforced by competitive wages and compulsory service charges. No one will refuse a tip, but none is expected (xellow; Qantas).
Do you tip taxi drivers in Singapore?
No tip is expected — just round the fare up to the nearest dollar or two. Don't hand over foreign currency; drivers find it 'more frustrating than flattering' (xellow).
Do you tip hotel staff in Singapore?
Not expected — a 10% service charge is typically built into room rates. Still, S$1–2 per bag for a bellhop and S$2–5 per day for housekeeping are understood, appreciated gestures at international hotels (xellow).
Do you tip at hawker centres?
No — tipping isn't practised at hawker centres, kopitiam or food courts. What is expected: return your own tray (xellow).
Can I tip at Changi Airport?
Don't try — Changi Airport staff aren't allowed to accept tips, even if you feel it's warranted (Qantas).
Sources
See all tipping guides for Asia
Traveling beyond Singapore? Calculate your tip for other destinations with our free tipping calculator.
Tipping customs verified September 2026.
