Tip Calculator
Enter the bill, pick a tip percentage, and split it across the table. See the tip, the total, and what each person owes.
How to use this calculator
Enter the bill amount — just the subtotal before tax is most common, but you can enter the full post-tax total if you prefer. Choose a tip percentage using the quick buttons (15%, 18%, 20%, 25%) or type a custom value. Finally, set how many people are splitting the bill. The calculator instantly shows the tip in dollars, the grand total, and the amount each person owes.
You can also work backwards: if you already know you want each person to pay a round number, adjust the tip percentage until the per-person figure lands where you want it.
How tipping works
A tip is a voluntary percentage of the bill paid directly to the person serving you. In the United States, tipping is effectively expected at full-service restaurants, bars, salons, and many service businesses — the base wage for tipped workers is often below minimum wage, with tips making up the difference.
The percentage you choose is applied to the bill amount, converting it to a dollar figure. Add that to the original bill and you have the total. Splitting that total evenly across a group means dividing by the number of diners. The math is simple, but when you're handling a large group check it pays to let a calculator do it so everyone pays a fair share.
Worked example — step by step
Suppose four friends finish dinner with a pre-tax bill of $124.00 and want to leave an 18% tip.
- Tip: $124.00 × 0.18 = $22.32
- Total: $124.00 + $22.32 = $146.32
- Per person (4 people): $146.32 ÷ 4 = $36.58
If one person is covering the whole check on a card and collecting cash, they can tell the other three to chip in $37 each and pocket the small change as a convenience rounding.
How to interpret your result
The tip amount tells you what to add to your payment. The total is what actually gets charged to the card or what you hand over in cash. The per-person figure assumes everyone ordered roughly equally — if one person had a much larger or smaller meal, it is fairer to itemize than to split evenly.
When paying by card, most restaurant terminals will show you the subtotal and ask you to add a tip before you sign — enter the tip dollar amount from this calculator directly into that field.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Tipping on the tax: Technically you tip on the pre-tax subtotal, not the tax line. The difference is small but adds up if your city has high sales tax.
- Forgetting to check for an auto-gratuity: Many restaurants add an automatic 18–20% service charge for groups of 6 or more. If this is already on your bill, adding another tip on top double-tips.
- Using the tax-doubling shortcut inaccurately: "Double the tax to find the tip" works when the local sales tax is about 8–10%. At lower tax rates it underestimates; at higher rates it overestimates. A calculator gives you the exact number.
- Splitting before adding the tip: Dividing the pre-tip bill by the number of people and having each person pay their own tip separately often results in the server receiving inconsistent amounts. It is simpler and more accurate to calculate the total with tip first and then split.
- Skipping the tip on to-go orders: Tipping on takeout is entirely optional, but if a restaurant is doing high-effort packaging or you pick up frequently, a small 10% tip is a recognized way to acknowledge the kitchen's work.
US tipping norms by situation
- Full-service restaurant: 18–20% baseline, 25%+ for exceptional service
- Counter service / fast casual: Optional; rounding up or $1–2 is common
- Bar: $1–2 per simple drink, or 15–20% on cocktail tabs
- Coffee shop: Optional; a tip jar is the norm, not an obligation
- Food delivery: 10–20%, minimum $3–5 regardless of order size
- Taxi or rideshare: 10–15%, 20% for help with luggage or late-night rides
- Hair salon / barbershop: 15–20% of the service cost
- Hotel housekeeping: $2–5 per night, left daily
The formula
Tip = Bill × (Percent ÷ 100) · Total = Bill + Tip · Per person = Total ÷ People
How we calculate this
The tip is calculated as Bill × (Percent ÷ 100). The total is Bill + Tip. The per-person share is Total ÷ Number of people. No rounding is applied until the final display so intermediate values stay accurate.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I tip?
In the US, 15–20% of the pre‑tax bill is standard for sit‑down restaurant service: 15% for adequate service, 18–20% for good service, and 25% or more for exceptional service. Many people default to 20% because the math is easy and it is considered a respectful baseline by most servers.
How do you calculate a tip?
Multiply the bill by the tip percentage as a decimal. A 20% tip on a $60 bill is $60 × 0.20 = $12, making the total $72. To split evenly, divide the total by the number of people — two diners each owe $36.
Should I tip on the pre‑tax or post‑tax amount?
Tipping on the pre‑tax subtotal is the traditional etiquette, since servers have no control over local tax rates. That said, many diners tip on the full bill for simplicity. The difference is small: on a $50 pre‑tax meal with 8% tax, 20% of the subtotal is $10 while 20% of the total is $10.80.
How do I split a bill with a tip evenly?
Add the tip to the bill first to get the full total, then divide by the number of diners. For a $90 bill with an 18% tip: tip = $16.20, total = $106.20, and each of three people owes $35.40. This calculator handles all of that automatically.
How much do you tip at a bar?
The standard for bar service is $1–2 per drink for simple orders like a beer or well cocktail, and 15–20% for more elaborate or mixed drinks. Tipping per round at the start builds goodwill with the bartender for a long evening.
What is the tipping norm for food delivery?
Most etiquette guides suggest 10–20% for delivery, with a minimum of $3–5 regardless of order size to account for the driver's time and fuel. Tip at the higher end for large orders, bad weather, or long distances.
Do I tip on alcohol when dining out?
Yes — in most US restaurants it is customary to include alcohol in the bill total when calculating the tip, since serving drinks is part of the server's job. Some diners tip a smaller percentage on a very expensive bottle of wine, but the standard practice is to tip on the full check.
Is it rude to tip 15%?
Not rude, but 15% has drifted toward the low end of the standard range in the US. Many servers in full-service restaurants rely on tips as the bulk of their income, and 18–20% is now the widely understood baseline for satisfactory service. If service was poor, tipping 15% is a socially recognized way to signal that.