Tipping in Ireland: 2026 Guide for Travelers
Updated October 22, 2026 · 5 min read
- Tipping
- Appreciated
- Restaurants
- 10–15%
- Currency
- EUR
| Service | Tip in Ireland |
|---|---|
| Restaurant (no service charge) | 10–15% |
| Restaurant (service charge added) | Nothing extra |
| Pub, drinks at the bar | No tip |
| Pub food with table service | About 10% |
| Taxi | Round up or about 10% |
| Hotel porter | €1–2 per bag |
| Coach tour driver-guide | A few euros per person per day |
Ireland’s tipping customs are close to Britain’s, with one difference: prices are in euros, and restaurant tips of 10–15% are a little more firmly expected. Pubs, though, follow the old rule — you don’t tip for a pint at the bar.
Many restaurants also display a notice explaining how tips and service charges are shared among staff. Here’s how to handle restaurants, pubs, taxis, hotels, and the coach tours many visitors take around the country.
Restaurants and Service Charges
At a sit-down restaurant, 10–15% is normal for good service, with 10% the floor for a decent meal and 15% for excellent service. Many restaurants add a service charge of 10–12.5% for groups — often six or more — and some add it for every table. If it’s on the bill, that’s your tip.
Irish employers must display their tips policy, so look for a sign or a note on the menu explaining how tips and service charges are distributed. If a tip or service charge is paid by card, it is meant to go to the staff, not the business.
If the bill says “service not included” or nothing at all, plan on 10–15%. Use the 10% calculator as a starting point and add more for standout service.
Pubs: No Tip at the Bar
Ordering a pint of stout at the bar? Just pay. Irish bar staff don’t expect a tip on drinks, and leaving change on the counter isn’t a local habit. If someone has looked after your group all night, you can offer “and one for yourself” — an offer to buy them a drink, which they may accept as a small amount added to your round.
Pub food is a gray area. If you order and pay at the bar, no tip is needed. If a server takes your order at the table and brings your food, about 10% is appreciated. Our bartender tipping guide explains how this differs from US bars.
Tipping by Card
Card payment and contactless are standard in Ireland, and terminals in restaurants usually offer a tip prompt. Choose your percentage or enter an amount, and skip it if a service charge is already on the bill. If the machine has no prompt, tell the server the total you’d like charged before they enter it.
Cash still works well for small tips — a few euro coins for a taxi or a porter. Check the USD to EUR converter before your trip.
Taxis, Hotels, and Coach Tours
- Taxis: round up to the next euro or add about 10%. App-booked taxis (Free Now, Uber) let you tip in the app if you choose.
- Hotel porters: €1–2 per bag.
- Housekeeping: not expected; a few euros at the end of a longer stay is a kind gesture.
- Coach tours: on multi-day coach tours, driver-guides are commonly tipped at the end; many visitors give a few euros per person per day. Day trips to the Cliffs of Moher or the Ring of Kerry: €5–10 per person if the guide was great.
- Walking tours: €5–10 per person on a paid tour; €10–15 on a tip-based tour.
- Hairdressers: about 10% is common.
Mistakes to Avoid
Tipping 20% at an Irish restaurant isn’t wrong, but it’s above local custom; 10–15% is the norm. The bigger risk is tipping twice — accepting the terminal’s suggested 15% when a 12.5% service charge is already printed on the bill. And don’t leave a tip on the bar for every round; Irish bar staff don’t expect it.
How much is that in dollars? Convert euro amounts before you tip.
USD to EUR converter →Tipping in Ireland: FAQ
Do you tip in Ireland?
Yes, at sit-down restaurants: 10–15% unless a service charge is on the bill. Tipping isn’t expected for drinks at a pub bar.
Do you tip bartenders in Irish pubs?
No, not for drinks ordered at the bar. If you want to thank a bartender, you can offer to buy them a drink by saying “and one for yourself.”
Is a service charge mandatory in Ireland?
Many restaurants add a service charge for groups, often 10–12.5%. When it is on the bill, you do not need to leave an additional tip.
How much do you tip a tour bus driver in Ireland?
On a multi-day coach tour, a few euros per person per day is common, given at the end. For a day trip, €5–10 per person is appreciated.
Do you tip taxi drivers in Ireland?
Round up to the next euro or add about 10%. It is appreciated but not mandatory.
Back home in the US? Work out 15–20% in seconds.
Open Tip Calculator →