Sunday, November 24, 2024

Do You Tip in France? Etiquette To Know for Your Next Trip

With the popularity of France as a travel destination year after year, the question on many people’s minds as they prepare for their trip is, “Do you tip in France?” It’s an excellent question to ask so that you know the difference between tipping in France and the “tipping culture” you are accustomed to! 

To get a better idea of these expectations as you learn French, let us help you understand the difference between le service (the service charge) and le pourboire (the tip / gratuity), when to tip, and how much to tip. Ease your concerns about being rude or getting something wrong on your next trip to France, and learn some vocabulary along the way!

Do you tip in France? 

While not required, yes, tips are customary in France. Depending on your culture, they might not be what you think! For example, the expectation in the United States to add a certain percentage to the bill is not at all the case in France, but a majority of French people say that they occasionally tip service professionals to thank them for quality service. Learning this etiquette isn’t as clear-cut as learning French numbers so that you pay the correct amount, but we’re here to help. 

If you ask locals, “Do you tip in France?” you’ll likely get a wide variety of answers. Some may say you don’t need to tip at all, which is technically true. But there’s a difference between what is required and what is considered good etiquette. 

Commonly, tipping in France amounts to leaving pourboires of around 1-2 euros in various situations. We’ll get into the specifics below, but you might consider tipping a small amount in: 

  • restaurants
  • cafes and bars
  • taxis
  • hotels
  • salons
  • guided tours

Is it rude to tip in France? 

A common misconception about tipping etiquette is that leaving a tip is actually considered rude in France. This is not the case. In truth, what you’d want to avoid is a showy display of your generosity, which would be considered in poor taste and could make the recipient uncomfortable.

There might be places where tipping is discouraged or forbidden. For example, if you see a sign that says pourboire interdit, this means that tipping is not permitted. This is related to the law that prohibits paying workers through tips in lieu of at least minimum wage.

Why is tipping in France so different from the US? 

In contrast with the US, where servers are paid less than minimum wage and rely on tips as their primary income, servers in restaurants in France are paid a salary and benefits. The customer pays for the service via the cost of the menu items, so additional gratuity is truly a bonus and not a requirement.

What is the difference between a pourboire and a service charge in France?

The word pourboire literally means “in order to drink.” The tradition was to leave a few coins for your server at a bar or restaurant, which paid for them to have a drink of their own when they were done working.

According to the Ministry of Economy and Finance in France, a pourboire is: 

  • facultatif (optional/voluntary/discretionary)
  • remise á un salarié (given to a salaried worker) 
  • meant to express appréciation du client (the appreciation of the client) 

Even though it is considered traditionnel (traditional) in some situations, it is clear that aucune profession ne peut l’exiger (no profession may demand it). 

The service fee, the costs associated with paying the servers’ salary and benefits, is added into the cost of the menu items. The restaurant must declare service compris (service is included) and the percentage that you’re paying. If the check or menu has this information, you can be sure that you’ve already paid the service charge. 

If you’re not sure, take an opportunity to speak French and ask: 

  • Le service est compris? = The service charge is included? 

Remember, it is possible that le service est compris, but you could hear that the pourboire n’est pas inclus (the gratuity is not included), which is a truthful answer. Now that you understand the difference, you can express your appreciation without overpaying. 

How much do you tip at a restaurant in France? 

The short answer is that there is no required or set amount, as le service (service charge) of around 15% is built into the price of most menu items. That said, it is customary to leave a pourboire (smaller tip, gratuity) as an appreciation for great service. So while you might leave a couple of euros per person after a nice meal where you’ve had a great experience, it is unnecessary to add a large percentage to the cost of l’addition (the check / bill). 

How much do you tip in France at a bar or café? 

If you’re just sitting down for un café (a coffee or espresso) or another boisson (drink), remember that the service charge likely is included. Check the menu, your bill, or ask if you’re not sure. 

Either way, especially if you’re paying in cash, rounding up to the nearest euro, that is to say, a few centimes (cents of a euro), is good etiquette, perhaps more if you’ve enjoyed good service or if the bar was particularly hectic! If you don’t leave a tip, that’s fine, too. Many French people indicate that they don’t tip if they don’t happen to have change on them.

If you are paying in cash and do not need change, you can say, 

  • C’est bon. = It’s good. 

This will be understood as “I’m all set” or “keep the change.” 

How much do you tip in France for a taxi? 

woman waving down taxi in France

You could tip your taxi or ride service driver for excellent service. If the driver assists you with luggage, it is typical to give a euro or two per bag. If paying in cash, you could round up and let them keep the change. 

