Tipping In Taiwan - A Complete Guide
Quick Guide
🍽️ Restaurant - Don't Tip
🍹 Bar - Don't Tip - Optional 5-10% If High-End
☕️ Café - Don't Tip
🛵 Delivery Driver - Optional NT$100
🚕 Taxi - Not Customary
🚗 Private Driver - Not Customary
🛎️ Porter/Bellhop - NT$20-40/Bag Expected
🅿️ Valet Parking - NT$100 Expected
🛏️ Housekeeping - Not Customary
📸 Paid Tour Guide - Usually No Tip (Can Check)
🚶 Free Tour Guide - Tip Any Amount If Good
🧖 Spa - Not Customary
Whilst you almost never need to tip or “xiǎofèi” (小費) in Taiwan, tipping is customary in some situations.
In any case, respect their culture by sticking to the local custom and remember that a simple thank you, “xièxiè” (謝謝) goes a long way in any situation.
Calculate a culturally appropriate tip for Taiwan using the calculator below and read on for more detail on tipping in Restaurants, Cafés, Bars, Taxis, Hotels etc.
Taiwan Tip Calculator
Good Tip For Taiwan
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Total With Tip
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Tipping in Restaurants
You aren’t expected to tip when dining out. In fact, attempting to leave a tip may result in confusion, awkwardness or embarrassment on behalf of the waiting staff.
Even if you leave a small amount of change on the table, a staff member might chase after you thinking you’ve forgotten to pick it up.
Some mid/higher-end restaurants will add a 10% service charge (not to be confused with ‘GST’ which is tax) but don’t tip on top of this.
In some eateries, you may order your meal via a device and spot a tip screen. Don’t leave a tip in this situation either.
With the exception of high-end restaurants, a lot of places require that you pay when you order or when you’re on your way out. Getting the waiter’s attention to ask for your bill goes against typical Taiwanese custom.
Tipping in Bars, Clubs & Cafés
It against Taiwanese custom to tip in most bars, night clubs and cafés but there is an exception. If you’re in a luxury cocktail bar and the bartender mixes you a complex drink, feel free to tip around 10% (still not mandatory).
You may spot a tip jar in some of the more Western establishments but that’s more to cater to travellers who rely on their own customs.
In any case, it’s best to tip like a local and locals wouldn’t tip in this situation either.
Tipping Food Delivery Drivers
If you order via UberEats, Food Panda or similar, it’s up to you whether to tip or not.
It’s not that uncommon to leave a tip of around NT$100, especially if it’s raining or if the driver has to carry your food up several flights of stairs.
Tipping Taxi, & Uber & Private Drivers
Whether you’re in a metered taxi or you’re paying a fixed or negotiated fare, it’s not customary to tip taxi drivers.
If you’re paying with cash and you leave the taxi before you receive your change, the driver may think you’ve forgotten it and call out after you.
If they’ve really gone out of their way to help you. If they’ve loaded/unloaded your very heavy suitcase, a 5-10% tip is normally acceptable but always try to gauge the situation.
Tipping your Uber driver is more common since that’s easily done via the app. However, reserve your 5-10% tip for clean cars and safe/friendly drivers.
Private drivers (single/multi-day) won’t expect a monetary tip but if you stop for snacks, it’s polite to ask if they’d like anything.
Tipping The Porter/Bellhop
Tipping the porter around NT$20-40 per bag is standard practice.
Tipping Housekeeping
Your housekeeper won’t expect a tip.
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t help them out a bit. Keep your room relatively tidy and they’ll appreciate you making their job that little bit easier.
Tipping Paid & Free Tour Guides
Locals don’t tend to tip paid tour guides. However, guides in the more touristy areas have grown accustomed to receiving tips in the range of NT$200-400 per person, per day (tipping at the end).
Sometimes they’ll just hand you their business card. Their way of saying “tell others about this amazing tour you’ve just had”.
If in doubt, ask your tour operator.
It is customary to tip “free” walking tour guides at the end of the tour as long as you enjoy the experience.
Just imagine what you’d normally pay for the tour and tip them that or see if your tour operator provides a recommended tip amount.
Which Currency To Use
Always pay (or tip) using the official Taiwanese currency, the New Taiwan Dollar (Symbol: NT$ or 元, Code: TWD), sometimes referred to as ‘Dollars’ or ‘NT’.
"Tâi-oân chia̍h!" (台灣享!) - Enjoy Taiwan! 🇹🇼🍜🏮🏞️
