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How Much Are Tips and Service Charges (++) in Thailand?
On a Thai restaurant menu, “++” means a 10% service charge is added to the listed price, then 7% VAT is applied to that total. The total extra cost is about 17.7%. If the bill already includes a service charge, an extra tip is not required; tip at your discretion based on the service and your satisfaction.
At a glance
- “++” indicates a 10% service charge followed by 7% VAT.
- Applying the two charges in sequence adds about 17.7%, not 17%.
- If the bill lists a service charge or S/C, an extra tip is optional.
- Street food stalls, food courts, convenience stores, and supermarkets do not expect tips.
- Tipping is not required; leave a tip at your discretion when you are satisfied with the service.
How is “++” calculated at Thai restaurants?
“++” on a menu means a service charge and VAT will be added to the listed price. Typically, the 10% service charge is added first, then 7% VAT is calculated on that total.
So the total extra cost is about 17.7%, rather than simply adding 17% to the listed price. Thailand’s Revenue Department explains that service charges imposed on customers by hotels and restaurants are also subject to VAT.
How much should I tip at a restaurant?
First, check the bill for “service charge” or “S/C.” If the 10% service charge is already included, an extra tip is not required; leaving one is optional.
At a mid-range restaurant without a service charge, a common guideline is to round the bill up to the nearest 50–100 baht when you are happy with the service. At an upscale restaurant without a service charge, one guide describes leaving about 10% for good service as customary.
How much should I tip taxis and bars?
Tipping is not required in metered taxis. It is common to round up the fare to the nearest 5–10 baht. Grab and Bolt drivers do not expect cash tips, but you can tip 10–30 baht through the app for a long ride or help with luggage.
For transport such as tuk-tuks, where you negotiate the fare in advance, the agreed price is the full fare, so no extra tip is needed. At bars, rounding up the bill or leaving the change is common; you can leave 20–50 baht if the bartender has been especially attentive.
How should I tip at hotels and on tours?
If a hotel porter carries your bags to your room, a suggested tip is 20–50 baht in cash per bag, handed directly to them. One guide recommends 50–100 baht per day for housekeeping at budget accommodation and about 100 baht per day at upscale accommodation.
For a day group tour, you can tip the guide 100–200 baht per person and the driver 50–100 baht per person. For a full-day private guided tour, suggested tips are 300–500 baht for the guide and 200–300 baht for the driver.
How do tipping guidelines vary by situation?
| Situation | Tip |
|---|---|
| Street food stalls and casual local restaurants | Tips are not expected. Pay the exact amount and take your change. |
| Food courts, convenience stores, and supermarkets | Tips are not expected. Pay the listed price. |
| Restaurant with a service charge | An extra tip is not required; it is optional. |
| Mid-range restaurant without a service charge | If the service was good, you can round the bill up to the nearest 50–100 baht. |
| Upscale restaurant without a service charge | One guide describes a tip of about 10% for good service as customary. |
| Metered taxi | Not required; you can round up the change to the nearest 5–10 baht. |
| Grab and Bolt | Cash tips are not expected. You can tip 10–30 baht through the app for a long ride or help with luggage. |
| Bar | Rounding up the bill or leaving the change is common. You can leave 20–50 baht for especially attentive service. |
| Hotel porter | If they carry your bags to your room, you can hand them 20–50 baht per bag. |
| Day group tour | You can tip the guide 100–200 baht per person and the driver 50–100 baht per person. |
What to do in these situations
- When you see S/C on a restaurant bill
Check whether the service charge is already included, then decide whether to leave an extra tip based on your satisfaction.
- When eating street food or at a food court
Pay the listed amount and take your change.
- When taking a metered taxi
You do not have to tip. If you wish, round up the change to the nearest 5–10 baht.
- When the service falls short of expectations
You do not have to leave a discretionary tip. Tipping is not required.
Checklist before you go
- Look for “++” on the menu and remember that the total may be about 17.7% more than the listed price.
- Check the restaurant bill for “service charge” or “S/C.”
- If the service charge is included, treat an extra tip as optional.
- If you want to tip, prepare an amount suited to the situation. You do not have to leave one if the service was poor.
FAQ
What does “++” mean on a Thai restaurant menu?
It means a 10% service charge is added to the listed price, then 7% VAT is calculated on that total. Applying them in sequence adds about 17.7%.
Do I need to tip on top of the service charge?
No. If the service charge is included in the bill, an extra tip is optional, not required.
Should I tip at Thai street food stalls?
Tips are not expected. It is normal to pay the exact amount and take your change.
How much should I tip a taxi driver in Thailand?
Tipping is not required in metered taxis. If you wish, you can round up the change to the nearest 5–10 baht.
How much should I tip at a bar in Thailand?
Rounding up the bill or leaving the change is common. You can leave 20–50 baht if the bartender has been especially attentive.
Do I have to leave a tip even if the service was poor?
No. Tipping is not required, so you do not have to leave one if the service was poor.
Official sources & check dates
- Tipping and service charges in Thailand: what is expected and what is not · 2026-10-28
- Tipping in Thailand 2026: How Much, When, and When Not To Tip · 2026-10-28
- 0702/7809 | กรมสรรพากร - The Revenue Department · 2026-10-28
- Tipping in Thailand — How Much to Tip at Restaurants, Spas & on Tours · 2026-10-28
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Site updated: 2026-10-28