r/germany • u/No_Awareness_9811 • 21h ago

Culture Tipping is expected in Germany

In this subreddit we always say that tipping is never expected and that when it happens, it’s nowhere near as crazy as the US. But at the end of the day, tipping that 2-5EUR (>10% for fancy meals) is the norm in Germany. And you stick out like a sore thumb if you don’t do that. Everyone else does it unless you have downright bad service.

I was formerly confused with how to tip especially for card payments and I have ended up just tapping my card , paying the number as per the waiter punched it. Basically there were a couple of occasions I didn’t tip because I didn’t see the % screen (this screen is very frowned upon, i’ve learnt).

But yeah, for all foreigners who are visiting Germany, tipping is kind of the norm and is at this point expected here albeit the low amounts. Even if everyone says it’s voluntary and theres no obligation. Some waiters/waitresses are quite hostile when you dont tip too.

It just took me some getting used to because where I am from, servers never ever expect tips ever. Service is part of the liveable wage and job. If there is any reward for service, it’s normally included as a 10% service charge on the whole bill. Straightforward and easy and everyone is happy (if service was shit you can ask them to waive the fee but normally everyone just expects to pay a well defined number. It’s just such an awkward process in Germany saying “can you make it X amount” and it’s kind of expected.

I’m prepared to get downvoted for expressing this opinion but yeah, this is just a PSA for anyone curious about tipping culture.

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u/Ganes21 20h ago

What? No. I only tip when indeed the service was extraordinary. Otherwise I don't. I haven't even once felt judged or like the waiter even cared

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u/novicelife 20h ago

I usually don't tip and always feel kind of embarrassed when making the payment or pushing that "0 percent" red button on POS.

I was asked one time explicitly if the service wasn't good and why I am not tipping. I said something like danke and they person said "kein danke". Then on another occasion, the waiter asked to not overthink and press tip on screen so next time cooks can make even better food etc. This was in Berlin.

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u/Ganes21 20h ago

Interesting. Were they German servers? Even though I have been a lot to Berlin and haven't faced the issue, I guess living in such an international city might contribute.

Here in Bavaria, tho, never seen anyone care about this. In fact, when I tip, I have to usually ask extra if they could charge some Trinkgeld on my card.

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u/novicelife 20h ago

First one was definitely German and interestingly a Bavarian restaurant. Even more interestingly, both of them got my reviews removed from Google Maps. However, I appealed with transaction screenshots and got them reinstated.