How much to tip a tour guide
On a shared tour in the US, start with about $10 per person for a half day or $15 to $20 for a full day. For a private tour, about 15% of the price is a useful guide.
Cash to the guide at the end of the day. A separate driver gets a smaller share if they were not the same person.
This tour
Add a few details to see what to tip.
$20 per person, full day
$40 $20 each
$20 per person in your party, $40 total, cash to the guide (and a smaller share for a driver if they were separate).
What to tip
$10 half day / $15 to $20 full day per person on a group tour. ~15% of a private hire.
$25+ per person for a private-feeling group day, hard hiking, or a guide who fixed a mess.
$0 in Japan, where tipping is rude; when gratuity is on the ticket; or in countries where guides are not tipped.
When to adjust it
Guide and driver are different people
Split the pool: most to the guide, a smaller cash amount to the driver unless the operator already tipped them.
All-inclusive ticket that says gratuities included
Read it. If gratuities are included, the calculator should read $0 unless the guide can keep a small thank-you.
Free walking tours
They run on tips. Treat the “suggested” amount on the booking page as the tip, not a tip on top of a fare.
Location matters
United States / Canada (default)
Tipping tour guides is customary. These ranges are compiled custom for US and Canadian trips.
Europe
Tipping is common on many private and group tours, often a bit under the US band. Follow the operator’s note when they post one.
Japan and no-tip countries
Do not tip. A gift may be appropriate in some contexts; cash in the guide’s hand is not the custom.
Common questions
How much do you tip a tour guide?
About $10 per person for a half day and $15 to $20 for a full day on a US group tour. Private guides often get about 15% of the tour.
Do you tip per person or as a group?
Budget per person in your party, then hand one envelope or a clear cash total so the guide is not sorting twenties in the parking lot.
Do you tip in Japan?
No. Set the country to Japan in the calculator; the honest number is $0.
What about a multi-day tour?
Tip per day, or once at the end sized to the days they guided you.
Sources and policies
These links show relevant company policies and tipping guidance. Our amounts are starting points, and practices can change. Check your booking, bill, or provider before paying.