🇹🇭Thailand · Restaurant (Counter Service)
How much to tip at a counter-service restaurant in Thailand (2026 Guide)
OptionalCash preferred
No tip required; loose coins ฿5–20
Tipping calculator
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Cultural notes
Counter-service eateries — food courts in Terminal 21/Iconsiam, MBK, Central malls, and the ubiquitous shophouse rice-and-curry counters — do not have a tipping culture. Food-court systems where you load a card at a kiosk do not allow tipping anyway. At sit-down-but-order-at-counter Western chains (Au Bon Pain, Coffee Beanery), a small tip jar may exist but is rarely used.
Frequently asked questions
Should I tip at a hawker stall?
No. Vendors may even refuse, thinking you have miscounted change.
Tipping other services in Thailand
- Sit-down restaurant10% if no service charge; otherwise round-up (฿20–100)
- CaféNo tip, or leave loose change (฿5–20)
- BarRound up to nearest ฿100, or ฿20–50 per round
- Housekeeping฿20–50 per day, left on the pillow with a thank-you note
- Porter฿20–50 per bag
- Concierge฿100–200 for substantial assistance
- TaxiRound up to the nearest ฿10–20
- RideshareOptional ฿10–50 in-app or round-up cash
- Food deliveryOptional ฿10–30 in-app
- Grocery deliveryOptional ฿20–50 in-app or in cash
- Hairdresser฿20–100 depending on salon tier
- Spa฿50–100 per 60-min massage at local shops; ฿100–200 at upscale spas
- Tour guide฿200–500 per person per day; ฿500–1,000 private full day
- Tattoo artist10–15% of the service price, or ฿200–500 cash
- Valet฿20–50 per drop-off/pickup
- Airport baggage฿20–50 per bag for porters
- Busker฿20–50 in the hat or case
- Movers฿100–200 per worker
- Tradesperson฿50–100 cash for exceptional work
Tipping at a counter-service restaurant in nearby countries
Last verified: · Sources: iamkohchang.com