3 mins - Article
Tipping is good practice, but not mandatory
Servers generally make about $15/hr and depend on tips! Generally, they work hard to make sure you have the best experience.
In Canada, tips usually depend on your bill total and how good your service was. 10%-15% ($5-$20) is an appropriate tip amount.
Custom tip
A "tip" for calculating the appropriate tip at a restaurant is to multiply the 5% GST (Goods and Services Tax) amount shown on the bill by three--three times 5% is 15%.
For the most part, you don’t have to calculate it on your own – if paying with your debit card, the machines do it for you. You can also always do a custom tip amount!
You can pay the server the additional tip according to the quality of their performance. The better service, the bigger the tip!
Consider these questions when you’re figuring out how much to tip:
What’s my budget? Can I afford a tip?
Was the server polite and served me in a timely manner?
How great was the food?
Were any problems addressed right away?
Keep in mind! Some restaurants may charge an automatic 15-18% gratuity (tips) for larger groups. It is up to the individual establishment but is usually applicable to groups of 8 or more.
Fun Fact!
Tipping or gratuity changes depending on which country you’re in! In Mexico or Peru, the tipping norm is about 10-15%. In Europe, large (15-20%) are unnecessary because there are laws in place that build in gratuity to the sale price already!
