Knowing how much to tip in Quebec has always been a source of awkwardness. How much should you leave? On what amount? And since payment terminals started displaying three suggested percentages that seem to come out of nowhere, the confusion has only grown.
Since May 7, 2025, Bill 72 has been in effect in Quebec and has concretely changed the rules around tipping. The base calculation has been revised, payment terminals must now display suggestions differently, and practices are evolving accordingly.
This complete guide to tipping in Quebec in 2026 covers everything: restaurants, bars, hair salons, taxis, hotels, and delivery. You’ll leave with precise figures, clear logic, and zero awkwardness the next time a machine asks you to choose.
Bill 72 Explained Simply: The New Rules Since 2025
What Concretely Changed with Bill 72
Adopted unanimously by the National Assembly on November 7, 2024 and in force since May 7, 2025, Bill 72 is officially called the Act to protect consumers against abusive commercial practices and to offer better access to justice in consumer matters. Here is what changed concretely for tipping in Quebec:
Tips are now calculated on the pre-tax amount. Before, many terminals calculated the suggested percentage on the total including taxes, which inflated the real percentage of the tip. Now, by law, the calculation must be on the subtotal before taxes.
Terminals must display neutral suggestions. Gone are qualifiers like “good,” “generous,” or “excellent” next to percentages. The law bans any wording that influences the consumer by adding an emotional or subjective dimension to the tip suggestion.
The option to tip zero must be accessible. The terminal must include an option to tip nothing, and this option must not be harder to find than the other choices.
The option to enter a custom amount must be available. In addition to the suggested percentages, the consumer must be able to enter the exact dollar amount they want to leave.
The Classic Quebec Trick That Still Works
In Quebec, the combined taxes add up to around 14.975%, which is almost exactly 15%. Before Bill 72, many people used the trick of “tipping the amount of the taxes” to reach 15%. Here’s the thing: with Bill 72 now calculating on the pre-tax amount, the tax amount still corresponds to a valid tip of about 15% on that same pre-tax amount. The old trick still works.
Payment Terminals and “Neutral Suggestions”
You’ll now see terminals displaying “15% – 18% – 20%” without emotional frills. That’s intentional. The law prohibits suggestions from influencing the consumer through subjective qualifiers.
A practical tip: on many terminals, you can choose the “other amount” option and type a dollar figure directly. It’s often the best way to stay in control of what you want to give.
Tipping at Restaurants in Quebec in 2026
The Baseline: 15% Before Tax
The standard in Quebec restaurants in 2026 is 15% of the pre-tax amount for standard service. This is the norm, the starting point, the social baseline.
15% = standard service, nothing to complain about, you were well served.
18% = good service, attentive server, a positive experience.
20% and above = exceptional service, you want to recognize outstanding effort.
How to Calculate Your Tip in Quebec Quickly
The easiest method: look at your subtotal (before taxes), move the decimal point one place to the left, then multiply by 1.5.
Example: subtotal of $48.00 → $4.80 × 1.5 = $7.20 for 15%.
You can also just look at the tax line: in Quebec, taxes total about 15% of the pre-tax amount — so the tax amount is a quick and reliable tip reference.
Special Cases: Groups, Business Meals, Brunch
For a large group (6 people or more), some restaurants automatically add a 15% service charge. Check your bill before adding another tip on top.
For a business meal where someone else is paying, the unwritten norm is 20%. It reflects the formal register of the occasion.
For a relaxed Sunday brunch with casual service, 15% remains a good baseline.
Takeout: Are You Obligated to Tip?
For a takeout order, there is no obligation. If you’re picking up your pizza yourself with no table service, no one will hold it against you. That said, at a small neighborhood restaurant where you’re a regular, a dollar or two in the jar is a welcome gesture.
For home delivery, see the transport section below.
Tipping at Bars and Nightlife Venues
Standard Bar, Microbrewery, Pub
At a bar, the general rule is $1 to $2 per drink for simple service (draft beer, basic cocktail). For more elaborate cocktails that require real preparation time, $2 to $3 per drink is appropriate.
For bar service, 15% applies just like anywhere else. The bartender does the same work as elsewhere.
Nightclub and Adult Entertainment Venues
For bar service, it’s 15% like in any other bar, with a minimum of $1 per drink.
For tips to dancers during stage shows, the common practice is to leave $1 or $5 bills directly. There is no fixed percentage here — it’s a matter of generosity and appreciation.
For lap dances or private performances, the price is generally established in advance. An additional tip is not expected but is always appreciated if you found the service exceptional.
For VIP bottle service, the 18% to 20% standard applies here as well.
At Crazy Moon in Laval, with over 10 years of experience in the industry, these questions come up regularly. The golden rule remains the same as everywhere else: respect the people who work there, and tip in proportion to the service you receive.
