Work out the tip, the total bill, and how much each person owes if you're splitting the check, with or without sales tax.
In the U.S., 15-20% is standard for full-service dining. Enter a sales tax rate if you want the calculator to add tax and to let you choose whether to tip before or after it.
This tool applies your chosen tip percentage to the bill amount, adds it to the bill to get the total, and then divides that total across however many people are splitting the check. It also shows what each person would pay at 15%, 18%, 20%, and 25%, so you can compare the options at a glance. It's straightforward percentage math applied to restaurant bills and group checks, and it's the same calculation as our Percentage Calculator, set up for tipping.
If you enter a sales tax rate, the calculator adds the tax to the bill and lets you decide whether the tip is based on the amount before tax or after tax. You can also choose to round each person's share up to the next whole dollar, which is handy when paying in cash.
A $50 bill with an 18% tip works out to a $9.00 tip, for a total of $59.00. Split evenly four ways, that's $14.75 per person. For the same bill, a 15% tip is $7.50 (a total of $57.50), a 20% tip is $10.00 (a total of $60.00), and a 25% tip is $12.50 (a total of $62.50).
Many etiquette guides suggest tipping on the pre-tax amount, since the tax is not part of what the restaurant charged for its food and service. In practice many people tip on the total printed on the receipt, because it is simpler. The difference is small. On an $80 meal with 8% sales tax, the tax is $6.40. An 18% tip on the pre-tax $80 is $14.40, for a total of $100.80. An 18% tip on the $86.40 after tax is $15.55, for a total of $101.95, which is $1.15 more. Choose whichever you prefer.
Rounding each person's share up to the next dollar makes cash payments easy but raises the effective tip. For the $50 bill split four ways at 18%, each person owes $14.75. Rounding to $15 makes the total $60, a $10 tip, which is 20% of the bill. For a $47.30 bill at 18% split three ways, each share is $18.60. Rounding up to $19 makes the total $57, a tip of about 20.5%. The calculator shows the effective tip after rounding, so you know what you are leaving.
You can work out a tip in your head without a calculator. Move the decimal point one place to find 10%. For an $84 bill, 10% is $8.40. Double that for a 20% tip, which is $16.80. For 15%, add half of the 10% amount to itself: $8.40 plus $4.20 is $12.60.
Customs vary, and these are commonly cited ranges rather than rules:
An even split is the simplest, and it works when everyone ordered a similar amount. When orders differ a lot, it can be fairer to split by what each person ordered and then add each person's share of tax and tip. Also check your bill for an automatic gratuity. Many restaurants add 18% to 20% for large parties, often six or more people, and adding a second tip on top would double it. For example, an 18% automatic gratuity on a $300 bill is already $54.
If you eat out often, tips add up. Set a monthly dining amount in the budget calculator and include the tip in your estimate. When you are working out pay of your own, our salary calculator and paycheck and overtime calculator show what you take home.
What's a standard tip percentage in the U.S.?
For full-service restaurants, 15-20% of the bill is the commonly cited range, with 18-20% typical for good service. Some people tip more for excellent service or less for poor service, and there's no legally required amount.
Should I tip on the pre-tax or post-tax amount?
Tipping etiquette generally suggests calculating the tip on the pre-tax subtotal, since sales tax isn't part of what the server actually earned for the business. In practice, many people just tip on the total printed on the receipt for simplicity. Enter a tax rate and choose either option in this calculator.
How do I split the tip evenly among a group?
Enter the bill, your tip percentage, and the number of people in your group. The calculator divides the bill plus tip evenly across everyone. If people had very different orders, an even split may not match what each person actually owes.
Is tipping mandatory?
In the U.S., tipping is a strong social norm at full-service restaurants and bars but isn't legally required. In many other countries tipping is far less common or already included as a service charge, so check local customs if you're traveling.
What if the service was bad?
Many etiquette guides suggest still leaving a reduced tip (rather than nothing) for below-average service, and reserving a $0 tip for outright refusal of service, since in the U.S. many servers are paid a lower base wage that assumes tips will make up the difference.
Does this work for tipping norms outside the U.S.?
The math works anywhere, but the appropriate percentage varies a lot by country. Some places include a service charge automatically, and others consider tipping unusual. Adjust the tip percentage field to match local norms.
How much should I tip for takeout or counter service?
This varies widely and is more optional than sit-down dining. Many people leave 0-10% or round up to the nearest dollar for takeout, versus 15-20% for table service. Set the tip percentage field to whatever feels right for the situation.
Can I calculate a specific dollar tip instead of a percentage?
This calculator is set up for percentage-based tips, but you can work backward: divide your desired tip amount by the bill and multiply by 100 to get the equivalent percentage, then enter that. For example, a $6 tip on a $40 bill is 15%.