Thailand doesn't tip, and Bangkok half does, because visitors taught it to. Here's the actual practice.
By situation#
| Where | What's normal |
|---|---|
| Street food, food courts | Nothing |
| Casual restaurant | Leave the coins, round up |
| Nicer restaurant | Check for a 10% service charge; if present, nothing more; if not, a few percent |
| Massage, spa | A modest tip to the therapist directly; more for a long or great session |
| Taxi | Round up to the nearest note |
| Grab | Optional in-app tip |
| Tour guide, private driver | Expected on a paid day; more for a full day |
| Hotel porter, housekeeping | A small note |
| Bar | Round up; nothing per drink |
What Thais do#
Round up, leave coins, tip the massage therapist, tip a guide. Not much else. Nobody is offended by no tip; service charges are how restaurants handle it. A Western-sized tip is noticed as foreign generosity, not as correct.
The things that matter more than the tip#
The taxi meter being on (taxis vs Grab), knowing the scams, and having small notes, because nobody can change a large one for a bowl of noodles.
Local Friends#
On Roavi, a Local Friend sets an hourly rate and that's the payment. Tipping is welcome and never expected; buying their coffee is the Thai way. Everything else about money here: what a trip costs and Bangkok on a budget. Questions a guide can't answer: post them on Roavi Community; Bangkokians reply.
Unsure what's polite? Ask someone from Bangkok.
Post your tripNext door, the opposite extreme: tipping in Japan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you tip in Bangkok restaurants?
Not required. Leave the small change or round up at a casual place; at a nicer restaurant check the bill for a 10 percent service charge, and if it's there nothing more is expected. A few percent extra for great service is generous here.How much do you tip for a massage in Bangkok?
A modest tip handed directly to the therapist is normal and appreciated, more for a long or excellent session. It's one of the few places where Thais themselves often tip.Do you tip taxi and Grab drivers in Bangkok?
Taxis: round up to the nearest note and tell them to keep the change; Grab has an in-app tip that's optional. Nobody expects more. Agreeing the meter is on matters more than the tip.Should I tip a tour guide in Bangkok?
Yes, on a paid day tour or private guide, a tip is normal and expected; more for a full day or a driver who waited. For a Local Friend on Roavi, the hourly rate is the payment; a tip is welcome but never assumed.
