How much do you tip in Vancouver? BC tipping and restaurant tax explained

Eating out in Vancouver involves two numbers that are not on the menu: the tax and the tip. Neither is complicated once you know how British Columbia does it, and BC has one quirk that explains why your bill sometimes shows two tax lines.

How much should you tip in Vancouver?

At a sit-down restaurant with a server, 15 to 20 percent of the bill before tax is normal in Vancouver, the same as most of Canada. Eighteen percent is a very common figure. Go higher for service that really made the evening, and do not feel you have to go above 15 for service that was simply fine.

In Vancouver, tip on the subtotal, not on the total with tax. If the card machine calculates on the total, choose the custom option and enter your own amount.

What taxes are on a restaurant bill in BC?

British Columbia treats food and alcohol differently:

On the bill	Tax
Food and non-alcoholic drinks	5% GST
Beer, wine, spirits and cocktails	5% GST plus 10% PST

Restaurant meals are exempt from BC's provincial sales tax, but liquor is not. So a dinner with wine will show GST across the bill and an extra provincial tax line on the drinks. Neither is an error.

How do you work out the tip on a Vancouver bill?

Take the subtotal before tax, then pick your percentage. A simple way to do it in your head:

1. Find 10 percent by moving the decimal point one place.
2. Double it for 20 percent, or add half of it for 15 percent.
3. Round to something easy.

For example, on a pre-tax bill of $64, 10 percent is $6.40, so 15 percent is about $9.60 and 20 percent is about $12.80. Anything in that range is normal.

Do you tip at cafés and coffee shops in Vancouver?

At a counter where you order and collect your own coffee, tipping is optional. The terminal will often offer a tip screen anyway. Choosing a small amount or "no tip" are both perfectly normal. If a café brings food to your table and clears up after you, leaving around 10 percent is a kind gesture.

Do you tip at food trucks and takeout counters?

Optional. Many people leave a dollar or two at a food truck or tap a small percentage on a takeout order, especially a big or fiddly one. Nobody expects a full restaurant tip at a counter.

How much do you tip for food delivery in Vancouver?

For delivery, tipping the driver is customary. Through a delivery app the tip is usually added at checkout, and a tip is often around 10 to 15 percent of the order, or a few dollars on a small order. Tip more in bad weather or for a long trip; Vancouver rain and hills are real work on a bike. If you order directly from a restaurant that runs its own delivery, the same norms apply.

How much do you tip at a bar in Vancouver?

A dollar or two per drink at the bar is common, or 15 to 20 percent on a tab or with table service. Remember that the drinks on a bar bill carry both GST and PST, so the after-tax total can be noticeably higher than the pre-tax one. That is another good reason to tip on the subtotal.

Do Vancouver restaurants add an automatic gratuity?

Some do for larger groups. If a gratuity is printed on the bill, that is your tip, and you do not need to add another. Read the bill before you pay, particularly with a group of six or more.

What else should you know about paying in Vancouver?

• Tap to pay is everywhere, and most servers bring a portable terminal to the table.
• Splitting the bill is usually fine; say so before the server prints it.
• Bring your own wine is allowed at participating licensed restaurants, often with a corkage fee. Ask first.
• The legal drinking age in BC is 19, and ID is checked often.

Mosey is about where people actually ate and what was good. In a city where the same dinner can be ordinary or memorable depending on what you order, knowing the bill holds no surprises leaves you free to enjoy the food.

More guides to read next:

• Holiday dining in Vancouver: the Christmas Market, festive menus and booking tips
• How to check a restaurant's health inspection in Vancouver
• Patio season in Vancouver: how to find a good patio and get a seat

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