How much to tip in the UK
British tipping sits comfortably between the American everything-gets-20% habit and countries where tipping barely exists. In restaurants with table service, 10% to 12.5% is the norm, with 15% for service that genuinely impressed you. Nobody tips at the bar in a pub, at a counter, or for a takeaway. Taxi passengers usually just round up the fare. Hairdressers and food delivery riders often get a pound or two. And crucially, tipping here is always discretionary: it rewards service, it is not a wage subsidy.
A few other situations, briefly. Hotels: a pound or two per bag for porters if you want, nothing expected at reception. Food delivery: a couple of pounds in the app or at the door is appreciated but optional. Cafes: the tip jar is entirely your call. Group meals are where the arithmetic actually gets awkward, which is what this calculator is for: it applies your chosen percentage and divides the total evenly, so nobody is doing long division after two bottles of wine.
The maths itself is simple percentage work: multiply the bill by the tip rate, add it on, and divide by the number of people paying.
Worked examples
Splitting can leave awkward pennies: £100 between three people is £33.33 each, which leaves a penny unpaid. The calculator shows the exact share; in practice someone rounds up.
Service charge or tip? Pick one
Many UK restaurants, especially in London, add a discretionary service charge of around 12.5% to the bill automatically. If it is there, that is the tip: you are not expected to add anything on top. Because it is discretionary, you can ask for it to be removed if the service fell short, and either tip in cash or not at all. Check the bill before you calculate, otherwise you will cheerfully tip twice.
One thing a service charge changes is the split. If the charge is already on the bill, just divide the final total by the number of people and skip the tip step entirely. And if you are working out what a menu price means before service is added, 12.5% on top is the same sum this calculator does, so you can use it in reverse to sanity-check the bill.
Where your tip goes now
Since 1 October 2024, the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 requires employers to pass on 100% of tips, gratuities and service charges to workers, with no deductions for admin or card fees, distributed fairly and paid by the end of the month after you left them. That applies to card payments and service charges as well as cash, which removed the old worry that card tips quietly stayed with the house. Details are on gov.uk.
This is guidance on custom and general rules, not financial or legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
How much should you tip in the UK?
Around 10% to 12.5% in restaurants with table service is the usual range, rising towards 15% for outstanding service. Tipping is not expected in pubs, at counters or for takeaway. For taxis, many people simply round up to a convenient amount. Tipping in the UK is always discretionary.
Do I need to tip on top of a service charge?
No. If the bill already includes a service charge, often 12.5% in London restaurants, that is the tip. You are not expected to add more. A discretionary service charge is optional, so you can ask for it to be removed if the service was poor, and tip in cash instead or not at all.
Does my tip actually reach the staff?
It should. Under the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023, in force since 1 October 2024, employers must pass on 100% of tips, gratuities and service charges to workers without deductions, and distribute them fairly by the end of the following month. This covers card tips as well as cash.
Should I tip on the amount before or after a discount?
Convention is to tip on the full pre-discount amount, since the staff did the same work regardless of your voucher or meal deal. UK menu prices already include VAT, so there is no separate pre-tax figure to worry about, unlike in the United States.
Is it better to tip in cash or by card?
Either works. Since October 2024 both are legally protected and must go to staff in full. Cash sometimes reaches the team the same evening, while card tips are pooled and paid through payroll, but the law requires distribution by the end of the month after you paid.