Country menu guides

What does ++ mean on a menu in Thailand?

"++" (plus plus) after a price in Thailand means two charges will be added to the bill: a service charge, typically 10%, and 7% VAT. Because the VAT is calculated on the price plus the service charge, the total is about 17.7% more than the menu price. "NET" means the price already includes everything.

Updated 8 October 2026

On the menu: ++ / ราคานี้ยังไม่รวมค่าบริการและภาษีมูลค่าเพิ่มrakha ni yang mai ruam kha borikan lae phasi munlakha phoem
Meaning: Plus plus — the printed price excludes a service charge and VAT, which are added to the bill.
Typical amount: Typically 10% service charge plus 7% VAT on top, about 17.7% in total.
Is it a tip?: No

How ++ shows up on the menu and the bill

You'll see it next to prices (฿350++) or in a footnote, often in both languages:

All prices are subject to 10% service charge and 7% government tax — "government tax" is VAT;
ราคานี้ยังไม่รวมค่าบริการและภาษีมูลค่าเพิ่ม — "this price doesn't yet include service charge and VAT";
NET or ราคาสุทธิ (rakha sutthi) — the opposite: nothing will be added.

On the bill, the food total is followed by a service charge line and then a VAT 7% line.

How to calculate a ++ price

The service charge is added first, then VAT on the new total. For a ฿1,000 meal:

food ฿1,000 + 10% service = ฿1,100;
฿1,100 + 7% VAT (฿77) = ฿1,177.

Quick rule: multiply by 1.177. If only VAT is added ("+VAT"), multiply by 1.07. In July 2026 the Cabinet approved keeping the reduced 7% VAT rate until 30 September 2027.

Where you'll see it

Hotels, shopping malls, rooftop bars and upmarket restaurants. Street stalls, markets and small shophouse restaurants almost never use it: the price on the board is what you pay.

What to do

Before ordering: look for ++ or NET, often in small print. A photo in MenuGuide translates the dishes and converts the printed baht prices to your currency; add the ++ yourself.
On the bill: check the service charge percentage matches what the menu said.
Tipping: with a service charge, no tip is needed. Leaving a few coins for good service is a kind gesture, not an obligation.

Frequently asked questions

Is the service charge in Thailand a tip?

Not exactly. The service charge is a fixed percentage, typically 10%, set by the restaurant and listed on the menu, so it isn't voluntary like a tip. How it is shared with staff varies from place to place. Once you've paid it, no further tip is expected, though leaving small change for good service is appreciated.

How much is 17.7% on a Thai bill?

Multiply the menu total by 1.177. A ฿500++ dinner costs ฿588.50: ฿500 plus ฿50 service makes ฿550, and 7% VAT on that adds ฿38.50. The extra 0.7% comes from VAT being charged on the service charge too, so the total is 17.7%, not 17%.

What does NET mean on a menu in Thailand?

NET means the price shown is the final price, with any service charge and VAT already included. Nothing is added at the end, so a ฿200 NET dish costs exactly ฿200. Some restaurants write ราคาสุทธิ (rakha sutthi) in Thai, which means the same thing. It's the opposite of a ++ price.

Do street food stalls in Thailand add service charge and VAT?

Almost never. Street stalls, night markets and small local restaurants charge the price on the board, with no service charge or VAT added on top. The ++ system is used mainly in hotels, shopping malls and upmarket restaurants. If you're unsure, check the menu for ++, a footnote about service charge, or the word NET.