Tipping in Germany: How Much to Leave at Restaurants, in Taxis and for Delivery

Tips in Germany, or Trinkgeld, are usually seen as a voluntary thank-you for good service rather than a mandatory addition to the bill. In restaurants, people commonly use 5–10% of the total as a guide; in bars, taxis, and for deliveries, they often simply round up the bill or add a few euros.

The main rule is simple: if the service was acceptable or good, a tip is appropriate. If you did not like the service, you can leave nothing. This is not considered rude, although if there was a clear problem, it is better to calmly say what was wrong.

At a glance: how much to tip

Situation	Guideline
Restaurant with table service	usually 5–10%
Café or bar	round up to a convenient amount
Taxi or ride-hailing trip	round up or add €1–3
Hairdresser	around 5% if you are happy with the result
Food or grocery delivery	€1–2; more for a heavy order or difficult delivery
Movers	from a few euros for brief help to €10–20 for a difficult move
Fast food and supermarket checkouts	tips are usually not expected

These are not fixed rates or an obligation. In Germany, it is normal to take account of the quality of the service, the size of the bill, the difficulty of the service, and your own budget.

What does Trinkgeld mean?

The word Trinkgeld literally translates as “drink money”. Historically, it was a small amount given on top of payment for help or good service. Its meaning today is much the same: it is a sign of appreciation, not part of the compulsory price.

Do you need to tip in Germany?

Tipping is not as firmly embedded in Germany’s service culture as it is, for example, in the US. Workers should not depend only on tips, and guests are not expected to add money automatically. The German approach is therefore usually pragmatic: good service means leaving a little extra; poor service means not leaving a tip.

Expectations vary by type of service. Tips are more common in a restaurant with table service than at a self-service bakery or a shop checkout. In small everyday situations, Germans often do not calculate percentages but simply state a convenient final amount.

Surveys on tipping quickly become outdated, but they show the general style of behaviour well. For example, in a 2019 YouGov/Statista survey, most respondents chose a tip of between €2 and €5 on a €50 bill. It is better to treat this example as a historical reference point rather than an exact norm for 2026.

Source for the historical survey: Statista

Tipping in restaurants

At a restaurant with a waiter, people most often leave around 5–10% of the bill. For a small bill, you can simply round up: for example, for a bill of €18.40, say that you are paying €20.

If the bill is large, you do not have to mechanically add exactly 10%. In Germany, it is normal to leave a convenient amount, especially if the service was ordinary rather than exceptional. If the service was poor, you may leave no tip.

Tipping in bars and cafés

Tips at a bar are usually more modest. If a drink costs €3.70, you can pay €4. If you order several rounds at the counter, people sometimes leave a little after the final order.

At self-service coffee shops and bakeries, tips are not required. If there is a jar for small change at the checkout, you can put your change in it, but this is entirely voluntary.

Tipping in taxis and ride-hailing apps

In taxis, people usually round up the bill or add a couple of euros. If the ride costs €33.20, you can pay €35. You may leave more for help with luggage, a long journey, or particularly careful service.

If the trip is paid for through an app, you can often add a tip in the interface after it ends. You can also give a small amount in cash if that is more convenient.

Taxis in Germany

Tipping hairdressers

At a hairdresser, leaving around 5% is appropriate if you are happy with the haircut, colouring, or consultation. Some salons have separate boxes or envelopes with the stylists’ names. If there is no such system, you can simply give the tip when paying.

Tipping movers

When moving, tips depend on the amount of work. A small sum is enough for brief help with a few boxes. For a difficult move, carrying things upstairs without a lift, a long day, or careful handling of furniture, people usually give more.

A practical guide is a few euros for brief help and around €10–20 per person for a difficult move. If the work takes many hours, the amount can be higher, but there is no fixed norm.

Tipping delivery drivers

Food or grocery delivery drivers are often given €1–2. More is appropriate if the order is heavy, the weather is bad, the building has no lift, or the delivery was especially quick and careful.

If you pay for the order online, check whether you can add a tip in the app. If that option is unavailable or you are unsure whether the money will reach the courier, you can give cash.

How to give a tip correctly

In Germany, people usually do not silently leave a tip on the table after they leave. When the waiter or cashier takes payment, you state the final amount you want to pay, including the tip.

For example:

• for a bill of €27.80, you can say: “€30, please”;
• for a bill of €46.50, you can say: “€50”;
• if you pay by card, state the final amount before payment is processed.

The German phrase Stimmt so means roughly “keep the change”. It is useful when you pay in cash and want to leave the change as a tip.

Cash or card?

In many places, you can add a tip when paying by card, but not everywhere. If you want to be sure that you can leave a small amount without extra explanation, it is useful to carry a little cash.

When paying by card, do not expect the terminal to offer a tip automatically. It is better to state the final amount immediately, while the staff member has not yet processed the payment.

Common mistakes

• Treating tips as mandatory in every situation. In Germany, they are a voluntary thank-you.
• Leaving money on the table after the waiter has already taken payment. More commonly, you state the amount during payment.
• Giving too much because of a habit from another country. In most everyday situations, 5–10% or rounding up is enough.
• Not mentioning a problem but leaving no tip in a conflict situation. If the service was genuinely poor, a calm explanation is usually better than a silent gesture.

Conclusion

Tipping in Germany works best as a flexible gesture of appreciation. In restaurants, use 5–10% as a guide; in taxis, bars, and for deliveries, round up and add a few euros. If you did not like the service, you are not obliged to leave Trinkgeld: that is normal here.