Tipping in Canada (2026): Who to Tip and How Much

Short answer: Expected. Tipping is customary in Canada, much as in the United States. Plan on 15 to 20% of the pre-tax bill at sit-down restaurants, with 18 to 20% common at upscale places in big cities. Tipping is never required by law, and card machines must let you choose your own amount.

Is service included?

Restaurants usually do not add a service charge, but some add an automatic gratuity of about 15 to 18% for groups of six or more. Check the bill before tipping.

How much to tip in Canada

Who	Usual tip	Notes
Restaurants (sit-down)	15 to 20%	Of the bill before tax; 18 to 20% at upscale big-city restaurants, 15% is usually fine elsewhere.
Cafes and bars	$1 to 2 per drink	Or 15 to 20% of a bar tab. Coffee counters often have a tip cup; spare change is appreciated.
Taxis and rideshare	10 to 15%	Montreal's tourism office says 15% for taxis; rideshare tips go in the app.
Hotel housekeeping	$2 to 5 per day	Especially for stays of several nights.
Hotel porters	$1 to 2 per bag	Montreal's tourism office suggests at least $2 per suitcase.
Tour guides	$5 to 10 per person per day	Drivers on longer tours are tipped too.
Hairdressers and spas	10 to 20%	15% before tax is the customary figure in Montreal.
Food delivery	10 to 15%	Or a minimum of $2 to 5 on small orders.

Amounts are in the local currency (CAD). They are common customs, not rules: tip more for great service and less where it was poor.

How to tip

Most people tip on the card terminal, which shows preset options such as 15%, 18% or 20% plus a custom amount. In Quebec, suggested tips must be calculated on the pre-tax amount and a no-tip option must be offered. Cash is fine for porters, housekeeping and tip jars.

What to avoid

Do not tip on the after-tax total out of habit; the custom is to tip on the amount before tax.

Tipping by card

Most card terminals in restaurants, cafes, takeaway counters and delivery apps show a tip screen with preset percentages. The lowest preset is often above 15%, and you can choose a custom amount or skip it. Tip prompts at counters where tipping was not traditional have become a common complaint.

Tips and the law in Canada

Who keeps the tips

Tip rules are provincial. In Ontario, the Employment Standards Act, 2000 stops employers withholding tips or making deductions from them, except for tip pools set by the employer. An employer may keep tips only if they are given directly to the employer. Since 21 June 2024, an employer who shares in a pool must post the tip-sharing policy and keep copies for three years. A mandatory service charge counts as a tip if staff would reasonably expect to keep or share it. Other provinces have their own rules which were not checked in this pass.

Are tips taxed?

All tips and gratuities are taxable income (CRA). Direct tips paid by the customer are tracked and reported by the employee on line 10400 of the return. Controlled tips, handled by the employer (such as service charges or employer-run pools), are included on the T4. Self-employed workers report tips on Form T2125. Quebec has its own system through Revenu Quebec.

Tips and the minimum wage

In Ontario tips are not wages under the ESA, so they do not count towards minimum wage. Other provinces were not checked.

This is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Work out a tip

The tip calculator is set to Canada and the local currency: enter the bill, pick a percentage and split it between the table.

Tipping with no cash

When you have no local cash, ask whether a tip can go on the card. More and more guides, drivers and performers show a QR code instead: point your phone camera at it and you can tip by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay without installing anything. Workers in Canada can read how QR code tipping works in Canada.

Street performers

Tipping a busker is always optional. If you enjoy the show, a coin or a note in the case is the custom, and more performers now show a QR code so you can tip by card. Rules for buskers by city:

Sources

Checked in October 2026 against the sources above. Customs change and vary between cities and venues.

Common questions

Is tipping expected in Canada?

Expected. Tipping is customary in Canada, much as in the United States. Plan on 15 to 20% of the pre-tax bill at sit-down restaurants, with 18 to 20% common at upscale places in big cities. Tipping is never required by law, and card machines must let you choose your own amount.

How much should you tip at a restaurant in Canada?

15 to 20%. Of the bill before tax; 18 to 20% at upscale big-city restaurants, 15% is usually fine elsewhere.

Is a service charge added to the bill in Canada?

Restaurants usually do not add a service charge, but some add an automatic gratuity of about 15 to 18% for groups of six or more. Check the bill before tipping.

Do you tip taxi drivers in Canada?

10 to 15%.

How much do you tip hotel housekeeping in Canada?

$2 to 5 per day.

Are tips taxed in Canada?