How much do you tip in Calgary? Tipping and tax on Alberta restaurant bills

Eating out in Calgary is a little simpler than in most of Canada, because Alberta has no provincial sales tax. Your bill carries only the 5 percent federal GST. The tip, though, follows the same rules as everywhere else in the country.

How much should you tip in Calgary?

At a sit-down restaurant with table service, 15 to 20 percent of the bill before tax is normal in Calgary. Fifteen percent is fine for good, ordinary service; 18 to 20 percent for service that stood out.

In Alberta the tax line is small, so the tip is the biggest extra on your bill. Plan for it.

What tax is on a restaurant bill in Alberta?

Alberta is the only province with no provincial sales tax. Restaurant meals, drinks and takeout carry only the 5 percent GST.

Province	Typical tax on a restaurant meal
Alberta (Calgary)	5% GST only
British Columbia (Vancouver)	5% GST on food, plus 10% PST on alcohol
Ontario (Toronto)	13% HST
Quebec (Montreal)	5% GST plus 9.975% QST

For example, a $100 dinner in Calgary comes to $105 with GST, before the tip. A Toronto bill adds 13 percent HST instead.

How do you work out a tip in Calgary?

Use the pre-tax subtotal:

1. Find 10 percent by moving the decimal point one place to the left.
2. For 15 percent, add half of that again. For 20 percent, double it.
3. Round to a simple number.

For example, on a $70 subtotal, 10 percent is $7, so a 15 percent tip is about $10.50 and a 20 percent tip is $14.

Do card terminals suggest tips on the total with tax?

Some do. Because the GST in Alberta is small, the difference is modest, but if you want to be exact, use the custom option on the terminal and enter your own amount based on the subtotal.

Do you tip at Calgary coffee shops and counters?

Tipping at a counter where you order and collect your own food or coffee is optional. Many people leave a small tip, and many choose no tip on the terminal. Both are fine. If staff bring food to your table and clear it, around 10 percent is a kind gesture.

Do you tip for takeout and delivery in Calgary?

For takeout you pick up yourself, tipping is optional; some people leave about 10 percent on a big or complicated order. For delivery, tipping the driver is customary, usually through the app. Tip more in bad weather, especially in a Calgary winter.

How much do you tip at a bar in Calgary?

A dollar or two per drink at the bar is common, or 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax total with table service or a tab. The legal drinking age in Alberta is 18.

Can you bring your own wine in Calgary?

Some licensed restaurants in Alberta allow you to bring your own wine, at restaurants that choose to. Expect a corkage fee, and always ask first.

Why do Calgary bills feel cheaper than Toronto or Montreal?

Because the tax is much smaller. A Toronto bill adds 13 percent HST, and a Montreal bill adds GST and QST, while Calgary adds only 5 percent. On a large group dinner, that difference can be noticeable. The tip, though, is the same across the country, so the total saving is in the tax line only. Menu prices themselves vary by restaurant, so a meal in Calgary is not automatically cheaper overall.

How much do you tip during the Calgary Stampede?

The same as the rest of the year, 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax bill at a sit-down restaurant. Restaurants and bars are extremely busy during Stampede week, and servers work long shifts, so many people tip on the generous side. Check whether a gratuity has been added for groups.

Do Calgary restaurants add automatic gratuity?

Some do for large groups. If a gratuity is already on the bill, you do not need to add another tip unless you want to. During the Stampede, when restaurants are packed, check your bill carefully.

What else should you know about paying in Calgary?

• Tap to pay is everywhere. Servers usually bring a portable terminal to the table.
• Ask to split the bill before it is printed.
• Tip on the full value if part of the meal was discounted or comped.

Mosey is about the places people actually ate at and what was worth ordering. In a city where the tax is simple, the only real decision left is what to order.

More guides to read next:

• A food day trip from Calgary to Canmore and Banff
• Where to eat on 17th Avenue SW: a guide to Calgary's busiest food street
• Birthday and group dinners in Calgary: how to book a big table

More in the Canadian food guides and the ranked lists of places.