Is tipping required in Singapore (hotels, restaurants, bars, taxis)
If you’re planning your budget for a trip to Singapore then you might be asking yourself whether or not tipping is required.
Tipping is generally not required in Singapore. Tips are not expected in restaurants, taxis, and hotels as these places can add fees and charges to your bill to cover services provided. Tips may be given in hotels if someone helps you with your bag, and tips should be given to anyone who provides you with a free tour.
| Occasion | Recommended Tip |
|---|---|
| Restaurant, bar, cafe | S$0 |
| Hawker centre | S$0 |
| Taxi | S$0 |
| Hotel | S$2 per bag (if someone helped you) |
| Spa, massage, beauty treatment | S$0 |
| Changi Airport | S$0 |
| Tours and tour guide | S$5-S$50 if you took a free tour |
Many of the above locations will add a 10% service charge to your bill rather than expect you to tip.
In this guide I’ve included further detail on:
- Restaurant tipping - not required, but you pay “service charge” instead
- Taxi tipping - not required, there are plenty of extra fees and charges they add on to your metered fare
- Hotel tipping - also has a separate “service charge” so no need to tip
- Tours (paid and free)
Do restaurants require tips?
Tipping is not required at restaurants, cafes, or bars in Singapore.
A ‘service charge’ is added to your bill at some restaurants, cafes, or bars and this is paid instead of tipping the servers. If an eatery is going to add service charge, it should be written on the menu or marked next to a price with a “++” (plus-plus) symbol.
Expect service charge to be added if the eatery provides table service, complimentary water, or air conditioning.
I often find that there is not even an opportunity to add a tip to a restaurant bill in Singapore. Often the server will take my credit card and return with a receipt - I am not required to enter a PIN or sign the bill. Even when a signature is required, there still isn’t often a line to leave a tip (though I’ve never spent more than $1,000 on a restaurant bill so perhaps it’s different for big spenders…).
Eateries at hawker centres and coffee shops do not expect tips from diners. These generally outdoor establishments also do not add service charge.
As a foreigner, expect to pay cash when eating at an outdoor hawker centre or coffee shop. Usually these meals cost S$10-S$20 per person, though expect to pay up to S$100 per person if ordering seafood. If you’re interested in more detail on how to eat at a hawker centre, I wrote a full guide here: reachingsingapore.com/hawker-centre-guide
Do taxi drivers expect tips?
Taxi drivers in Singapore do not expect tips. Regardless of how much the fare is, you are not expected to tip for a taxi ride in Singapore.
Drivers will always try to give you change in my experience. If your fare is, for example, S$19.80, taxi drivers will instinctively reach for their coins to give you the 20 cents as change. Tips are not expected.
In situations like this I prefer to politely tell the driver not to worry about the change. I feel for most visitors to Singapore it is more hassle than it is worth to keep receiving small coins. I usually recommend visitors to round up to the nearest dollar (or even two dollars as Singapore has a two dollar note) when payin gfor taxis in Singapore simply to avoid receiving coins.
Paying by credit card in a taxi attracts a very large 10% additional fee (which you also have to pay sales tax on). I fyou want to know more about how much taxis ost in Singapore (and all the additional fees and surcharges they love to throw at you), I wrote a whole guide to that here: reachingsingapore.com/taxi-cost-singapore
Tipping in hotels
Most hotel workers in Singapore do not expect tips; they are paid sufficiently such that they do not rely on guest tips to make a living. There is no need to tip the concierge, front desk staff, or housekeeping staff.
The only exception I’ve come across is if you are helped with your luggage to your room. It might be nice to give a S$2 tip per bag if someone has helped bring you your luggage. The reaction I’ve had when giving this though has been that it is certainly not expected.
A service charge of 10% is added to your bill instead of having to tip each individual. Most hotel booking services quote “nett” prices that include service charge and taxes, though it’s a good idea to check. The hotel will make this clear on the bill at checkout however.
Tipping at spas and massage parlours
Tips are not required at any spa, massage, or beauty treatment place in Singapore.
A 10% service charge is sometimes added to your bill depending on the establishment. Some places will quote prices with service charge included, others will add it on.
Similarly to restaurants, look for a disclaimer at the bottom of the price list, or the “++” (plus-plus) symbol to indicate if service charge will be added.
I have also seen one establishment add a fee for paying by credit card, but this is not common in Singapore.
Tipping at Singapore Changi Airport
Service providers at Changi Airport do not require tips. In fact, staff at Changi Airport are not allowed to accept tips (Singapore is very strict about bribery and corruption, and this rule likely exists to ensure no exchange of money at the airport can be misconstrued as a bribe).
This means you do not have to tip for golf buggy rides at the airport, baggage storage, information counters, tours, or any other services at Changi Airport. All of these services are covered by a fee you pay, or by the airport itself.
Tours and tour guides
Tipping is recommended if you are taking a free walking tour in Singapore. Typically I’d expect to tip between S$5 and S$50 depending on how extensive the tour was, how much you liked the guide, and how much you can afford to tip.
The concept is more ‘pay-as-you-wish’ rather than strictly a tip, but it is good to give some gratuity to a tour guide if you are taking a free tour. These tour guides do also make money giving corporate tours, so they’re not completely reliant on tips (though I’m sure they appreciate it!).
The biggest provider of free tours that I can think of is Monster Day Tours. Check out their website here if you’re interested in booking one (I’m not affiliated with them).
Tipping is not required for paid tour guides and other tourist related activities such as bus tours, the duck tour, or at any attraction (e.g. Bird Paradise).
