Tip Calculator
Calculate tip amount and split the bill between multiple people.
How It Works
- 1
Enter the bill amount
Type your pre-tax bill total. Choose a tip percentage from the preset buttons (10%, 15%, 18%, 20%, 25%) or enter a custom percentage.
- 2
Set the number of people
If splitting the bill, adjust the number of people to see each person's share of both the tip and the total.
- 3
Review and round up
See the tip amount, total bill, and per-person cost. Toggle 'Round up' for a clean total that's easy to pay.
Worked example: 20% tip on an $86.40 bill, split three ways
A restaurant bill of $86.40 where the party tips 20% and splits the total evenly among three people.
- Tip amount = 86.40 ร 0.20 = $17.28.
- Grand total = 86.40 + 17.28 = $103.68.
- Per person = 103.68 รท 3 = $34.56.
- Check: 15% tip would be $12.96 (total $99.36); 18% would be $15.55 (total $101.95).
At 20%, the tip is $17.28 and each of three people pays $34.56.
Tip and split formulas
tip = bill ร (percent รท 100) total = bill + tip per person = total รท people
- bill
- pre-tip check amount
- percent
- tip rate (e.g. 18 for 18%)
- people
- number of diners splitting evenly
US restaurant tips are commonly 15โ20% of the pre-tax bill for standard service; customs differ by country and venue. Decide whether your party tips on pre-tax or post-tax before splitting.
Tip and total on a $50 bill
| Tip rate | Tip amount | Total with tip |
|---|---|---|
| 15% | $7.50 | $57.50 |
| 18% | $9.00 | $59.00 |
| 20% | $10.00 | $60.00 |
| 25% | $12.50 | $62.50 |
How Tipping Works
Tipping customs vary widely around the world, and knowing the local expectation saves you from an awkward moment when dining out or using a service. In the United States, a 15โ20% tip is standard for sit-down restaurant service, with 18% the most common default. The convention dates to the post-Civil War era and is now woven into the economics of American service work: servers in many states earn a base wage below the standard minimum, with tips making up the difference. Many European and Asian countries take the opposite approach, folding a service charge into the bill, so extra tipping is either small (5โ10% in Germany) or read as rude (Japan). Enter your bill amount, set the tip percentage, and the calculator returns the tip, the total, and the per-person split. The round-up feature produces clean totals that are easier to settle. For large groups, where many restaurants add an automatic gratuity of 18โ20%, you can enter that figure and still see the per-person breakdown.
Common pitfalls
Tipping on the post-tax total adds a tax-on-tip in high sales-tax areas. A $100 pre-tax bill with 8.875% NYC tax plus a 20% tip on the post-tax line is $21.78, vs. $20.00 tipped on pre-tax. Over a year of weekly dining, the tax-on-tip alone adds roughly $90.
Auto-gratuity on parties of 6 or more is a service charge, not a tip. California Civil Code ยง1770 and similar state rules require it to be disclosed on the menu. Adding a second tip on top of an auto-gratuity line is double-tipping.
Coupons and gift cards reduce what you pay, not what your server handled. A $100 meal redeemed with a $25 coupon still calls for tipping on the full $100 if the service covered the full meal. The Emily Post Institute follows this convention.
Buffet and counter-service tips run lower than sit-down. Standard is about 10% at buffets where servers refill drinks and clear plates, and $1-$2 for counter pickup. Tipping 20% everywhere transfers real money to situations the convention does not require.
Delivery app tips go to the driver, not the restaurant. DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub pass the in-app tip to the driver; the restaurant gets nothing. US convention is 15-20% of the food cost with a floor around $3-$5 for short trips.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate a tip?
Multiply the bill amount by the tip percentage (as a decimal). For example, an 18% tip on a $50 bill is $50 ร 0.18 = $9.00, making the total $59.00.
What is a standard tip percentage?
In the United States, 15โ20% is considered standard for restaurant service. 18% is a common default. For exceptional service, 25% or more is appropriate.
How do I split a bill evenly between people?
Add the tip to the bill total, then divide by the number of people. For example, a $100 bill with 20% tip is $120 total. Split between 4 people, each person pays $30.
Should I tip on the pre-tax or post-tax amount?
Many diners tip on the pre-tax subtotal; some tip on the total including tax. Pre-tax is the more common US restaurant convention. Agree on one base before you split so everyone pays the same share.
How do I tip when the bill already includes a service charge?
If the check lists an automatic gratuity or service charge (common for large parties), that usually replaces a standard tip. Add more only if you want to reward service beyond that charge. Read the receipt line items before tipping again.
How is tipping different from a discount or sales tax?
A tip is a voluntary add-on for service. A discount reduces the price before tax; sales tax is a required percentage added by the jurisdiction. Use the tip calculator for gratuity, the discount calculator for markdowns, and the sales tax calculator for tax-inclusive totals.
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