Tipping in Thailand 2026: Who & How Much To Tip

Planning a trip to Thailand and unsure about tipping etiquette? While tipping isn’t a traditional part of Thai culture, it’s become more common and highly appreciated, especially in the hospitality and service industries, as tourism has grown. Since local wages are often modest, tips in Thai Baht (฿) can make a significant difference and are usually shared among staff. This updated Thailand Tipping Guide 2026 covers when to tip, how much to give, and tips for respecting local customs, ensuring a smoother and more respectful travel experience.

Thailand Tipping Guide Etiquette

How Much To Tip In Thailand

The amount you tip in Thailand varies by situation, but for small transactions, a simple rule of thumb is to round up the bill. This valuable insight into Thailand tipping culture comes directly from locals and service workers. This Tipping in Thailand Guide is continually updated to provide you with the most accurate advice on how much to tip in Thai Baht (฿) for every situation, starting with your hotel stay. Let’s begin!

Thai Currency Exchange Rates

Currency data courtesy coinmill.com

Hotels & Accommodation

Tipping hotel staff in Thailand is one of the most common and appreciated ways for tourists to show gratitude, as tips often make a meaningful difference to local wages.

Tipping Housekeeping (Maids)

A clean and well-maintained hotel room is essential for a comfortable stay. Even though you may not be particularly messy, housekeeping staff work hard making the bed, changing linens, emptying trash, and maintaining overall tidiness.

Standard Tip: We recommend leaving ฿50 per night for their hard work.
When to Tip: Leave the note clearly visible on the pillow or nightstand each morning. For shorter stays, leaving a lump sum on the final morning is also acceptable.
For Extra Service: If the room requires extra attention, or if the cleaning tasks are more intensive (e.g., after a rough night or minor accident), increasing the tip to ฿100 – ฿200 is a thoughtful way to acknowledge their extra dedication.

Tipping Service Attendants

Tipping goes beyond just the maid. Show appreciation to any hotel staff who provide personalized, immediate service:

Baggage Porter/Bellhop: For assisting with your luggage to or from your room. Tip: ฿20 – ฿30 for a single bag, or ฿40 – ฿50 if they’ve assisted with several heavy bags.
Pool or Beach Attendants: If they set you up with a lounge chair, umbrella, or provide fresh towels. Tip: ฿20 – ฿40 per service.

Tipping for Complimentary Breakfast

Even if your hotel stay includes a complimentary breakfast, leaving a tip is still a thoughtful way to show appreciation for the dining staff. Hotel staff work diligently to keep the dining area clean, refresh buffets, and ensure your meal is enjoyable.

Tip: Consider leaving a small tip of ฿20 – ฿40 on the table or in a designated tip box.

A Note on Service Charges: While many luxury hotels include a service charge (typically 10%) on your room rate, this money is distributed among all workers. Extra cash tips left directly for the porter or maid are a significant and appreciated addition to their individual wages.

Tours & Transportation

Tipping in this category depends entirely on the duration and personalization of the service. Tipping tour guides and private drivers is highly recommended, while tipping short-haul transport like taxis and tuk-tuks is optional.

Tipping Tour Guides

Whether you’re taking a boat excursion, a city sightseeing trip, or a multi-day jungle hike, your guide’s knowledge and effort are invaluable. Tipping your guide is one of the most highly appreciated gestures in Thailand.

Standard Tip: For a half-day or full-day excursion with a dedicated guide, a recommended tip falls between ฿150 – ฿300 per person.
Multi-Person Tours: Adjust the tip based on the service and the number of guides involved. In many cases, the tip is divided among a team (driver, boat captain, assistant guide), so be generous for excellent service.
Private Drivers/Car Hire: If you hire a private driver for a full day or longer to safely transport you around an area, a daily tip of ฿100 – ฿300 is a great acknowledgment of their professionalism.

Tipping Taxis, Tuk-Tuks, and Grab

Exploring bustling Thai streets in a taxi, Tuk-Tuk, or using a ride-share app (like Grab) is part of the adventure. While tipping isn’t a widespread expectation for these short-haul trips, expressing appreciation for a smooth ride is always welcomed.

Taxis (Metered): Always ensure the driver uses the meter. Tip: Simply round up the fare to the nearest convenient amount. For instance, if your fare was ฿57, round up and give the driver ฿60.
Tuk-Tuks: These fares should be negotiated and agreed upon before getting in. Tip: Rounding up slightly is customary, but not expected.
Grab/Ride-Share: You can round up the cash fare or use the in-app tipping feature.

