Tipping In Ireland: When It’s Expected (And When It Isn’t)

Understanding tipping in Ireland can cause confusion and stress.

Some websites lead people to believe that there’s an ‘Ireland tipping culture’ that’s similar to that in the States (I can tell you based on 34 years of living here that this definitely is not the case).

In a nutshell, tipping in Ireland is completely at your discretion.

Below, you’ll discover when it is generally expected, how much to tip in Ireland and some other handy info.

Some quick need-to-knows about tipping in Ireland

We get emails asking do you tip in Ireland 10 or 11 times a week. The answer is yes, tipping in Ireland is a thing, but before we offer an insight into how much to tip, let’s get you up-to-speed quickly:

1. A disclaimer, first

Everything you read in this guide is based on my personal opinion/experience. I’ve lived in Ireland for 34 years and I’m telling you what I and many, many people I know do.

2. It’s discretionary

No, tipping in Ireland is not mandatory and we don’t have the type of tipping culture that you’ll find in the USA. If you’re visiting Ireland on a budget and cash is tight, don’t worry about it. If you can afford it and the service was good, it’s customary to leave a tip (in some situations – see below).

3. Where it’s generally expected

The most common places for tipping in Ireland is in a restaurant or in a pub if you’ve had a sit-down meal/table service. It’s also very common on multi-day tours.

4. It’s appreciated (most of the time)

Wages in many service industries in Ireland (e.g. waiters, barista, cleaners) are very low. And, considering the current rate of inflation, cash is tight for an awful lot of people. Tips in Ireland are generally appreciated.

5. When you shouldn’t tip

If the service is terrible you shouldn’t feel in any way obliged to tip (the exception here is if the people are apologetic, e.g. ‘Someone called in sick and we’re run off our feet!’). Another situation where there’s no need is if there’s a service charge included (check the receipt).

7. How much to tip in Ireland

How much to tip in Ireland varies depending on who you talk to. However, a general rule of thumb is 10% if there’s a small group and 20% if there’s a big one (see below).

8. Service charges for big groups

In some restaurants in Ireland, if you visit with a big group (e.g. 10+ people) a service charge (usually around 20%) is automatically popped onto your bill as standard. If it hasn’t been added, add 20%.

9. Credit card tipping

Yep, tipping in Ireland by credit card is a thing. The question will always remain whether the staff actually get the money, though. It’s for this reason that you should keep some cash handy for tipping in Ireland.

Do you tip in Ireland? Situations when it’s customary (and ones when it isn’t)

So, below I’m going to tell you what I do and don’t do when it comes to Ireland tipping practices.

This contradicts some of the more popular American travel blogs, but I’m basing the below on living here for 33 years.

Restaurants

Do you tip waiters in Ireland? Yes! Tipping in restaurants in Ireland (and in cafes/pubs where you’ve had a sit-down meal) is one of the more common situations where a tip is expected.

Once the service has been good and once there is no service charge included, of course.

How much to tip: In general, a 10% tip is more than acceptable. However, if there’s a large group (e.g. 15 – 20) a 20% tip is usually the norm.

Taxis and public transport

Do you tip taxi drivers in Ireland? It depends. Personally, I’d never add a tip to a taxi ride as taxis here are incredibly expensive.

Now, you could argue that their overheads are high (e.g. insurance, tax, etc) but the price they charge is more than enough, in my opinion.

If you’re getting around Ireland on buses or trains, don’t worry about leaving a tip. It’s never expected.

How much to tip: If you really want to, you can either round up the price (e.g. €17 to €20) or you can add whatever you like.

Tour guides

Tipping tour guides in Ireland is a topic that causes a lot of debate online. Mainly as some (generally tour guides themselves…) say that there is an industry standard to tip 10% of the total cost of the tour.

Now, if you’re on a 5-day tour that cost €2,000, that’d be an extra €200, which is complete madness, in my opinion. 

How much to tip: A common scenario, especially on a day-long or multi-day bus tour, would be to tip whatever you see fit and only if you’ve been happy with the service, e.g. €2 – €5 at the end of each day.

Hotel staff

Tipping in hotels in Ireland is something that you won’t see many Irish people do, unless it’s for a meal in a restaurant. However, sometimes (and I’d do this myself in hotels when I’m abroad) it’s good practice.

In particular, if you get food delivered to your room, if you have a porter help you with your bags or if you’re availing of the housekeeping service.

How much to tip: Room service: €2 if you get food to the room. Porters: €2 if you get bags brought to your room. Housekeeping: €1-€2 per night.

Pubs

We’re often asked do you tip in Ireland every time you order a drink. No, you don’t. Now, there are a few exceptions when it comes to tipping in pubs in Ireland.

The first, is if you’ve had a meal and you received good service. The second is if you’re receiving table service.

For example, if there’s a group of you sitting around a table having a chat and a someone working in the bar asks if you’d like some drinks brought over, it’s the norm to tip.

How much to tip: After a meal, the 10%-20% ‘rule’ applies. If you’re getting table service, €1-€2 per round.

Dublin and Northern Ireland

Is tipping in Dublin different to tipping in Northern Ireland (see our guide to Ireland vs Northern Ireland if you’re confused). This is a slightly bizarre question but it gets asked a lot for some reason.

‘Dublin tipping’ isn’t a thing – the culture around tipping in Ireland is the same in Dublin City as it is on the Antrim coast.

How much to tip: Tipping in Dublin is the same as tipping anywhere else in Ireland

FAQs about tipping in Ireland

If you’re in the middle of planning a trip to Ireland, visit our tourist hub – it’s packed with info on everything from renting a car in Ireland to the legal drinking age.

Hopefully the above guide answered the question ‘Do you tip in Ireland?’. However, if you’re still confused about Ireland tipping culture, ask away in the comments below. Here are some of our most FAQs: