Short answer: Appreciated, not expected. In Switzerland service is included in prices and guests are not obliged to tip. In restaurants it is still customary to round up or leave up to about 10% for good service. Outside restaurants, tipping is not expected.
Is service included?
Service is included in Swiss menu prices, so there is no separate service charge line. Any tip is a personal thank you on top.
How much to tip in Switzerland
| Who | Usual tip | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants (sit-down) | Round up to 10% | Varies by region: about 10% is common in German-speaking areas, about 5% in French and Italian-speaking areas. |
| Cafes and bars | Round up | Round up to the next franc or leave a couple of coins. |
| Taxis and rideshare | Round up | Round up to the next franc, a little more for exceptional service. |
| Hotel housekeeping | CHF 1 to 2 per night | Optional. |
| Hotel porters | CHF 1 to 2 per bag | Up to about CHF 5 in total. |
| Tour guides | Optional | Small tip if you like; no firm custom. |
| Hairdressers and spas | Round up | Service is included; round up or tip a little only for exceptional work. |
| Food delivery | Optional | Small tip or round up if you like; no firm custom. |
Amounts are in the local currency (CHF). They are common customs, not rules: tip more for great service and less where it was poor.
How to tip
Tell the server the total you want to pay, rounding up to a neat amount, or leave coins. Cash is common for tips. Card machines and payment apps may prompt for a tip, which you can skip.
What to avoid
Do not feel obliged to tip outside restaurants; it is not expected.
Tipping by card
Card terminals do not usually have a tip screen. Ask the server to enter the higher total before the card is processed, or leave cash. Many guests do not know that card tips may carry processing fees, and some prefer cash so the tip goes to staff.
Useful phrases
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Stimmt so | Keep the change (German) |
| Machen Sie bitte siebzig | Make it seventy, please (including the tip) |
| Gardez la monnaie | Keep the change (French) |
| Tenga il resto | Keep the change (Italian) |
Tips and the law in Switzerland
Who keeps the tips
No federal statute on who keeps tips was found. Service has been included in prices in hospitality since the 1970s according to a ZHAW study, and customs vary by region. A fixed service charge shown on a bill counts as wages and is fully taxable and subject to contributions.
Are tips taxed?
Tips count as taxable income for employees if they are a substantial part of pay. For AHV (old age insurance), 'Bedienungs- und Trinkgelder' belong to the determining wage only if they are a substantial part of it (AHV Merkblatt 2.01, referring to the federal AHV rules). There is no fixed threshold, and a news report puts the working figure at about 10% of wages. In March 2026 the Council of States adopted a motion to exempt voluntary tips from AHV and tax, which the National Council has still to decide.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Work out a tip
The tip calculator is set to Switzerland 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 Switzerland can read how QR code tipping works in Switzerland.
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 Basel
- Busking in Bern
- Busking in Geneva
- Busking in Lausanne
- Busking in Lucerne
- Busking in Zurich
Sources
- Tipping (MySwitzerland, Switzerland Tourism)
- Food and drink (MySwitzerland, Switzerland Tourism)
- Majority of Swiss catering businesses split tips (SWI swissinfo.ch)
- Tipping in Switzerland: The Switzerland Tipping Guide (SmarterTravel)
- 2.01 Lohnbeitraege an die AHV, die IV und die EO
Checked in October 2026 against the sources above. Customs change and vary between cities and venues.
Common questions
Is tipping expected in Switzerland?
Appreciated, not expected. In Switzerland service is included in prices and guests are not obliged to tip. In restaurants it is still customary to round up or leave up to about 10% for good service. Outside restaurants, tipping is not expected.
How much should you tip at a restaurant in Switzerland?
Round up to 10%. Varies by region: about 10% is common in German-speaking areas, about 5% in French and Italian-speaking areas.
Is a service charge added to the bill in Switzerland?
Service is included in Swiss menu prices, so there is no separate service charge line. Any tip is a personal thank you on top.
Do you tip taxi drivers in Switzerland?
Round up.
How much do you tip hotel housekeeping in Switzerland?
CHF 1 to 2 per night.
Are tips taxed in Switzerland?
Tips count as taxable income for employees if they are a substantial part of pay. For AHV (old age insurance), 'Bedienungs- und Trinkgelder' belong to the determining wage only if they are a substantial part of it (AHV Merkblatt 2.01, referring to the federal AHV rules). There is no fixed threshold, and a news report puts the working figure at about 10% of wages. In March 2026 the Council of States adopted a motion to exempt voluntary tips from AHV and tax, which the National Council has still to decide.
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