The coat check and valet, if available, follow the usual standards: $1 to $3 per item at coat check, $2 to $5 for valet upon vehicle delivery.
Tipping for Personal Services: Hair Salons, Esthetics, Massage
Hair Salons: How Much to Give
Hair salons are the second most common tipping context after restaurants. The tip for a hairdresser falls between 10% and 15% of the service price.
For exceptional service — a haircut that truly transforms your look — you can go up to 20%.
One nuance: if your hairdresser is also the salon owner, tipping etiquette is more flexible. Some people still tip; others don’t. There’s no strict obligation, but a gesture of appreciation is always well received.
If multiple people worked on you (colorist + stylist, for example), you can split the tip proportionally or give each person their own gratuity separately.
Esthetics: Manicure, Pedicure, Waxing
The same range applies: 10% to 15% of the service price, with 20% for truly exceptional service.
Massage therapy follows the same range. However, if you’re receiving a therapeutic treatment prescribed at a medical clinic or in physiotherapy, a tip is generally not expected. The context is clinical, not service-oriented.
When You Don’t Have to Tip
There is no universal rule, but here are the contexts where you have no real obligation:
- Healthcare professional (dentist, doctor, physiotherapist)
- Government or public service
- Purchase at a standard retail store
- Salon owner who provides the service themselves (no obligation, but a gesture is appreciated)
- Quick takeout order
Tipping for Transportation: Taxi, Uber, Delivery in Quebec
Taxi and Uber
For a taxi, the norm is 10% to 15% of the fare. If the driver helped you with heavy luggage, add $1 to $2 per bag.
For Uber and other rideshare services, tipping is done directly in the app after the ride. The same 10% to 15% range applies.
Food Delivery
Your delivery driver braved traffic, sometimes rain or minus-twenty weather, to bring your order hot. The norm is 10% to 15% of the order before taxes, with a minimum of $5 regardless of the order amount.
If weather conditions are difficult or the delivery involves a long distance, a few extra dollars are truly appreciated.
Grocery and Other Delivery
For a grocery delivery driver, start at a $5 minimum. If it’s a large order, difficult conditions, or fast and careful service, $10 is more appropriate.
Hotel Tipping
Hotels involve several people who each deserve recognition — and we often forget about them.
Housekeeping: leave $2 to $5 per night, preferably when checking out. Put the amount in an envelope or on the desk with a note to make sure it’s clearly intended for them.
Bellhop: $1 to $2 per bag carried.
Valet: $2 to $5 at the time your vehicle is delivered.
Concierge: at your discretion if they provided a specific additional service, such as finding last-minute reservations or arranging something special.
Quick Reference Table: How to Tip in Quebec
FAQ: The Real Questions Quebecers Ask
Is tipping mandatory in Quebec in 2026?
No, tipping is not legally mandatory in Quebec. It’s a voluntary act. That said, in sectors where workers depend on tips as a significant portion of their income — restaurants, bars, personal services — choosing not to tip is a social signal that will be noticed.
How much should you tip at a restaurant in Quebec?
The norm in 2026 is 15% of the pre-tax amount for standard service. Good service deserves 18%. Exceptional service deserves 20%. These percentages are calculated on the subtotal, in accordance with Bill 72 in force since May 2025.
Should you tip on a takeout order?
No, it’s not expected. If you’re picking up your order yourself with no table service, you have no obligation. At a small local shop or neighborhood café, a dollar or two in the jar is appreciated, but it’s entirely at your discretion.
How much should you tip at an adult entertainment club?
For bar service, it’s 15% like in any other bar, with a minimum of $1 per drink. For stage shows, $1 and $5 bills are the norm. VIP or bottle service is 18% to 20% standard.
What if the service was bad?
Leaving nothing at all sends a message, but it’s also risky if the problem came from the kitchen and not the server. A reduced tip of 5% to 10% clearly communicates that something was off, without unfairly penalizing someone for a problem beyond their control. In any case, the best approach is to speak to the manager before leaving.
Conclusion
Knowing how to tip in Quebec is a deeply embedded social code. And since Bill 72, the rules are more transparent than ever: calculation on the pre-tax amount, neutral display on terminals, and an end to emotional influence tactics.
The basics remain simple: 15% before taxes in the vast majority of situations. Go up to 18% or 20% when the service warrants it. Respect the minimum in each context. And if you’re ever unsure, come back to this guide, do a quick calculation, and act with confidence.
And if you ever want to see how it works in real life at a nightlife venue in Laval, come visit Crazy Moon. The bar is open 7 nights a week starting at 7:30 PM, at 223 boulevard des Laurentides.
For more information on Bill 72 and the new tipping rules in Quebec, consult the Office de la protection du consommateur du Québec.