Tipping is not mandatory in Germany, but is a common form of appreciation for good service. The amount varies depending on the situation and industry. Although five to ten percent is considered a rough guide, tipping is still fundamentally a voluntary gesture.
In the restaurant
In Germany, tips in restaurants are usually calculated as a percentage of the bill amount. Especially with smaller sums, it is common practice to simply round up or leave a few coins extra. “In Germany, five to ten percent of the bill amount is recommended as a tip,” explains Linda Kaiser, deputy chairwoman of the German Etiquette Society, to the Augsburger Allgemeine.
For high amounts in the three-digit range, five percent is more appropriate, as the chairman of the German Etiquette Council, Jonathan Lösel, explained in an interview with ZDFheute. “Tipping is always an expression that I like the atmosphere, feel valued and was satisfied with the service,” emphasizes Lösel. Therefore, if you are particularly satisfied, more than ten percent is certainly possible.
Tips by card payment
The growing popularity of card payments brings with it new questions. Many card readers show preset tip options, such as five, ten or 15 percent. This can be perceived by some guests as subtle social pressure, even if tipping remains voluntary. This practice, also known as “guilt tipping”, can be particularly irritating in self-service restaurants where service staff are not directly involved. According to researcher Nathan Warren, this phenomenon can even cause customers to associate visiting the restaurant with negative feelings and reduce the likelihood of visiting again, as he explains to the FAZ. Hence the recommendation: If you feel uncomfortable, you can forego the tip and decide individually.
Tipping in other areas
Tipping is also common in other industries, albeit in different amounts. In taxis or at the hairdresser, around ten percent is considered appropriate; alternatively, you can simply round up. In the hotel, the guideline is around one to two euros per night for cleaning staff, while porters should receive around one euro per piece of luggage. However, these amounts are intended as a guide only. Ultimately, your personal impression of the service determines the amount of the tip.
Editorial team finanzen.net