Restaurants & Dining

In most Thai restaurants, the service style is unobtrusive and prioritizes your privacy. While servers are attentive to your initial order, they generally won’t “check in” to chat or ask how your meal is. When you’re ready for the bill, simply signal or call them over—this isn’t considered rude, it’s just the local custom. When leaving a tip, keep in mind that money left in a tip box or on the check presenter is typically split among the entire staff. If you’d like a specific person to keep the full amount, it’s best to hand the cash directly to them.

Tipping in Thai Restaurants

The crucial step for dining out is checking the bill, especially in tourist-heavy areas like Bangkok and Phuket.

Check the Bill First: Many upscale restaurants may include a 10% service charge (sometimes 5-7%) on your bill. If this charge is present, no further tip is expected, though an extra ฿20-฿50 for truly exceptional service is a kind bonus.
If No Service Charge: For mid-range and casual restaurants without a service charge, a great rule of thumb is to round up the bill or leave a 10% tip to thank the hardworking staff.
Tip Sharing: Tips left on the table are typically shared among all workers. If you’d like to tip your server directly, hand them the tip in person for a more personal touch.

Tipping at the Bar

Tipping at the bar is a great way to acknowledge attentive service, whether you are seated at the bar or a table.

Quick Drinks (Take-Away): If you’re grabbing a drink to go, consider rounding up the bill to the nearest ฿10 or ฿20.
Seated Service (Waitress): If you are seated and have a waitress taking your order, tipping 10% of your bill is standard.
Standard Gestures: Leaving ฿20 – ฿30 is common for a single beer. If you’ve spent a couple of hours at a table, tipping ฿50 – ฿100 is customary.
Exceptional Service: If the bartender or server engages in conversation or provides outstanding service, tipping accordingly for their kindness is highly appreciated.

Tipping for Food Delivery Apps in Thailand

While tipping is not a widespread norm for food delivery from apps like Grab or Lineman (as locals generally don’t tip in these situations), it is always a thoughtful gesture for the driver’s effort.

Standard Practice: Tipping is not expected. I will tip 10 – 20 Baht.
Adverse Conditions: In cases of rain, traffic, or if the driver had to cover a significant distance, a thoughtful gesture is to tip an additional ฿20 – ฿50. Recognizing the extra effort in adverse conditions makes a positive impact.

Services & Wellness

Tipping for personal services, especially massages, is one area where tourists are generally expected to provide a gratuity. Tips in this sector are a significant portion of the service worker’s income.

How Much to Tip for Thai Massages

Indulging in a Thai massage is an excellent way to unwind and alleviate stress. Most establishments display prices ranging from ฿200 to ฿300 plus for a basic 50-minute session.

Tip for Standard Massage (60-90 minutes): A customary practice is to tip ฿50 – ฿100 for a basic one-hour to one-and-a-half-hour massage.
Tip for Long Massages (2+ hours) or Specialized Services: For longer or more specialized techniques (like herbal or body scrub massages), tip at least ฿100 and up to ฿200.
Action: Always hand the tip directly to your therapist upon completion of the service.

How Much To Tip In Thailand For Haircuts or Salons

Tipping at salons, spas, or barbershops is a great way to acknowledge the skill and time spent on a personalized service.

For Women (Salons/Spas): A gratuity ranging from ฿50 to ฿100 is common, depending on the quality and complexity of the service (e.g., cut, color, nails).
For Men (Barbers/Haircuts): A tip of around ฿50 is customary after a haircut.
Cultural Note: While tipping isn’t universally expected, and many locals choose not to tip in these settings, leaving a small tip from a tourist is always appreciated and can enhance the service experience.

Conclusion: Generous Tipping for Exceptional Service in Thailand

Thailand’s renowned hospitality deserves recognition, and when you experience service that exceeds expectations, expressing appreciation with a generous tip becomes a heartfelt gesture. Whether it’s a rejuvenating spa treatment or a tour guide sharing insightful anecdotes, tipping more generously in these instances is genuinely appreciated. Embrace the positive impact of expressing gratitude, as your generous gesture has the power to brighten someone’s day and create lasting memories.

Is tipping in Thailand mandatory?

Tipping is not mandatory in Thailand, but it is appreciated as a gesture of gratitude for good service.

How much should I tip hotel staff?

Tipping hotel staff, such as bellboys or porters, around 20-50 baht per bag is customary. Leaving a small tip for housekeeping is also a thoughtful gesture.

Should I tip street vendors and hawkers?

Tipping street vendors and hawkers is not expected, as their prices typically include the cost of service. However, a small tip for exceptional service is appreciated.