Tipping in Thailand

Tipping is not customary in Thailand. There is no obligation to tip, but a small tip for great service is greatly appreciated.

Unlike other parts of the world, you won't find Thai service providers waiting for tips.

Given that the average annual income for Thais is around $3,000, tipping in Thailand can mean the difference between barely making ends meet and enjoying a higher quality of life.

Remember that service staff work long hours with little to no breaks and are able to maintain a positive attitude most of the time.

When you receive good food or great service (as is often the case in Thailand), giving a small tip to show your appreciation can have a big impact in the long run.

When tipping based on service in Thailand, be sure to give the money directly to the waiter. If you give it to the administrator or leave it on the map, the server may not be able to receive it.

Tipsters in Thailand do not have the infrastructure to use tips as is common in tipping culture.

Thai workplaces do not have a culture of counting tips and redistributing them to the front and back of the house at the end of the shift.

Things to keep in mind

Before we talk further about who to tip and how much to tip, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Do you want to keep the changes?

Depending on where you eat, tipping culture can vary greatly. If you order street food and ask the vendor to leave you the change, even if it's only 5 baht, the vendor will take it back, whether out of humility or confusion about overpaying. more likely to claim that.

Acting like a local is good advice for all travelers. Locals are unlikely to tip street food vendors, so don't worry too much. If the food was really good, order another one or leave a few baht and run away before they shove it back into your hands.

Eating at a restaurant or cafe is a different story. Note that waiters in such establishments often work long hours with short breaks for less than $10 per day.

For example, if you order snacks and coffee worth 85 baht, it's common to keep the remaining 15 or 20 baht bill. You probably won't miss it, but it might help make up the difference. To a young waitress with a family and a college degree.

You don't have to tip every time you travel for an extended period of time, but as a regular, you may receive better service and preferential treatment.

The more expensive the restaurant, the higher the tip. When your bill reaches the low hundreds of dollars, consider tipping 10% or more for good service. However, please make sure your bill does not include a service charge.

Fair fares and a pinch of tipping

In the tourist areas of Thailand's major cities, especially Bangkok, it's very difficult to find taxi drivers who actually use the meter. With this in mind, it's worth rewarding drivers who do this with a small tip.

You don't have to bet a lot of money. For example, if it's 61 baht, give them 70 baht and don't expect change.

They will be grateful for this and may persuade him to continue living honestly without taking 200 baht for the upcoming trip.

As anyone who has visited Thailand knows, massage parlors can be found on almost every street corner, and there is fierce competition and price wars between them to make them easy and affordable for tourists.

Massages are personalized to the recipient and can be tiring. Additionally, due to competition, massage therapists often have to wait hours without seeing a single customer just to receive a portion of the massage fee after the facility has received its share.

Again, tips are not expected but fully appreciated. So if the masseuse charges her 300 baht, it would be better if he tips the masseuse 50-100 baht and gives it directly.

It doesn't cost a fortune, but it can brighten someone's day.

Sweet Dreams and Guide Price

There's nothing worse than not reconfirming your reservation, arriving at your hotel exhausted and jetlagged, only to find yourself on the 4th floor and there's no elevator.

Think of the poor bellboys and porters who have to drag their luggage around. These jobs, like hotel cleaning jobs, often have low pay, long hours, and high standards, with a tip of 20 baht for each bag carried or room cleaned. You can get a considerable effect.

Tour guides are a godsend in Thailand. Some people are definitely going to travel, while others may feel like going somewhere else. The amount of tip depends on the tour guide's service and length of stay.

It is not uncommon for a good guide to be paid more than 1,000 baht for being out all day with a group. That's a lot of money for someone whose monthly income is only about 15,000 baht.

You are not obligated to tip if you are not satisfied with the service. But remember, everyone has good days and bad days, and the hours can be long and tiring.

As the Thais say, it's really "up to you". Tourists are not expected to tip, but it is definitely appreciated.

It may be easy to drive through a city you'll never visit again without tipping, but good service and satisfaction should always be rewarded.

Think about how much people make in restaurants and hotels and think twice before scooping change out of your coin purse.

🔘 Read More: Tipping in Greece When You Can Do It

Who do you tip and how much?

Here are detailed guidelines to help you tip as a tourist in common cases.

Tip your tour guide

Tour guides in Thailand can be a godsend. In some cases, you may hire a guide to show you parts of Thailand that you would never see otherwise.

In other cases, you may want to book a tour guide who clearly wants a different location.

Even if you don't understand what someone is saying, some people will transport you to another time and place and open you up to history and culture.

No matter what your tour is, we encourage you to leave a small tip. Tour guides often work for hours in the hot sun just for tips.

The average income of these people is about 15,000 baht, and a large tip can get them through the day, or even the week.

Tipping in Thailand often depends on the quality of the experience, but when tipping a tour guide in Thailand, you should also consider the length of the tour.

