Everything you need to know about tipping in North America as world football heads Stateside

Around 65,000 UK football fans will touch down in North America this week hoping for a month to remember. But while everyone knows what they want to see happen on the pitch, there’s one thing that’s a little less clear: tipping culture.

With everyone from servers to drivers and hospitality staff expecting a little bit extra cash when you pay the bill, and that amount varying from industry to industry, it’s tough to know proper tipping etiquette.

What’s more, how do you budget for it as part of your travel plans? It’s almost as stressful as watching England go to penalty kicks in the finals.

Not to worry, though, Tesco Travel Money has you covered with our 2026 guide to tipping in North America.

Brits aren’t traditionally big tippers

Guilty as charged. On average, Brits think 7.67% is the correct amount to tip (although 8% of us don’t tip at all when abroad - yikes!), with 80% of us believing Americans over-tip and 74% of us admitting we’re baffled by the US tipping culture altogether, according to research from Tesco Travel Money.

But, being such a polite nation, 31% of us say we’ve deliberately tipped more than we should to avoid embarrassment in these situations.

Of course, not all Brits are created equal when it comes to tipping. According to Tesco Travel Money’s research, 19% of Sheffielders admit they don’t tip at all, Yorkshire men and women are the smallest tippers in the UK, tipping just 5.42% of the bill on average, while Geordies are the nation’s biggest tippers giving tips of 9.13% on average.

There are lots of factors to consider, especially since the average Brit budgets £86 per day spending money for a holiday. With tips in North America ranging from 15 to 20%, that could mean spending as much as £17.20 a day on tips alone.

How much to tip in the US

While tips are not explicitly required by law, they aren’t just a reward for good service; they literally help pay the wages of the staff. Workers rely on tips as part of their salary; federal law allows a tipped minimum wage of $2.13 (otherwise minimum wage is $7.25), however, many states require employers to pay more.

No wonder, then, that 65% of Brits claim they feel pressured into taking extra travel money with them and spending more than they’d like, while 40% have felt pressured to leave a big tip (source: Tesco Travel Money).

On the plus side, the pound is fairly strong against the dollar currently, with £1 being worth $1.35 at time of writing in June 2026, so you can probably splurge on that extra lager or cherry cheesecake for dessert.

It’s also worth remembering that, in the US, sales tax (the US equivalent of VAT) is added at the till. This means you’ll be paying more than you see listed, with the actual increase varying from state to state.

You calculate tips on the pre-tax figure, though, so don’t need to tip on the 'actual' total you see. That said, the tip amount varies depending on the situation:

• Restaurants: Sit-down restaurants are where you’ll be doing the biggest tipping in the US. Anywhere from 18% to 20% is standard (and, honestly, expected), though some people will drop that to 15% if they feel the service has only been acceptable, or increase it if they feel they’ve had outstanding service. As much as we might think 10% is fine over here, any less than 15% is typically reserved for poor service, and 10% is generally an indication of dissatisfaction with the service.
• Keep an eye out for an automatically-added gratuity, which is often added to parties larger than eight people. You don’t need to double-tip unless you loved the service, or somehow have too much cash to spare. Goals.
• Bars: $1 to $2 per drink is typical, unless you’re running a tab (in which case the usual 15 to 20% is standard).
• Valets: Valet parking is common in the US, with standard tipping being between $2 and $5 on retrieval of your car. Tips generally aren’t expected on drop-off, but are if the attendant has helped you with your bags or luggage.
• Housekeeping: Tipping $2 to $5 a night is customary, left each day as the housekeeping staff might change day to day. This is voluntary though, as staff don’t rely on tips to top up their pay like in other service roles.
• Taxis and ride shares: Tipping 15% to 20% of the fare is customary.
• Food delivery: An order with no tip will possibly be declined until someone accepts it, so with no way to show you’re planning on tipping with cash, you might be waiting a while for food. That said, a 15% to 20% tip is common.

