Here’s a Tip: How Australia Tipped in 2024.

Australians are tipping more generously. 

In 2024, the average tip value increased to $25.20, a dramatic 25% year-over-year (YoY) rise. This growth highlights an increasing willingness among Australians to reward exceptional service, even in a challenging economic environment.

Metro areas led the charge while regional tipping declined. 

Inner-city areas drove tipping culture forward in 2024, while regional areas experienced a decline. Customers in metro areas tipped 26% more on average YoY, while regional areas saw a 10% decrease in average tip values. 

Tipping frequency on the rise.

Australians are not only tipping more generously but also more frequently. The number of transactions including a tip grew by 13% YoY, with dining establishments seeing a notable 12% increase in tipping frequency.

Anna-Sophie Pinter, Restaurant Manager at Brisbane's modern Japanese fine-diner NONDA, was impressed with the rise in 2024: "I honestly couldn't have been more surprised given the fact that the rent, food and all other prices just skyrocketed. It’s great to see people appreciating the hospitality we share with every guest who dines with us."

Victoria was in a giving state of mind.

Victorians emerged as Australia’s most generous tippers in 2024, with an impressive average tip value of $39.50. Queensland followed with an average tip of $32.20, while South Australians tipped an average of $27.80, surpassing New South Wales residents ($16.90) by a significant margin. Notably, South Australians tipped 64% more on average than their New South Wales counterparts.

With Sydney being Australia’s most expensive city, it comes as little surprise that New South Welshmen were less willing or able to splash extra cash on tips, but the extent to which was quite dramatic. On average, Sydneysiders tipped 57% less than Melburnians. 

Adelaide experienced a tipping boom. 

Adelaide saw a dramatic YoY increase in tipping generosity, with the average tip value surging by an astounding 180%. It’s interesting to speculate on what was behind such a big jump – could the floor staff in SA restaurants really have been 180% more attentive than in 2023 year? Seems like a stretch. 

In WA, tipping goes west.

Despite an average YoY increase of $2.22, Perth’s tipping culture lags markedly behind that of the other major Australian cities, with an average tip of $12.52, sitting about 26% below Sydney’s and roughly 68% behind Melbourne’s. 

Eat, drink and tip merrily.

As in previous years, dining remained the sector where Australians tip most, with a $25.20 average tip and a 12% YoY increase in frequency. This was followed by the beauty sector, which saw an average tip value of $6.90, with the transportation sector not far behind at $5.94.

Interestingly, tipping when taking a cab saw a particularly high growth rate last year, increasing in frequency by 25% YoY.

As Australia’s tipping culture continues to evolve, these trends suggest a growing appreciation for the hard work that underpins exceptional customer service, even when money is tighter and times are tougher.

Zeller Terminal's built-in tipping function, which can be turned on or off with a tap, is one of many easy-to-use features that make it Australia’s best EFTPOS machine.