Short answer: Appreciated, not expected. Tipping in Germany is voluntary, but rounding up is the norm in sit-down cafes and restaurants. Around 5 to 10% is usual for good table service. You state the total you want to pay when you hand over the money, rather than leaving coins on the table.
Is service included?
Service is included in German menu prices and a separate service charge is not normally added to the bill.
How much to tip in Germany
| Who | Usual tip | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants (sit-down) | 5 to 10% | Round up in casual places, about 10% in nicer restaurants. 15% is seen as very generous. |
| Cafes and bars | Round up | Round up at a sit-down cafe. At casual bars and pubs, a few coins in the tip jar is fine. |
| Taxis and rideshare | Round up | Round up to the next euro. Add €1 to 2 for help with heavy bags. |
| Hotel housekeeping | €2 to 3 per day | Optional. Not expected at hostels or campsites. |
| Hotel porters | €1 to 2 per bag | More if they carry heavy luggage up stairs. |
| Tour guides | €2 to 5 per person | For a group walking tour. Tips matter most on free tours. |
| Hairdressers and spas | 5 to 10% | If you are happy with the result. |
| Food delivery | Round up | Rounding up or a small tip is appreciated; no firm amount. |
Amounts are in the local currency (EUR). They are common customs, not rules: tip more for great service and less where it was poor.
How to tip
Hand your cash or card to the server and say the total you want to pay, including the tip. For example, on a €15.90 bill hand over €20 and say "18". To leave all the change, say "Stimmt so". If you pay by card, give the tip in cash where possible.
What to avoid
Do not leave the money on the table and walk away; say the total to the server as you pay.
Tipping by card
Many German restaurants now use card terminals that offer a tip step, often with preset choices such as 5, 10 or 15%. Cash is still the usual way to tip, and some guests prefer it, so it is fine to ask to pay the bill by card and round up in cash instead.
Useful phrases
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Stimmt so | Keep the change |
| Machen Sie 25 | Make it 25 (take 25 and keep the rest as a tip) |
| Das ist für Sie | This is for you |
| Zusammen oder getrennt? | Together or separate? (what the server asks before you pay) |
Tips and the law in Germany
Who keeps the tips
Tips are money that a third party (the customer) gives an employee voluntarily and without a legal claim, on top of the price of the work. The Gewerbeordnung (section 107, paragraph 3) defines a tip in this way and says the employer cannot replace regular wages with tips. There is no single statute on tip pooling or on how an employer must pass tips on. Cash tips given to a server are normally theirs, and tips put in a shared jar or pot are shared as the workplace agrees.
Are tips taxed?
Tips are tax-free for the employee under section 3 number 51 of the Einkommensteuergesetz (EStG) when a customer gives them voluntarily, with no legal entitlement, on top of the amount due for the work. Tax commentary and Federal Court of Finance rulings say the tip must come from a customer-type relationship and that very large payments may not count as tips. Mandatory service charges that staff have a legal claim to are taxable wages.
Tips and the minimum wage
No, the statutory minimum wage (EUR 13.90 gross per hour from 1 January 2026) is paid by the employer, and Zoll states that payments by third parties such as tips do not count as pay.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Work out a tip
The tip calculator is set to Germany 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 Germany can read how QR code tipping works in Germany.
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:
- Busking in Berlin
- Busking in Cologne
- Busking in Dresden
- Busking in Frankfurt
- Busking in Freiburg
- Busking in Hamburg
- Busking in Heidelberg
- Busking in Munich
Sources
- Tipping (visitBerlin, official Berlin tourism on berlin.de)
- Tipping in Europe (Rick Steves)
- Polite but not mandatory: the dos and don'ts of tipping in Germany (The Local)
- Einkommensteuergesetz (EStG), section 3
- Gewerbeordnung (GewO), section 107
- Zoll online: Weitere, ueber den Mindestlohn hinausgehende Entlohnungsbestandteile
- Preisangabenverordnung (PAngV 2022), section 3
Checked in October 2026 against the sources above. Customs change and vary between cities and venues.
Common questions
Is tipping expected in Germany?
Appreciated, not expected. Tipping in Germany is voluntary, but rounding up is the norm in sit-down cafes and restaurants. Around 5 to 10% is usual for good table service. You state the total you want to pay when you hand over the money, rather than leaving coins on the table.
How much should you tip at a restaurant in Germany?
5 to 10%. Round up in casual places, about 10% in nicer restaurants. 15% is seen as very generous.
Is a service charge added to the bill in Germany?
Service is included in German menu prices and a separate service charge is not normally added to the bill.
Do you tip taxi drivers in Germany?
Round up.
How much do you tip hotel housekeeping in Germany?
€2 to 3 per day.
Are tips taxed in Germany?
Tips are tax-free for the employee under section 3 number 51 of the Einkommensteuergesetz (EStG) when a customer gives them voluntarily, with no legal entitlement, on top of the amount due for the work. Tax commentary and Federal Court of Finance rulings say the tip must come from a customer-type relationship and that very large payments may not count as tips. Mandatory service charges that staff have a legal claim to are taxable wages.
App Store
Google Play