How much to tip in Canada

Canada is similar to the US in its tipping culture, though they aren’t as extreme with it. That’s because, unlike in the US, workers get a guaranteed minimum wage regardless of tips.

15% is the more common customary tip figure here, though you can always tip slightly higher if you’re feeling generous or have had some exemplary service. That said, 20% tips are becoming the norm in big cities like Toronto and Vancouver as tipping culture migrates northwards.

Like the US, sales tax isn’t typically included in price tags or menus, so expect to see a slightly higher number when you’re paying. The exact amount differs from province to province, but it’s 13% in Ontario (where Toronto is located) and 12% in British Columbia (where Vancouver is located).

The pound is even stronger against the Canadian Dollar, with £1 = CAD $1.86 at time of writing in June 2026, though prices are slightly higher than the UK, so it’s something to keep an eye on when you’re spending.

• Restaurants: Similar to the US, 15% is for acceptable service, with 18% to 20% for good service. Remember that, like the US, a tip is calculated on pre-tax subtotal, so you don’t need to tip on top of the tax (but you can’t budget for the prices you see, unless you fancy washing dishes after your meal).
• Bars: $1 or $2 per drink, or 15% to 20% of the tab.
• Valets: $3 to $5 per vehicle retrieval (as with the US, no need to give the valet your keys and your money at the same time here).
• Housekeeping: $3 to $5 per night.
• Taxis: 10% to 15% of the ride for good service and/or help with the bags, or rounding up the total for short trips is acceptable
• Food delivery: 10% to 15% of the pre-tax amount.

Tipping in Mexico

Mexico is, thankfully, less extreme on tips than the US and Canada. About 10% to 15% is the standard amount, with tipping culture not being as widespread.

The exchange rate also vastly favours GBP, with £1 = MX$23.26 (Mexico uses Mexican Peso) at the time of writing in June 2026, so MX$100 is roughly equivalent to £4 (fingers crossed England and Scotland make it through the group stages and can play in Mexico!).

Tips in USD are acceptable in the more tourist-heavy spots, however Pesos are preferred.

• Restaurants: 10% to 15% for good service. As with other countries, it’s worth checking whether this has already been included in the bill (under “servicio”, “propina”, or gratuity) before tipping so you’re not handing over more money than you need to.
• Bars: 10% to 15% if you have a tab, or MX$20 to MX$50 per drink
• Valets: MX$20 to MX$50 upon vehicle retrieval
• Housekeeping: MX$20 to MX$100 per day, left daily, and MX$20 to MX$50 for people helping with luggage (especially if you’ve got some heavy suitcases full of merch).
• Taxis: Generally, don’t require a tip, but you can round up the fare. Worth noting here that some taxis don’t use meters, so negotiate the price before you ride to ensure there are no surprises when you reach your destination. Giving MX$5 to MX$10 if the driver has helped with your luggage is also common.
• Food delivery: 10% of the bill or between MX$10 and MX$30 is sufficient.

Why cash is king for tipping

While tipping on card is definitely easier, cash isn’t dead just yet.

Tips go directly to the person serving you. Depending on the business, card-based tips could go into a system to get delivered through payroll later, or into a pot to be distributed between workers. Putting cash in the hand of your server ensures it goes exactly where you want it to, and that they get it then and there.

Then there’s transaction fees. Payment processors typically take a percentage of all transactions. It might be relatively small (from 1% to 4%) but that’s still money that could be going to the person that helped you rather than a business or bank.

And let’s not forget that there’s a person involved in all of this. Handing over the money personally gives both you and the server a little boost, instead of simply making a number on a screen go up. You’re tipping them for a reason, so as they made your experience better, why not go that extra step of giving cash?

How to access cash on vacation

Tesco Travel Money, provided by Travelex, offers a simple and convenient way for travellers to get holiday-ready, with foreign currency available for home delivery or collection from selected Tesco stores across the UK.

Customers can choose from a wide range of currencies and secure their travel money before departure, helping them stay prepared for everything from everyday purchases to tips and taxis abroad.

For more information, visit www.tescotravelmoney.com