A British woman living in Las Vegas has highlighted five tipping practices common in the United States that would be considered unusual in the United Kingdom. The cultural differences in tipping etiquette between the two countries are well known, but this expat’s observations have sparked debate online.
British Perspective on US Tipping
Charlie, known on TikTok as Charlie in Vegas, has amassed over 15,000 followers by sharing her experiences as a UK native living in America. In a recent video, she listed five scenarios where tipping is expected in the US but virtually nonexistent in Britain. She prefaced her list by saying, “I’m a Brit living in Las Vegas, and these are five things that you would literally never tip for in the UK that is actually super common to tip for in America. And buckle up Americans for number five, because that one is really going to blow your socks off.”
1. Delivery of Large Items
The first example involves the delivery of bulky items such as furniture or appliances like washing machines. Charlie explained, “In the UK you paid your £200 for delivery and assembly, and that’s it. Whereas in the US on top of that you would also tip the drivers.” This practice, she noted, is standard in America but absent in British culture.
2. Coffee Shops
Number two on her list is coffee shops. Charlie described her experience: “Every time I go to a Starbucks and they show me the little screen, do I want to tip 15, 18, or 20 per cent. Like, for what? We would never tip at a coffee shop in England. We would say ‘thank you’ and ‘sorry’ about 15 times, but we wouldn’t tip.” The prevalence of tipping prompts at point-of-sale terminals in the US contrasts sharply with British norms.
3. Hotel Housekeeping
Charlie admitted she discovered the third expectation too late. “I’d already stayed in a lot of hotels in the States without knowing this, but in America it’s really common to leave money in the room for the housekeepers,” she said. “But in the UK this is unheard of, I’m pretty sure.” This tipping habit is widely practiced in the US but almost nonexistent in Britain.
4. Counter Service
The fourth point covers any establishment where customers order at a counter, such as food trucks or fast-casual restaurants. Charlie noted, “In the UK there wouldn’t even be an option to tip, whereas in the US I feel like it’s expected. The number of times those iPads swing around and I’ve got to select how much I want to tip when really, I don’t want to tip at all.”
5. Bars
Charlie saved the most surprising for last: “In the UK we do not tip in bars. Like, at all. You go up to the bar, you order your drink, they make it, you pay the price of the drink only, you say ‘thank you’, and you walk away. We do not tip in bars. Now, come to the US, order a drink in a bar, and don’t tip, and they’ll absolutely have you.” This stark difference highlights the cultural divide.
Mixed Reactions
The video drew varied responses. One commenter said, “I would tip people delivering something heavy, most decent people in the UK would.” Another added, “We do tip in bars. Usually they have a jar or glass with a sign that says tips on it and people usually leave change there.” A third user remarked, “I’m from the UK and no matter where I’ve stayed in the world I’ve tipped housekeeping.” However, others disagreed, with one stating, “I get Starbucks almost daily and I have never tipped! I also refuse to tip at any place that is not actually serving me.” Another commented, “I only ever tip anyone for going the extra mile. I don’t tip for just doing your job.” A final user noted, “The reason this happens in the US is because they do not pay a living wage. The tipping helps to pay the wages so the owners make more profits.”
Charlie concluded, “Don’t get me wrong, I live in the US, I follow the US rules.”
