Tipping Culture in Canada - What Are The Norms?

nned2say on 19/09/2025 - 09:11
Last edited 19/09/2025 - 10:06 by 1 other user

As I’ll be moving to Canada soon, one of the many things I need to deal with is the tipping culture.

It seems tipping has become quite insane there. A friend told me that even staff at coffee chains now like Tim Hortons expect tips, despite simply handing over a coffee at the counter.

Personally, I’d rather pay a higher price for the food or service I receive than be expected to tip. If prices aren’t enough to cover the cost of running a business, the owner can simply raise them. I’m happy to pay more if the service or product is worthwhile. Tipping just shifts the responsibility from the business owner to both the staff and the customers.

That said, what are the current tipping norms in Canada?

Travel Canada North America Tipping

Comments

  • theguyrules on 19/09/2025 - 09:25
    +2

    Strange question to ask on an Australian bargain forum, however my folks went on a holiday to Canada so I asked them and they said "we barely did it".

    • nned2say on 19/09/2025 - 09:31
      -3

      They were lucky if the staff didn’t confront them. I was told that some waiters would even chase after customers who didn’t leave a tip

      • theguyrules on 19/09/2025 - 09:43

        They also went to Seattle and they tipped as required there, so I am guessing they didn't feel the pressure in Canada.

    • jjjaar on 19/09/2025 - 10:53

      Strange question to ask on an Australian bargain forum

      It’s like people don’t know that TripAdvisor forums and travel subreddits exist?

  • Fredfloresjr on 19/09/2025 - 09:30

    Not related, before tipping at Japan were rude, now they accept and appreciate it. So yeah, you can always ask.

  • djkelly69 on 19/09/2025 - 09:32
    +1

    Not an expert by any stretch, but I was in Canada for a couple of weeks in the middle of last year. I went to Tims quite a few times and didn't tip there. I paid on card as I do for most things, and I don't recall even getting a tip screen.

    Aside from that, I think we really only tipped in restaurants which was what we expected. From memory the suggested amounts were more in the 10-15% range as opposed to 18-22% you usually get in the US.

    Didn't hit up any bars so not sure about tips for that, but I would imagine it is similar to the southern neighbours.

    • nned2say on 19/09/2025 - 09:34

      Thanks for this.

  • freefall101 on 19/09/2025 - 09:38

    Tipping is odd because of the closeness to the US, while still having decent wages (except Quebec, where tipped workers earn less than minimum wage, so always pay tips there). So it's the norm to tip in restaurants and bars anyway. It helps get students through uni because they earn a pretty good wage for the hours they do. Like how half our hospo workers here are backpackers, most of the bar staff I ever seemed to meet were studying, 20 hours a week in a bar earns pretty well (particularly if you're attractive).

    A friend told me that even staff at coffee chains now like Tim Hortons expect tips

    Tip jar was always there, but where I was most people used the drive through. Fast food I rarely recall tipping. My partner worked at a Tim Hortons, the managers always took a chunk of their tips so I didn't ever tip much.

    • nned2say on 19/09/2025 - 09:49

      Nah, most of these places use digital payment devices with tipping options. The tricky part is that the tipping screen usually only shows preset amounts like 10%, 15%, and 25% (I can’t remember the exact figures). You need to be familiar with the system to know how to navigate to another page, select “Other,” and enter $0.

      • freefall101 on 19/09/2025 - 11:42
        +2

        Oh yeah, pretty much everywhere in Canada has turned them on, whether a restaurant or a petrol station.

        I only ever tipped where it is seen appropriate, I just got used to ignoring that in most places.

  • bonkers22 on 19/09/2025 - 09:50
    +3

    Came back from a month-long trip to Canada last month - yes it is expected for you to tip in restaurants. We also tipped our coach driver and activity guides (e.g. ziplining, kayaking, etc.). I didn't tip at fast food restaurants or tim hortons. Their machines will ask you for tips for stand-up service (e.g. take away coffee, ice cream, etc.), but it's upto you in that case (we were guilted into it in some cases).

    Amounts vary but typically 18% for restaurants, and if you come in groups of certain sizes for restaurants or bars, they will charge an "auto-gratuity" (auto-tip) of 18% by default. Your hotel shuttle drivers and uber drivers are also "expected" to receive a tip. I don't agree with the tipping culture, but it is their culture…

    • nned2say on 19/09/2025 - 09:53
      +3

      Thank you for sharing

  • dogboy on 19/09/2025 - 09:59

    I found tipping in Canada was fine as the service was generally amazing. Only 2 times I didn't tip and that was in protest of how bad the service was. Funnily enough, it was 2 different Australian servers at 2 different places.

  • mskeggs on 19/09/2025 - 10:17
    +1

    My friend is working in a Canadian resort restaurant as a waitress at the moment. She gets paid $17hr plus tips, but she has to 'tip out' 8% for the customers' bill to the kitchen staff, regardless of whether a tip is left.
    She has had a couple of customers tip 5% so she has to make up the other 3% to the kitchen staff.
    Conversely, she keeps any tip above 8%.

    It is a ritzy resort, so she is doing ok, but I gather this is a routine arrangement in dining, so the expectation is definitely to tip in a restaurant.

    I don't think tipping in a shop or fast food restaurant is necessary in Canada.

  • TheMindsetTraveller on 19/09/2025 - 10:56
    -1

    Just tip the 20%, it is what it is.

    We can debate this practice until the cows come home regarding whether wages are high enough, whose responsibility it is, and so on, but its their culture or norm practice.

    In my opinion, hospitality workers don't get paid enough, with or without tips, in North America or anywhere else in the Western world. If these workers were paid so much, we would all be quitting what we are doing right now and applying for those jobs.

    • PeterSnoot on 20/09/2025 - 09:38

      20% of the pre-tax total is a god tip. This is generally around 18% of the total so is what I have been doing when deserved.

      In Canada now and while I dislike the practice, it is their culture so don’t let it spoil your holiday.

  • tsunamisurfer on 19/09/2025 - 11:06
    +4

    The tipping culture in Canada and thje US is HORRIBLE.

    They expect tips for almost anything, even the Subway guy making my Subway.

    Towards the end of my trip I got fed up and paid cash for most things, yes I expect tipping at restaurants.

    Do not ever let tipping take place in Australia, we have a ridiculously high minimum wage as it is.

  • brendanm on 19/09/2025 - 14:32
    +3

    Just choose $0 and carry on.

  • sam-1966 on 19/09/2025 - 16:13

    My sister went to Canada and the US few years ago on an extended trip and took 'Furry Friends' and 'Freddo Frogs' with her as something Australian to give hosts etc.

    She was in a tourist area where most of the staff were Australians on working holidays and said they were more overjoyed with one of them over getting a tip - some even saying they were saving it to share with their Australian roommate.

  • Lurk Hartog on 20/09/2025 - 08:29
    -1

    This isn't CanBargain, buddy.

  • LFO on 20/09/2025 - 11:53

    You can always say no.

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