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Is tipping customary in Thailand? Tipping in Thailand is not compulsory but widely appreciated—especially in tourist areas—for services like restaurants, taxis, tours, hotels, and spas. Here’s your quick guide: round up or leave small-note tips (฿20–฿50); upscale service? Consider 5–10%. Keep reading to master the tipping culture in Thailand so you can tip with confidence and respect local norms.
Understanding the Tipping Culture in Thailand
Although tipping isn’t deeply ingrained in Thai culture, tipping culture in Thailand has evolved—especially in tourist-heavy areas. Unlike Western norms, there’s generally no expectation, but tips are appreciated as a gesture of gratitude. Lounge these norms, and you’ll find Thailand both delightful and gracious to travelers who show a little extra appreciation.
Tipping in Restaurants
- Casual street food stalls or local eateries: Tipping is rare. Simple rounding up or leaving loose change is sufficient.
- Mid-range cafés/restaurants: Check the bill; if a 10% service charge is included, don’t tip extra. If not, leaving 5–10% for good service is a nice gesture.
- Upscale establishments: Tips of 10–15% are appreciated unless an automatic service charge is already applied.
Tipping Taxi Drivers
- Tipping in Thailand taxi situations is not expected, but rounding up the fare (e.g., to the nearest ฿10 or ฿20) is common courtesy.
- For longer rides or luggage assistance, consider a tip of around ฿20–฿50.
Hotel & Housekeeping Tipping Guides
| Service | Suggested Tip (฿) |
| Bellboy / Porter | 20–50 ฿ per bag |
| Housekeeping (per day) | 20–50 ฿ |
| Concierge (special help) | 50–100 ฿ |
| Valet (if applicable) | 5–10 ฿ per use |
Details:
- Porters: Common to tip around ฿20–฿50 per bag, depending on help.
- Housekeeping: Leave around ฿20–฿50 per day visibly (on bed or nightstand).
- Concierge: Tip 50–100 ฿ for special services like reservations or tour planning.
- Valets or front-desk services: Small token tips of ฿5–฿15 depending on effort.
Tour Guides & Drivers
- Tour guides: Tip between ฿300–฿550 per day, depending on group size and service level.
- Drivers: Tip ฿100–฿300 per day, especially if helpful and accommodating.
- Alternative guidance: $10–$20 per day combined for guide and driver, as per tour industry advice.
- For small-group or personalized tours, tipping ฿100–฿200 per person at day’s end is also common.
Spas & Massages
- Standard spa/massage: Tip 10–15% of service cost; 50–100 ฿ per hour is typical in casual settings.
- Outstanding massage/service: Up to ฿100 is a heartfelt thank-you.
Street Vendors, Markets & Other Services
- Street food or market vendors: Tipping is not expected; attempts to tip may cause confusion.
- Other casual services: For incidental help (e.g., security assistance in parking lots), around ฿20 is sufficient.
Tipping in Specific Thai Destinations
Chiang Mai
- Use small notes (฿20) for tips; hotel porters (฿20–฿50), and housekeepers the same; restaurants: round up or leave small change; upscale: ~10% if service charge not included.
Phuket
- Tipping norms align with broader guidelines—round-ups, minor tips for services, and small group guide tips—but be mindful of busy tourist environment that may encourage over-tipping.
Quick Tipping Reference Table
| Service | Typical Tip | Notes |
| Street food / local cafe | Round up or no tip | Tipping not expected |
| Mid-range restaurant | 5–10% if no service charge | Check bill |
| Upscale restaurant | 10–15% if no service charge | Often service charge already included |
| Taxi (short ride) | Round up ฿10–฿20 | Normal courtesy |
| Taxi (long ride or luggage) | ฿20–฿50 | For extra help |
| Hotel – Porter | ฿20–฿50 per bag | Depending on effort |
| Hotel – Housekeeping | ฿20–฿50 per day | Leave visibly |
| Hotel – Concierge | ฿50–฿100 | For special assistance |
| Tour Guide | ฿300–฿550 per day | Small-group personalized service |
| Driver (tour) | ฿100–฿300 per day | Helping with luggage/routes |
| Spa / Massage | 10–15% or ฿50–฿100 | Skilled service deserves reward |
| Street Vendor | None | May cause confusion |
FAQs – Tipping in Thailand
Q1: Is tipping common in Thailand?
Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory, especially in local or rural areas. In tourist zones, it’s more common but never enforced. Always check bills for service charges.
Q2: Is tipping expected in Thailand?
No—it’s discretionary. Show appreciation for good service, but there’s no social obligation.
Q3: Is tipping allowed in Thailand?
Absolutely. Thailand welcomes tips, especially in tourist sectors, but only when you choose to give one.
Q4: Tipping taxi drivers in Thailand—is it normal?
Not expected—but rounding up fares, especially for service or luggage help, is common courtesy.
Q5: What’s the tipping etiquette in Thailand for restaurants?
Check for service charge. If none, leave 5–10% in mid-range places; 10–15% in upscale settings.
Q6: Is tipping expected at hotels (housekeeping, porters)?
Not expected but appreciated. Porters: ฿20–฿50 per bag; housekeepers: ฿20–฿50/day; concierge: ฿50–฿100 if they go above and beyond.
Q7: Tipping tour guides—how much?
฿300–฿550/day for guides; drivers ฿100–฿300/day. Alternatively, $10–$20 combined for both is also common.
Q8: Should I always tip?
No—from casual street bites to markets and public transit, tipping isn’t customary; sometimes it even confuses locals.
Why Radical Storage is Your Perfect Travel Companion
Navigating tipping in Thailand can feel like juggling small notes and cultural nuances—especially when you’re also hauling bags around between hotels, markets, and sightseeing stops.
That’s where Radical Storage shines. We offer affordable, international luggage storage services right at your fingertips—perfect for stashing your bags and exploring Thailand unencumbered. Here’s how we add value:
- Easy and flexible: Find local shops, hotels, or certified partners offering secure storage by the hour or day.
- Peace of mind: Fully insured, staff-verified locations.
- Global network: Radical Storage is trusted in over 40 countries—convenience wherever you travel.
So, while you navigate tipping customs—from rounding up bills to tipping housekeepers—Radical Storage takes care of the other burden: your luggage. Explore on foot, enjoy Thai massages, visit markets, or dine hands-free—stress-free travel made simple.
