Tipping in Canada
Tip 15–20% in Canadian restaurants — tipping works much like in the US. In most provinces servers now earn at least the general minimum wage (Quebec still has a lower rate for tipped staff), but tips remain a large part of their income and are expected everywhere you get table service. The main thing that trips visitors up is sales tax: it is added at the till, varies by province, and you are not expected to tip on it.
Usual: 15–20%
Short answer
In Canadian restaurants, tip 15–20% (18% is the common middle) of the pre-tax subtotal — before GST/HST/PST. Tip taxis and rideshares 10–15%, bartenders C$1–2 per drink, and hotel housekeeping C$2–5 per night.
Open the tip calculator for this countryRestaurants
Leave 15–20% of the pre-tax subtotal at sit-down restaurants; 15% is fine for standard service, 18–20% for good service, and higher for something special. Prices on menus exclude tax, which is added on the bill: Ontario charges 13% HST, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and PEI charge 14–15% HST, Quebec adds 5% GST plus 9.975% QST, British Columbia 5% GST plus 7% PST, and Alberta only 5% GST. Card machines are brought to your table and suggest 15%, 18% or 20% — sometimes calculated on the after-tax total, so choose "custom" or enter an amount if you want to tip pre-tax. For takeout, 0–10% is optional.
Hotels
Tip bellhops C$1–2 per bag (C$5 minimum at upscale hotels) and leave C$2–5 per night for housekeeping, ideally daily since staff rotate. Valet parking gets C$2–5 when your car comes back. A concierge who books a hard-to-get table or tours deserves C$5–20. At resort spas, 15–20% of the treatment price is customary unless a service charge has been added.
Taxis & Transport
How much to tip a taxi in Canada: 10–15% of the metered fare, rounded up, with C$2 as a reasonable minimum for short rides. Add a dollar or two per bag if the driver helps with luggage, especially on airport runs. For Uber and Lyft, tip 10–15% in the app; drivers who wait, help with bags or drive in a snowstorm deserve the higher end. Airport limos with flat rates are usually tipped 10–15% too.
Tours, spas, cafés & more
Bars and pubs: C$1–2 per drink, or 15–20% of the tab if you run one at a table. Coffee shops: the terminal will ask, but counter tips are optional — a loonie or toonie (C$1–2) for a custom drink is generous. Food delivery: 10–15%, at least C$3–5. Hairdressers, barbers and estheticians: 15–20%. Ski instructors and tour guides: 10–20% of the price for a private lesson or tour, or C$5–10 per person for a group day trip. Fishing or hunting guides in the backcountry often get 10–20% of the trip cost.
Common practice
15–20% of the pre-tax subtotal in restaurants, C$1–2 per drink at bars, 10–15% for taxis and delivery, 15–20% for hair and spa services. Leaving less than 10% at a sit-down restaurant is read as a complaint.
Typical examples
Ontario dinner: subtotal C$80 + 13% HST = C$90.40. A 15% tip on the pre-tax subtotal is C$12, 18% is C$14.40, for a total of about C$102–105. Quebec bill of C$60 before taxes: 15% tip = C$9. A C$30 taxi: tip C$4–5. Roughly, C$100 is about US$72 or £54 — exchange rates fluctuate, so treat conversions as approximate.
Helpful note
To tip on the pre-tax amount with our calculator, enter the subtotal before GST/HST/PST, then add the tax yourself — the presets (10, 15, 18, 20%) match Canadian practice.
Frequently asked questions
How much do you tip at a restaurant in Canada?
15–20% of the pre-tax subtotal. 15% is acceptable, 18% is common for good service, and 20% or more is for excellent service.
Do you tip before or after tax in Canada (e.g. HST in Ontario)?
Before tax is the etiquette, so in Ontario you tip on the amount before the 13% HST. Card machines sometimes calculate on the after-tax total, so use a custom amount if you want to stick to pre-tax.
Is tipping in Quebec different from the rest of Canada?
No — 15–20% is also standard in Quebec. Taxes there are 5% GST plus 9.975% QST, and you tip on the amount before those taxes.
How much do you tip a taxi driver in Canada?
About 10–15% of the fare, with a couple of dollars minimum on short rides and a little more if the driver handles heavy luggage.