Tip Calculator
Calculate tip and split the bill among friends.
This tip calculator works out the tip, the total, and the amount each person owes when the bill is split. Set the percentage and the party size; the per-person figure updates as you type.
Tipping is a percentage with a social norm attached, which is why the useful question is not how to multiply but how much is expected. In the US, 15–20% is the restaurant range, 20% is increasingly the default on card terminals, and the norm varies sharply by country and by service type.
How to calculate a tip
- Take the pre-tax bill. Tip on the food and drink, not on the sales tax.
- Multiply by the tip rate: $80 × 0.18 = $14.40.
- Add the tip to the bill: $80 + $14.40 = $94.40.
- Divide by the number of people: 94.40 / 4 = $23.60 each.
- If the tip is already included as a service charge, do not add a second one.
Example
An $80 bill at 18% is a $14.40 tip and $94.40 total. Split four ways that is $23.60 each. At 20% the tip is $16 and the total $96, or $24 each — a difference of $1.60 for the table.
Tip formula
Tip = bill × rate/100. Total = bill + tip. Per person = total / people.
How to use this calculator
- Enter the bill before tax.
- Set the tip percentage. The default of 18% sits in the middle of the US restaurant range.
- Enter how many people are splitting the bill; the per-person share appears underneath.
- Round up if you are paying cash — the difference is small and the arithmetic is easier.
How much to tip
US restaurant service: 15% for adequate, 18–20% for good, 20%+ for excellent. Bartenders: $1–2 per drink or 15–20% on a tab. Delivery: 10–15%, more in bad weather. Hotel housekeeping: $2–5 per night. Taxis and rideshare: 10–15%. Outside the US, 5–10% is common in Canada, nothing is expected in Japan, and service is usually included in much of Europe.
Tip on the pre-tax amount
Tipping on the total including sales tax pays a percentage on a tax you already owe the government. On an $80 bill with 8% tax, the difference between tipping on $80 and $86.40 at 18% is about $1.15 — small, but it is the reason the convention is pre-tax.
Service charges and auto-gratuity
Large parties often carry an automatic 18–20% gratuity, and some cities allow a mandatory service charge that is not a tip. Check the receipt before adding anything; on a $400 group dinner, a duplicated 18% is $72.
What this calculator leaves out
Whether the tip is pooled, how card processing affects what the server receives, and local tax treatment of mandatory service charges. It also assumes a single rate for the table — splitting unevenly is a conversation, not a formula.
Common mistakes
- Tipping on the post-tax total. It is a small overpay, but the convention is pre-tax.
- Adding a tip when an 18% auto-gratuity is already on the bill.
- Splitting the total instead of the bill plus tip — the difference is only rounding, but it confuses the table.
FAQ
How much should I tip at a restaurant?
15% for adequate service, 18–20% for good service, and 20% or more for excellent. In US cities 20% has become the common default.
Should I tip on the pre-tax or post-tax amount?
Pre-tax. The tax is not part of the service, and the difference on a typical bill is about a dollar.
How do I split a bill evenly?
Add the tip to the bill, then divide by the number of people. An $80 bill at 18% is $94.40, or $23.60 each for four.
How do I calculate a 20% tip quickly?
Move the decimal one place for 10%, then double it. On $64, 10% is $6.40 and 20% is $12.80.
Is 15% still acceptable?
Yes for adequate service, though it now reads as the low end in US cities. For counter service and takeout, 10% or nothing is normal.
Should I tip on takeout?
Optional. 10% is a reasonable gesture for a full-service restaurant doing takeout; nothing is defensible for counter pickup.
What if the bill already includes a service charge?
Then the tip is already paid. Add more only if the service was exceptional, and check whether the charge goes to staff or to the house.