Has Toronto tipping culture gone too far?

A trip to any Toronto establishment these days means you'll inevitably be confronted with a tip prompt on a screen. 

Whether you're dining at a Michelin-starred restaurant, a self-serve fro-yo joint, or even a retail business, screens prompting you to leave tips well over 20 per cent have become a ubiquitous part of any night out in Toronto.

It's an annoyance that gets plenty of airplay amid the current cost-of-living crunch, but have we finally crossed that societal threshold where people have had enough? 

We hit Toronto streets to gauge the temperature on tipping culture in Toronto, and while the majority of people we spoke to felt that businesses are putting too much pressure on customers, some argued in favour of tips much higher than the unspoken rule of 18 per cent for decent service.

@blogto Do you think Toronto tipping culture has gone too far? 🤑 🎙️ @antonwongvideo 🎥 @samkieme ♬ original sound - blogTO

Some thought an appropriate tip starts at 20 per cent, while others said that was far too high a starting point, one person even calling any tip percentage prompt starting with the number two "ambitious."

"Asking for a tip in a retail store is kind of crazy," said one local.

What do you think of Toronto tipping culture in 2026? Should supplemental wages be the responsibility of customers, or should businesses just bear that burden themselves? Let us know in the comments!