How Much to Tip a Tour Guide
$5–10 per person (half day)
In the US, tip a group tour guide $5–10 per person for a half-day tour and $10–20 per person for a full day. Private guides usually get 15–20% of the tour price. On "free" walking tours, $10–20 per person is the expected payment. Abroad, follow local norms; see the country guides.
Typical: $5–$10 per person (half day).
Tip$20.00
Per person figures assume you split the tip evenly.
How much to tip, situation by situation
| Situation | Typical tip |
|---|---|
| Half-day group tour | $5–10 per person |
| Full-day group tour | $10–20 per person |
| Private guide | 15–20% of the price |
| "Free" walking tour | $10–20 per person |
| Tour bus driver | $2–5 per person per day |
| Multi-day tour guide | $10–15 per person per day |
Worth knowing
- Tip in cash at the end of the tour, ideally in local currency abroad.
- If the tour price says gratuities are included, no extra tip is needed.
Working it out by hand? See how to calculate a tip. Travelling? Customs differ abroad: tipping by country.
Questions people ask
Do you tip a tour guide on a free walking tour?
Yes. Guides on "free" tours earn mainly from tips, so $10–20 per person is the norm in most cities.
Do you tip the driver separately from the guide?
Yes, if they are different people: a few dollars per person per day for the driver.