If paying by card or through an app, it is becoming more common to see options to tip your driver from within the system. You are never required to tip, but depending on the situation, a couple of euros can express your gratitude.

How much do you tip in France at hotels? 

Your hotel stay might include voluntary tips for multiple staff. These tips are fairly traditional, but entirely at your discretion. Consider the level of service. For example, is a staff member carrying your luggage up several flights of stairs? Is the housekeeping staff attentive daily? Is your concierge going above and beyond to book you those perfect nightly reservations? 

For housekeeping, it is a nice gesture to leave a couple of euros per night. Assignments may change day to day, so leave a lump sum if you’re sure it will go to the same person. For luggage porters, around 1-3 euros per bag is common practice. For room service, a percentage of the check is more common. 

How much do you tip in France at salons? 

Beauty and wellness services are some of the most common places for tipping in France. Tipping is typical for massage treatments, hair and nail salons, and spas. Five to 10 percent would be expected, but more would be appreciated. 

As in all of these service industries, the tip is at your discretion, so consider the cost and length of treatment. 

How much do you tip your tour guide in France?

tourist group looking at map in France

This depends entirely on the situation. Have you joined a day trip with a company that pays their tour guide a salary? It is a nice gesture to give your guide a few euros per person at the end to thank them. If you’ve booked a lengthy private tour, you’d want to tip even more for exceptional service. 

Where you definitely should tip is on a “free tour.” Some guides advertise and book free walking tours, for example, and indicate that the cost is “pay what you like.” In these cases, the guides are not paid a salary, and might even be personally responsible for paying certain fees for their group. The guide may share information on a suggested minimum amount per person, or it might be available when you make a reservation. 

Where else is tipping in France common? 

Do you tip in France as commonly as in other countries? Perhaps not, but of course there are service employees who are paid a salary and wouldn’t refuse a euro or two as an expression of thanks. 

French locals tip 1-2 euros most commonly for services such as:

  • delivery drivers
  • theater ushers
  • cloakroom attendants 
  • gas station attendants

How do you tip in France if you’re paying by card? 

As the world has shifted to more digital solutions, many locations have switched primarily to contactless and / or card machines. Depending on the system and your bank, you may not even need to sign, so adding the tip on the paper receipt may not be an option. There are a few ways to leave a tip.

Payer en espèces (pay in cash)

It used to be advised to only donner le pourboire (leave a tip) in cash, because otherwise clients feared that the server wouldn’t get the money, or they would be taxed. Leaving a cash tip is still an option and a good reason to carry some euro coins and small bills around. The practice of tipping in France has shifted, as many French people say they now prefer digital solutions. 

Utiliser le terminal de paiement (use the card machine)

Some systems will allow you to choose a percentage or add a specific amount. You have the option to choose rien (nothing), and you’ll be asked to approve the final total. 

The French government put in place a temporary measure to encourage tipping servers by bank card. Under certain conditions, these tips would not be taxed through December 2024. This has reportedly increased the amount of tips servers receive, but discussions continue about whether this is a welcome cultural shift.

Now that you know when to tip in France and how much to tip, learn a few words and phrases you might need to communicate your actions.  

French English
l’addition the check / bill
ajouter  to add
la carte bancaire debit card/credit card
la carte bleue most common debit card in France
compris / comprise included
les espèces / payer en espèces cash/pay in cash
facultatif / facultative optional/voluntary/discretionary
inclus / incluse included
la monnaie change (money returned after payment, or coins) 
numérique digital 
obligatoire required
la pièce de monnaie / les pièces the coin / the coins
le pourboire the gratuity (small tip in addition to service charge) 
le service the service charge (covers the cost of the server’s salary
le SMIC (Salaire Minimum Interprofessionnel de Croissance)  the minimum wage
le terminal de paiement (électronique) the card reader

Key takeaways about tipping in France

Tipping culture is just one aspect of how people communicate and interact in the world according to cultural expectations. Grow in confidence as you travel with the vocabulary and cultural knowledge you need using Rosetta Stone’s Phrasebook, part of the all-in-one app that makes learning French accessible on the go. Use the most common French travel phrases for dining out, staying in a hotel, taking a taxi, and more! 

  • Tipping in France is not required, but it is customary.
  • The service charge is included in the price of your restaurant meal.
  • A few euros as a pourboire are appreciated, but you don’t have to go overboard.
  • Tips are a way to express your thanks for excellent service, not in lieu of a minimum wage.
  • Leave tips discreetly, not with a flashy show of generosity.

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