🍽️ Tip & Bill Split Calculator
Calculate restaurant tips, gratuity amounts, and split checks evenly among friends.
Tipping, splitting and rounding without arguing at the table
The arithmetic is trivial and the social conventions are not. A tip is a percentage of the bill, the split is that total divided between people, and the only genuinely contested questions are what percentage, whether tax is included in the base, and who pays for the bottle of wine they did not drink.
Doing it in your head
Build from 10%, which is the decimal point moved one place left. On an $86.40 bill, 10% is $8.64. Then:
- 15% = 10% plus half of it: $8.64 + $4.32 = $12.96
- 18% = 20% minus 10% of the 20%: $17.28 − $1.73 = $15.55
- 20% = double the 10%: $17.28
- 25% = a quarter, so divide by four: $21.60
The swap rule from percentages works here too: x% of y equals y% of x. Working out 18% of $50 is awkward; 50% of 18 is nine, instantly, and it is the same answer.
Tipping norms by country
| Country | Usual tip | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 18–22% | Servers are often paid a sub-minimum tipped wage |
| Canada | 15–20% | Similar to the US |
| United Kingdom | 10–12.5% | Often added as a discretionary service charge |
| France | 0–5% | Service is legally included; rounding up is a courtesy |
| Germany | 5–10% | Round up to a convenient figure |
| Spain, Italy | 0–10% | Small change or nothing; a cover charge may apply |
| Japan | 0% | Tipping can cause genuine confusion or offence |
| Australia | 0–10% | Not expected; minimum wages are higher |
The US figures are high because tipped workers in many states can legally be paid a base wage well below the standard minimum, with tips expected to make up the difference. In countries where service staff receive a full wage, tipping is a bonus rather than part of the pay.
Tip on the pre-tax or post-tax total?
Convention in the US is to tip on the pre-tax subtotal, since tax is not a service the restaurant provided. In practice many people tip on the total because it is easier. On an $80 subtotal with 8.5% tax, a 20% tip is $16.00 pre-tax or $17.36 post-tax. The $1.36 difference is small enough that it is rarely worth the discussion.
Splitting the bill
Even splits are simplest and are fair when everyone ordered broadly similarly. Where one person had a $60 steak and another had a $14 salad, itemised splitting is fairer: each person pays for what they ordered, then tax and tip are apportioned in the same proportion. Shared items divide among those who shared them.
On a $142 bill split four ways with a 20% tip, the total is $170.40 and each person pays $42.60. Rounding up to $43 each gives $172 and a slightly larger tip, which is usually the path of least resistance.
Beyond restaurants
| Service | Typical amount |
|---|---|
| Bar, per drink | $1–2, or 15–20% of the tab |
| Taxi or rideshare | 10–15% |
| Food delivery | 15–20%, minimum $3–5 |
| Hairdresser | 15–20% |
| Hotel housekeeping | $3–5 per night |
| Coffee counter service | Optional; $0.50–1 or nothing |
A worked example
Dinner for five: $214.60 subtotal, 7.25% tax of $15.56, total $230.16. A 20% tip on the pre-tax subtotal is $42.92, bringing the bill to $273.08, or $54.62 each. Rounding to $55 each gives $275 and a tip of $44.84, which is 20.9% of the subtotal.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How much should I tip at a restaurant in the US?
Between 18% and 22% for ordinary table service is the current norm, with 20% the common default. Below 15% is generally read as a complaint about the service. Many tipped workers are paid a sub-minimum base wage, which is why the expectation is higher than in most other countries.
Should I tip on the pre-tax or post-tax amount?
Pre-tax is the conventional answer, since sales tax is not part of the service. The difference is usually one to two dollars on a typical bill, so either is defensible and nobody will notice.
What if a service charge is already included?
No additional tip is expected. Check the bill carefully, because many restaurants add a mandatory charge for large groups, typically 18% to 20% for parties of six or more, and it is easy to tip twice without noticing.
Do I tip on takeaway orders?
There is no firm convention. Many people tip nothing for counter collection, or 10% where staff have clearly done extra work such as packing a large order. Delivery is different and is normally tipped at 15% to 20% with a minimum of a few dollars.
How do I split a bill fairly when orders differ a lot?
Itemise. Each person pays for their own items, shared dishes split between those who shared them, and tax and tip apportioned in the same proportion as the food. The calculator handles even splits; for very uneven orders, the itemised approach is worth the extra minute.
Is tipping expected everywhere?
No, and in some places it is actively unwelcome. In Japan, attempting to tip can cause confusion or be taken as rude. In much of continental Europe, rounding up is sufficient. Checking local practice before travelling saves awkwardness in both directions.