How much do Canadians tip?

For this week’s top story, we’re looking at the various ways Canadians determine how to tip.

By Wing Sze Tang

In recent years, tipping has become such a hot topic, it’s spawned new lingo. We’ve started referring to “tipflation,” or the increase in what’s considered a “standard” tip.

There’s also “tip creep,” or the expectation to tip in situations where it wasn’t previously the norm—getting a takeout cookie at your local bakery, for example. And of course, there’s “guilt tipping,” which is the subtle social pressure to leave extra cash. 

All this has led to the backlash term: “tip fatigue.” According to 2025 research conducted by H&R Block Canada, a whopping 90% of Canadians said they felt tips are too high. But actual behaviour was split: 53% of survey takers identified as frugal tippers, while 39% were generous tippers.

The same H&R Block Canada research also asked what a tip amount should be for various services. The findings: Canadians feel tips should be much lower than what credit card machines “suggest.”  On average, the tips considered appropriate by the Canadians surveyed are: 

• Restaurant servers: 13%
• Bartenders: 10%
• Hairstylists and barbers: 10%
• Food delivery drivers: 9%
• Taxi and rideshare drivers: 8%
• Spa and salon technicians: 8%

How Canadians decide when to tip and how much

It’s clear that tipping practices vary wildly—in part because many of us are tight-lipped about what we really do. But here, five Canadians tell us what they think about tipping culture, including how they handle tipping in their own life.

“What happens if you begin carrying cash? You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how in-control you feel” 

John McVicar, retiree, Kitchener, Ont.

“The ‘kids’ who are under 30 have grown up with the new system where it seems everyone wants a tip, and the payment machines reflect that. When I was handling a restaurant bill decades ago, I looked at the total before tax and paid a tip on the pre-tax amount. And I paid in cash.

“Today, if you go to a fast-food restaurant, for example, and get a couple of subs, cookies and drinks, you’re looking at a pre-tax total of, say, $30. In Ontario, the HST would add another $3.90. Then, let’s say you get out your plastic and choose the lowest possible tip of 15%; this makes your grand total about $39.

“So, what happens if you begin carrying cash? You aren’t given the payment machine with tipping options included, just a verbal total of $33.90. You are the one who decides if a tip of 10% is warranted, or perhaps even no tip at all. Try it. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how in-control you feel.”

“If a restaurant wasn’t good and you don’t want to go back again, then tip 0%”

Adeodata Czink, etiquette expert and founder of Business of Manners, Toronto:

“At restaurants (in Canada), I tip 15% if the service and food are good, 20% if they’re extra good, and nothing if they’re not up to standards. Clear message. I don’t do 10% because I’d rather do 0%. But then I won’t go back because they will remember I left nothing.

“Very often, people tip because they think one should. No, one should not. If a restaurant wasn’t good, and you don’t want to go back again, then tip 0%, because if you tip 5%, that’s more of an insult. If you tip 0%, that’s a clear indication that you did not like something. They will think about it. I talked to a restaurant owner who said if somebody leaves nothing, he specifically looks into what happened.”

“I think tipping is a scam… but I will absolutely follow social norms and still tip”

Frank Huynh, content creator and licensed realtor, Calgary

“Tipping has definitely gone up, and this has a lot to do with the payment program that lots of businesses use, where it automatically prompts you to add on a tip. In 2017, when I used to work at a Thai restaurant, the prompts were 10%, 15% and 20%. Now, you’ll see 18%, 20% and 25%. 

“I think tipping is a scam. What makes someone’s service more desirable compared to others? You could argue that teachers are doing a service for children—but they’re not getting a tip.

“But I absolutely follow social norms and still tip. Jokingly, how I decide to tip or not is if I know I’m gonna go to a place over and over again. Then I’m going to tip. I will usually just press whatever tip prompt is first listed on the machine. But if I’m going to Starbucks, I’m not going to tip, given that they’re a multi-billion-dollar company. I’m more inclined to tip if it’s a local place that’s family-owned.”

“I believe tipping should be more of a personal decision”

Andrea Claire, hair and makeup artist, Toronto

“There are societal rules about tipping, but I believe tipping should be more of a personal decision. When it comes to the etiquette around hair salons, generally speaking, the salon owner does not get tipped. But if you wanted to tip somebody, I don’t think it should matter whether they own the salon or not. Years and years ago, I used to work at a salon where the owner would give the tips he received to the junior stylists. He didn’t keep them. 

“For myself, as a hair and makeup artist, I’m not offended if you don’t tip me. Part of my opinion is influenced by having lived in Singapore for a long time, because it’s not a tipping culture there. 

“I do feel there’s not a lot of transparency from businesses, though. It would be nice to have, for example, a little blurb on a menu where it explains the tipping culture within a restaurant and how they share their tips. It’s a lot easier if we’re educated as consumers.”

“Don’t be afraid to take out your calculator on your phone”

Barry Choi, travel and personal finance expert and founder of Money We Have, Toronto

“I’ve got no issue with tipping whatsoever. If you’re eating at a restaurant, you should leave a tip. But I think tipping culture has gotten out of hand, in the sense that the merchants automatically prompt you too high at the credit machine, for example, with tips at 18%, 20% and 22%. And, obviously, that is based on the after-tax price. I am sure tons of people are just hitting the lowest amount possible because they don’t want to do the math. But if you just choose 18%, in reality, you’re tipping more like 20% on the before-tax price. 

“Don’t be afraid to take out the calculator on your phone, even if the staff is hovering and waiting for you. They will hand you the terminal with the full amount, including tax, so you’ll want to look at the actual receipt. And don’t forget, some fancy restaurants will automatically add a tip, sometimes based on how many people are with you, so double-check that. 

“With travel, be aware of how the tipping culture can be different in other countries. For example, if you’re going to Egypt, everyone expects a tip there. That’s just the way it is. In other places in the world, leaving a tip is almost considered rude. So, this takes some research in advance.”

Wing Sze Tang is an award-winning journalist based in Toronto. She is the founder of Wayword Media Inc.

Read more from this issue of The Get:

1. MVP: Dominique Fils-Aimé on where soul meets self-discovery in her work
2. How can I pay off my student debt?
3. How to manage the costs of being single
4. True or False: A secured credit card isn’t really a credit card

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