1. Card Surcharge

This is perhaps the most common surcharge you'll encounter. Over 97% of Australian restaurants pass on the cost of processing card payments to the customer. This can apply to credit, debit, and PayWave transactions. Usually, it's between 1.5% and 2.0%.

My Advice

Paying with cash will avoid this surcharge. If the venue doesn’t accept cash, it must allow you one fee-free method to pay according to consumer law. This is usually EFTPOS, which requires you to insert your card.

2. Public Holiday Surcharge

Planning a celebratory meal on Australia Day, Christmas, or Easter? Be prepared for a public holiday surcharge. Businesses often incur higher staffing costs on these days due to penalty rates for their employees.

Over 96% of Australian restaurants will offset this by adding a percentage to your bill—most commonly 15%, but I have seen it as high as 25%.

My Advice

By law, restaurants must inform you of the public holiday surcharge before you make a decision. Don’t be afraid to ask what the surcharge is before sitting down!

3. Weekend Surcharge

Similar to public holiday surcharges, many venues—particularly in popular dining precincts—apply a weekend surcharge (often on Saturdays and Sundays). This helps cover increased operational costs, including higher wages for staff working weekend shifts.

Sunday is the most common, but Saturday is gaining popularity. About 82% of venues apply a weekend surcharge, and it ranges from 10% to 15%.

My Advice

There are still some restaurants not applying a weekend surcharge. Be sure to use Surcharge.com.au to find surcharge-free venues!

4. Group Service Charge

Dining with a large party? You might see a "group service charge" or "gratuity" added to your bill, especially for tables of 6 or more people. This charge acknowledges the extra effort and resources required to serve larger groups, from table setup to more complex order management.

This is very common in Sydney (73% of restaurants), with Melbourne not too far behind (36% of restaurants). It is still rare to see it in other Australian cities.

My Advice

Try to organise eating out on a weekday if possible and call the restaurant ahead of time. Sometimes restaurants will waive the charge if it's a weekday.

Conclusion

These are the 4 most common surcharges you will encounter while dining out in Australia. While they can be frustrating, being an informed diner is the best way to avoid "bill shock" at the end of the night.

Whether you’re choosing to pay with cash to dodge card fees or using Surcharge.com.au to find a fee-free venue for your next group dinner, a little bit of planning goes a long way. Stay savvy, support your local favourites, and enjoy your meal without the hidden costs!