About the Tip Calculator
This tip calculator works out a restaurant or service tip and splits the bill evenly. Enter the bill subtotal, any sales tax on the check, the tip percentage you want to leave and how many people are paying. You get the tip amount, the grand total and the amount each person owes.
It is handy at the end of a group dinner, when paying for delivery or a bar tab, or when you want to tip a hairdresser or driver a fair percentage. Choose whether to tip on the pre-tax subtotal (the usual etiquette in the US) or on the total including tax, and optionally round each person’s share or the whole bill up to the next dollar so nobody needs coins.
When rounding is on, the extra cents go to the tip, and the calculator shows the effective tip percentage that results. A comparison table shows what 15%, 18%, 20%, 22% and 25% would cost.
With the default inputs, the each person pays is $51.90. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the tip calculator
- 1Enter the bill subtotal and, if listed separately, the tax.
- 2Pick a tip percentage — 18% to 20% is typical for US sit-down service.
- 3Choose whether to tip on the pre-tax or post-tax amount.
- 4Enter how many people are splitting the check.
- 5Optionally round up, then read each person’s share.
Formula and method
The tip is the chosen percentage of the tip base, which is either the pre-tax subtotal or the subtotal plus tax. The total adds the subtotal, the tax and the tip, and the per-person share divides the total evenly by the number of people.
If you round up, the total is raised to the next whole dollar (or each share is raised to the next whole dollar and multiplied back up), and the extra goes to the tip. The effective tip percentage is the final tip divided by the pre-tax subtotal.
- B
- Tip base (subtotal, or subtotal + tax)
- p
- Tip percentage
- N
- Number of people splitting the bill
Worked examples
$86.50 dinner for two at 20%
A 20% tip on $86.50 is $17.30, making the total $103.80. Split two ways, each person pays $51.90.
Four friends, 18% on pre-tax, rounding each share up
An 18% tip on $142.80 is $25.70, for a total of $180.28 or $45.07 each. Rounding each share up to $46 makes the total $184, so the tip becomes $29.42 — about 20.6% of the subtotal.
15% on the post-tax total, rounded to the dollar
15% of the $69.28 post-tax total is $10.39, giving $79.67. Rounding up to $80 makes the tip $10.72, which is 16.75% of the $64 subtotal.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I tip at a restaurant?+
In the US, 15% is a baseline for adequate table service, 18–20% is standard for good service and 25% or more is generous. For counter service or takeout, tipping is optional; 10% is common when you do.
Should I tip on the pre-tax or after-tax amount?+
Etiquette guides generally say to tip on the pre-tax subtotal, since tax is not part of the service. Tipping on the total is simpler and slightly more generous — the difference is usually under a dollar.
How do I calculate a 20% tip quickly?+
Move the decimal point one place left to get 10%, then double it. On a $47 bill, 10% is $4.70, so 20% is $9.40. For 15%, add half of the 10% figure: $4.70 + $2.35 = $7.05.
How do I split a bill with a tip?+
Add the tip to the bill and tax, then divide by the number of people. If people ordered very different amounts, use a bill split calculator that splits by what each person ordered instead.
Do I tip on alcohol and discounted items?+
Yes, it is customary to tip on the full value of drinks and on the pre-discount price when using a coupon or gift card, because the server did the same work regardless of the discount.