Country menu guides

What does servizio mean on an Italian bill?

Servizio is a service charge that some Italian restaurants add to the bill, usually as a percentage — typically 10–15% where it's used. Most restaurants don't charge it at all. It must be stated on the menu before you order, and if you pay it, there's no need to leave a tip as well.

Updated 8 October 2026

On the menu: Servizio
Meaning: Service charge — a percentage (or fixed amount) added to the bill for table service.
Typical amount: Typically 10–15% of the bill where charged as a percentage; some places use a flat amount instead, and most restaurants charge none.
Is it a tip?: No

How servizio shows up on menus and bills

You'll find it in the small print at the bottom of the menu or on the price board outside:

Servizio 10% (or 12%, 15%) — added on top of everything you order;
Servizio incluso or servizio compreso — service is already in the dish prices, nothing is added;
Servizio non incluso — no service charge is built into the prices; it may or may not be added later, so check the bill;
Coperto e servizio € 3 — a flat per-person amount covering both.

On the bill, look for a line such as Servizio 10% — 6,40. Price-display rules require it to be shown before you order; Lazio's regional law, for example, says so explicitly.

Servizio, coperto and mancia: three different things

Coperto is a fixed charge per person for the place setting and bread.
Servizio is a charge for table service, set by the restaurant and printed on the menu. It's part of the price, not a voluntary extra.
Mancia is a tip: optional, in cash, left at your discretion.

Only a small minority of restaurants charge servizio, and where they do it is often a flat amount rather than a percentage. You are more likely to meet it in tourist areas, upmarket restaurants or as a group charge.

What to do

Read the bottom of the menu before ordering, or ask Il servizio è incluso? MenuGuide translates the dishes and converts their prices, but check the footnotes for service yourself.
If servizio is on the bill, don't tip on top unless you really want to.
If it's on the bill but wasn't on the menu, politely ask about it: Il servizio era indicato sul menù? ("Was the service charge shown on the menu?").
If there's no servizio, a tip is still optional. Rounding up or a few euros for good service is plenty.

Frequently asked questions

Is servizio the same as a tip in Italy?

Not exactly. Servizio is a service charge the restaurant sets and prints on the menu, so you have to pay it once you order. A tip (mancia) is voluntary. Where servizio is charged, it already plays the role of a tip, so you don't need to leave anything extra unless you want to.

How much is the service charge in Italy?

Where it's charged as a percentage, servizio is typically 10–15% of the bill, and many places that charge it use a flat amount per person instead. Most Italian restaurants, including family trattorias and pizzerias, charge no service at all. The exact percentage or amount must be shown on the menu, so read the small print before you order.

What does servizio incluso mean?

Servizio incluso means service is already included in the menu prices. Nothing will be added for service at the end, and the total is simply the sum of what you ordered plus any coperto. You don't need to tip on top, though rounding up for excellent service is a kind gesture.

Do I have to tip in Italy if there's no servizio?

No. Tipping is never required in Italy, even when there's no service charge. Italians often leave nothing or round up the bill. If you'd like to reward good service, leaving a few euros in cash on the table is common and appreciated, but no one will expect a percentage.