Tipping etiquette for massage in Bangkok

Tipping isn't legally required in Thailand, but at a massage or spa it's close to expected — service staff often earn near-minimum wage and tips make up a real share of their income. The standard is 100-200 THB per hour of massage, handed directly to the therapist (not left with the front desk, which usually pools tips or takes a cut). At street-level shophouse places, 50-100 THB is normal for a 1-hour foot or Thai massage; at a mid-range spa, 150-200 THB reads as generous; at a hotel spa, a service charge is usually already on the bill, but a small cash tip directly to the therapist is still appreciated. If a session was forgettable, you're not obligated to tip at all — this isn't the US, where tipping is treated as mandatory regardless of quality. The other underrated payoff: a good tip is exactly the kind of thing a therapist remembers, and reviewers who tip well and ask for someone by name tend to get the most attentive service on repeat visits — which is the entire reason 'ask for [name]' reviews exist in the first place.