Thai law does not set tips, and there is no official tipping guide from TAT. This page separates what is fixed by rules (service charge and VAT, checked against the Revenue Department and the 2026 VAT decree) from what is custom, where we quote guidebooks by name and date. Checked on 27 October 2026.
How much to tip in Thailand: quick table
| Where | Is it added to the bill | Tip, if you want to | Source of the amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurant with service charge | yes, the % is set by the restaurant (10% on the menus we checked), plus 7% VAT | nothing extra needed; leave the coins if you like | service charge is the business’s income (Revenue Department) |
| Cafe or street food without service charge | no | round up or leave the change; 20-50 baht for good service, 100 baht or more for exceptional | Rough Guides |
| Taxi with meter | no | round up the fare or let the driver keep the change | Lonely Planet |
| Grab | no | in the app, only if you paid cashless | Grab Thailand |
| Massage, street shop | no | up to 30 baht | Lonely Planet |
| Massage, upmarket spa | sometimes, check the price list | 150-300 baht | Lonely Planet |
| Hotel porter | the hotel bill usually has a service charge | US$1-2 per bag, in baht | Lonely Planet |
| Tour guide and driver | no | US$10-20 a day for the guide, about half for the driver | Lonely Planet |
Guidebook figures are customs observed by their authors, not prices. Lonely Planet’s article is dated 5 August 2024. Convert US dollar amounts to baht at the day’s rate: dollars are rarely handed over as tips.
Service charge and VAT: how to read the bill
Many restaurants and hotels print a line under the menu such as “All prices are in Thai Baht and are subject to a 10% service charge and a 7% value-added tax” (Sala Rattanakosin, Bangkok, June 2026 menu). People call these “plus plus” prices. Here is how the bill is built:
| Line on the bill | 100 baht dish | 1,000 baht dinner |
|---|---|---|
| Menu price | 100 | 1,000 |
| Service charge 10% | 10 | 100 |
| VAT 7% on the total, service included | 7.70 | 77 |
| To pay | 117.70 | 1,177 |
Our calculation. VAT is charged on the service charge because of the Revenue Department ruling กค 0702/4116 of 26 June 2017: a service charge counts as part of the food price, it is a taxable service and it is the business’s income. VAT is 7% until 30 September 2027 under Royal Decree No. 807 of 20 August 2026; the rate written in the law is 10%, and the government has extended the reduced rate a year at a time.
Two things follow from the ruling:
- A service charge is not a tip. The money goes to the business, and how much of it reaches the staff is up to the employer. If you want a particular waiter to get something, hand it over in cash
- Some menus already include both. Look for “net” or “inclusive of service charge and VAT” before you add anything
Taxis, Grab and tuk-tuks
Tipping drivers is not required. Lonely Planet suggests rounding up the fare or letting the driver keep the change. In the Grab app, Grab Thailand offers a tip after the ride only if you paid by a cashless method. A tuk-tuk price is agreed before the ride, so nothing is added at the end. If a taxi driver will not use the meter or demands a fixed price, the complaint line is the Department of Land Transport on 1584, see scams in Thailand. How Grab, Bolt and metered taxis compare in Phuket is in Grab, Bolt or taxi.
Massage and spa
Lonely Planet’s guide: after a quick massage in a street shop, no more than 30 baht; in an upmarket spa, about 150-300 baht. Resorts with treatment packages usually state their tipping policy upfront. The same guide notes that in parts of Southeast Asia spa therapists get only a fraction of the treatment price, which is why tips are welcome. Hand the money to your therapist, not to the reception desk.
Hotels
Lonely Planet says a service charge is almost always included in the hotel bill in Thailand, so tips are not expected. Porters are the exception, at about US$1-2 per bag. Tipping housekeeping is more common in larger hotels than in small guesthouses. If you leave money in the room, add a note saying it is a tip.
Tour guides, boat crews and drivers
On day trips Lonely Planet suggests US$10-20 a day for a guide, more for couples or families, and about half of that for the driver. The usual way is to give the whole amount to the guide, who shares it with the driver. Prices of our day trips from Phuket, with park fees, are on Phuket excursions and in how much tours cost in Phuket.
How to tip without awkwardness
- Carry 20 and 50 baht notes: change for a 1,000 baht note is not always available at a street stall
- If the service was poor, you do not have to tip. Arguing about the service charge rarely helps: ask before you order whether it is charged
FAQ
Do you have to tip in Thailand?
No. Tips are a thank-you, not a charge. What a business can add to the bill is a service charge, which it sets itself and announces on the menu, and VAT. Under a 2017 Revenue Department ruling the service charge is part of the food price and the business's income, so it is not a tip that goes straight to the waiter.
What does 10% service charge and 7% VAT mean on a Thai bill?
The prices on the menu are before both charges. The service charge is added first, then VAT is charged on the whole amount, service included, as the Revenue Department ruling requires. A 100 baht dish becomes 110 baht with service and 117.70 baht with VAT, so the bill is 17.7% above the menu prices.
How much should I tip for a Thai massage?
There is no official rule. Lonely Planet's guidance (5 August 2024): no more than 30 baht after a quick massage in a street shop, about 150-300 baht in an upmarket spa. Resorts and retreats usually state their tipping policy upfront. Give the tip to your therapist in person rather than leaving it at the counter.
Do you tip taxi drivers in Thailand?
It is not required. Lonely Planet suggests rounding up the fare or letting the driver keep the change. In Grab, a tip can be added in the app only if you paid by card or another cashless method, according to Grab Thailand. If a taxi driver refuses to use the meter, that is a complaint for the Department of Land Transport on 1584, not a reason to pay more.
How much do you tip a tour guide in Thailand?
Lonely Planet suggests US$10-20 a day for a guide, at the higher end for couples or families, and about half that for the driver, handed to the guide, who shares it. Pay in baht at the day's rate. For group boat trips we found no published standard.
Should I tip hotel staff in Thailand?
Hotels usually add a service charge to the bill, so tips are not expected, says Lonely Planet. The exception is porters: the equivalent of US$1-2 per bag. Tipping housekeeping is more common in larger hotels. If you leave money in the room, add a note saying it is a tip.
Sources
- Revenue Department. Ruling กค 0702/4116 of 26 June 2017 on restaurant service charges (in Thai)
- KPMG. Thailand: Reduced 7% VAT rate extended through September 2027, Royal Decree No. 807 (3 September 2026)
- Sala Rattanakosin Bangkok. Lunch menu, June 2026: "subject to a 10% service charge and a 7% value-added tax"
- Lonely Planet. The ultimate guide to tipping in Asia, Emily Frost (5 August 2024)
- Rough Guides. Thailand travel tips: money and tipping
- Grab Thailand. Passenger features: in-app tipping for cashless rides
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