Country menu guides

What does service compris mean in France?

Service compris means "service included". In France, the prices displayed in restaurants and cafés must already include taxes and service, so nothing is added to the bill at the end. Menus show it as "prix service compris" (often with the rate in brackets) or "prix nets". A tip (pourboire) on top is optional.

Updated 8 October 2026

On the menu: Service compris / Prix nets
Meaning: Service included — the displayed prices already contain the service charge and taxes.
Is it a tip?: No

How it shows up on the menu and the bill

Look at the foot of the menu or the price board for one of these:

Prix service compris (15 %) — service included; the bracketed figure is the service rate built into the prices.
Prix nets — net prices: what you see is what you pay.
TVA et service compris — VAT and service included.

These come from a 1987 price-display rule: displayed prices are understood to include taxes and service, and menus must carry the words prix service compris followed by the service rate. On the bill (l'addition), you won't see a service line added on top.

So should you tip?

You don't have to. Service is paid for in the price, and French waiters don't depend on tips the way staff do in the United States. Still, many people:

leave the small change after a coffee or drink;
round up or leave a few euros after a good meal;

There is no expected percentage. Cash left on the table or the saucer is the usual way. A tip is a pourboire, literally "for drinking".

What to do

Read the total as final. Unlike in North America, no tax or service is added at the till.
If a "service" line appears on the bill on top of the menu prices, ask what it is. Displayed prices are supposed to already include service, so an extra service percentage is unusual.
Compare across countries: in Italy a separate servizio can be added; in France it's built in. See cover vs service charge.

Frequently asked questions

Is the tip included in France?

Service is included, and that is what replaces a mandatory tip. French menu prices must include service and taxes, so the bill is final. An extra tip is optional: rounding up or leaving a few euros after a good meal is common and appreciated, but nobody expects a percentage the way waiters do in the US.

What does prix nets mean?

Prix nets means "net prices": the price on the menu is exactly what you pay, with service and taxes already included. Nothing is added to the bill at the end. It's another way restaurants and cafés in France show that their prices are final, alongside the phrase "prix service compris".

Can a French restaurant add a service charge to the bill?

French rules say displayed prices include service, so a separate service percentage on top of menu prices is not how pricing normally works. If you see one, ask the staff to explain it before paying. Some restaurants may suggest a tip for large groups, but a tip is voluntary and should be clearly presented as such.

How much should I tip in a French restaurant?

Nothing is required. If you want to show appreciation, a few euros or rounding up the bill after a good meal is common; in upscale restaurants people sometimes leave a little more. For a coffee or a drink, leaving the small change is enough. Tips are usually left in cash on the table.