If you meet someone who is downright rude, never tip them. However, if the service was so-so and the tour was exceptional, I recommend tipping between 50 and 100 baht per hour.

I don't think it's necessary to tip the guide 600 baht for a full-day tour, but I understand that.

In that case, you might only give them 50 baht per hour, but if you're happy, educated, and satisfied after your trip, try to tip as much as you can when you get home.

Recommended tip:

- Half day tour = 150+ Baht

- Full day tour = 300+ Baht

Tipping for bellboys

If you're staying at one of the better hotels in Bangkok, your luggage will most likely be delivered to your room. The amount of tip depends on the amount of baht you have. The recommended tip is 20 Baht/50 Baht/100 Baht depending on the number of bags.

Again, there is no tipping in Thailand, but you will notice the bellman hanging at the door when you leave. They happily accept tips.

Recommended tip:

- 1 bag = 20 baht

- Multiple bags = 50 baht

Housekeeping tip

This can be difficult. In Thailand, it is customary to tip the room attendants at luxury hotels. You realize this when there is a tip envelope in the room. Please put the tip in the maid's envelope. Tipping is not customary when staying at a 3-star hotel or below.

If the envelope is missing, the maid may not know that the money left in the room is a tip and may not accept it. It may sound strange, but if you leave a 50 baht note on your bed, it may be considered forgotten and placed on your desk.

This happened to us. The best way to tip housekeeping in Thailand is to literally hand it over or make it clear that it's a tip. Thank you notes with money etc.

Recommended tip:

- 1 night = 50 baht

- 3 nights = 100 baht

Tipping at restaurant

Tipping roughly 10% of the bill is a good tip and rounding up or down just like you would do at home.

If eating at a fancier restaurant and the bill is higher, you can ignore the 10% rule and give based on how the experience was with a minimum of THB100 tip.

Always check the bill and see if a service charge was added, if a service charge was added no need to tip.

When tipping in a sit-down restaurant it isn’t a straight percentage of the check. Also, look at the cost of the meal and the service. Just like you would at home.

If you had a not-so-good waiter at home would you tip? Yes, you probably would tip but you’d just tip less.

If you had an amazing waiter, you’d tip a little extra. And if you had a terrible server and dining experience you probably wouldn’t tip. The same goes when tipping in Thailand at restaurants.

Suggested tip:

- 100 baht bill = 10-20 baht tip

- 177 baht bill= 23 baht tip just leave all the change and round up

- 830 baht bill= 70-100 baht tip

- 1900 baht bill= 150 baht tip

Tipping at Bars

Tipping at bars in Thailand varies from bar to bar. For bars where you go to the bar and order your own drink, no tipping is required.

If you're going to be at a beach bar on Koh Lipe all day, it's a good idea to tip him 10 baht on the first drink so the waiter can come by later to check on you.

If they don't come back to check on you, don't tip them the next time you drink. If you sit at the bar for a few hours, chat with the bartender, and have a great time, your tip should be around 50 baht.

Always check your bill to see if a service charge has been added. Tipping is not required if a service charge is added.

Sky bars in Bangkok often charge a service fee. So you don't have to tip unless it was a special service and you want to leave an extra tip.

Suggested tip:

- 10 THB for 2 drinks

- For groups and long drinks: 10% of the bill

Tattoo Artist Tips

Getting a tattoo in Thailand is an experience you'll never forget. Even better is to get a Sakyan tattoo, a traditional Thai tattoo.

If your tattoo artist creates a custom design that you like, show your appreciation with a tip, usually 10%, or at your discretion.

Recommended tips:

- 2,000 baht tattoo = 200 baht tip

- 4,000 baht tattoo = 300 baht tip

🔘 Related: How Much Should You Tip Your Tattoo Artist?

Massage tip

Anyone who has ever visited Thailand knows that there are massage parlors on every street. You probably know that.

Whether you're interested in a relaxing oil massage, a deep tissue foot massage, or an intense traditional Thai massage, it's important to try a massage at least once if you want to experience Thai culture.

Therefore, this task is one of the most important when it comes to tipping in Thailand.

Thai massages often last for hours and are a demanding task. The masseuse then has to wait for hours without a customer.

Once the payment is completed, the massage parlor receives a portion of the profits and the masseuse is left with only a portion of the profits.

Not only do we highly recommend tipping for Thai massages, but we also recommend tipping generously. If you want to unleash your inner generous nature, now is the time to shine.

For an extra 50 or even 100 baht, you can have a fun day. And, as mentioned above, tip and make sure to keep it to yourself.

Conclusion

If you are often short on money but still want to appreciate the work of a waiter, there is no need to worry.

Track your tips with the electronic waiter tipping app for cashless tips. Take advantage of the ease of use of the digital gratitude app.

Digital tipping software that allows you to tip. The good news is that this typing software can be used on both iPhone and Android smartphones, regardless of the phone's operating system.