Tip Calculator
Work out the gratuity, total and split the bill in seconds
๐ฝ๏ธ Bill details
Last updated June 2026
Method: Tip is the bill multiplied by the tip percentage (tip = bill x tip% / 100). The grand total is the bill plus the tip, and the per-person amount is the total divided by the number of people.
Included: Tip amount, grand total, bill/tip/total per person, and a side-by-side comparison of 15%, 18%, 20% and 25% rates.
Not included: Sales tax (enter the subtotal if you want to tip pre-tax), automatic gratuities or service charges already printed on your receipt, and country-specific tipping customs. Tipping is voluntary.
Tip calculator: everything you need to know
You and three friends just finished dinner and the bill comes to $75. The service was good, so you decide to tip 20%. That's a $15 tip, bringing the grand total to $90 - and split four ways, each person owes $22.50. This tip calculator does exactly that math instantly: enter the bill, pick a tip rate, choose how many people are paying, and it shows the tip, the total, and what each person pays.
How the tip is calculated
The formula is simple percentage math:
tip = bill × tip% ÷ 100 | total = bill + tip | per person = total ÷ people So a $75 bill at 20% gives a tip of 75 × 20 ÷ 100 = $15, a total of 75 + 15 = $90, and split four ways that's 90 ÷ 4 = $22.50 per person. Because it's a percentage, the same tip rate works at any price point - the dollar amount just scales with the bill.
How much to tip in the US
In the United States, tipping is a customary part of paying for service. Typical ranges are:
- Sit-down restaurants: 15%-20% (18%-20% for good service).
- Bars: roughly $1-$2 per drink, or 15%-20% of the tab.
- Food delivery: 10%-20%, with a few-dollar minimum.
- Taxis & rideshare: 10%-20% of the fare.
- Hair, nails & spa: 15%-20% of the service price.
These are conventions, not rules - tipping is voluntary, and you can always adjust up for excellent service or down when service falls short.
Tipping on the subtotal vs. the total
Whether you tip on the pre-tax subtotal or the after-tax total is a matter of preference. Since sales tax isn't part of the service, many people tip on the subtotal; tipping on the full total simply yields a slightly larger tip. This calculator applies your chosen percentage to whatever bill figure you enter, so type the subtotal if you'd rather tip pre-tax.
Splitting the bill evenly
To divide a bill, the calculator adds the tip first and then splits the grand total, so everyone covers their share of both the food and the gratuity. The comparison table also shows the per-person cost at 15%, 18%, 20% and 25%, which is handy when the group wants to agree on a rate before paying. For uneven splits - where people ordered very different amounts - calculate each person's share of the bill first, then apply the same tip percentage to each.
How to use this tip calculator
You only need three numbers to get an exact result. Work through the fields in order:
- Bill amount: enter the figure you want to tip on. Type the pre-tax subtotal if you prefer to tip on the food only, or the post-tax total if you would rather tip on the whole check.
- Tip percentage: tap one of the quick buttons (15%, 18%, 20% or 25%) or type your own rate. The tip and total update the moment you choose.
- Number of people: set how many are splitting the check. Leave it at one if you are paying alone, or raise it to see the per-person bill, tip and total.
Read the tip and grand total at the top, then use the per-person figures and the 15%-25% comparison to settle on an amount everyone is comfortable with before the card goes down.
Who this calculator is for
Anyone who wants the gratuity math done for them in a second can use it. It is especially handy for:
- Diners splitting a check with friends or coworkers who want a fair, even share of the food and the tip.
- Travelers and visitors to the US who are not sure what the local tipping norm is and want a quick sanity check.
- Anyone paying for delivery, a haircut, a taxi or a bar tab who wants to leave a reasonable amount without doing percentage math at the counter.
- Budgeters estimating the real cost of a meal out, since the tip can add 15%-25% to the menu price.
- Event hosts checking gratuity on a catering or large-party bill, where an automatic service charge may already apply.
A second worked example: splitting unevenly
Say four people get dinner and the subtotal is $120, but the orders were not equal: two people had $40 of food each and two had $20 each. If you split a flat 20% tip and the total evenly, everyone pays $36 - which overcharges the lighter eaters. To split fairly, apply the tip to each person's share. The 20% tip is $24, so each diner adds 20% to their own food: the $40 diners pay $48 each and the $20 diners pay $24 each. The bill and the gratuity both scale to what each person actually ordered, and the four shares ($48 + $48 + $24 + $24) add back up to the $144 grand total.
Key tipping terms explained
- Gratuity: another word for a tip - a voluntary payment for service on top of the bill.
- Automatic gratuity: a tip the restaurant adds for you, commonly 18%-20% for large parties. It appears as a line item on the check.
- Service charge: a mandatory fee set by the business. Unlike a tip, you do not choose it, and it may not all go to your server.
- Subtotal: the cost of the food and drinks before sales tax is added.
- Tip pooling: an arrangement where servers, bussers and bartenders share tips so the whole team is paid for the service.
- Tipped minimum wage: a lower base cash wage some tipped workers are paid, on the assumption that tips make up the rest of their income.
What changes how much you should tip
The "right" tip is not a fixed number - a few factors push it up or down within the customary range:
- Quality of service: attentive, friendly service earns the top of the range; poor service can justify less.
- Type of venue: full table service is tipped more than counter or quick-service spots, where tipping is lighter or optional.
- Group size: large parties are often charged an automatic gratuity, so you may not need to add more.
- Difficulty of the request: special accommodations, large orders or extra effort are often recognized with a higher tip.
- Local custom: tipping norms vary by region and country - what is standard in the US may not apply elsewhere.
Why tipping matters for service workers
Tipping is more than etiquette in the United States. Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, employers may take a "tip credit" and pay tipped employees a cash wage as low as $2.13 per hour, provided tips bring the worker to at least the full federal minimum wage of $7.25; if they do not, the employer must cover the gap. Several states require a higher cash wage or ban the tip credit entirely. Because of this structure, the tip you leave at a sit-down restaurant is often a meaningful part of the server's actual pay, not just a bonus. Knowing the exact amount - which this calculator gives you - makes it easy to leave a fair tip without overthinking the math.
Limitations and assumptions
This is a convenience tool, so keep a few things in mind:
- It applies your percentage to whatever bill figure you enter - it does not know whether that number includes sales tax, so you decide what to tip on.
- It splits the total evenly by the number of people; for uneven orders, apply the tip to each person's share as shown above.
- It does not detect an automatic gratuity or service charge already printed on your receipt - always check the check first.
- It assumes US tipping conventions; norms differ widely in other countries, where service is often included.
- Tipping is voluntary, so treat the suggested rates as a starting point, not a rule.
How it compares to related calculators
This page answers "how much should I tip and what does each person owe?" If your question is different, a sister tool fits better:
- To take a percentage off a price instead of adding one, use the Discount Calculator.
- To add sales tax to a purchase, use the Sales Tax Calculator.
- To work out any "what is X% of Y" question, use the Percentage Calculator.
- To find the mean of a set of numbers, use the Average Calculator.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Wage and Hour Division - Tips under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
- U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) - Minimum wages for tipped employees by state.
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Topic No. 761, Tips - Withholding and Reporting.
โ ๏ธ Common mistakes & edge cases
Tipping twice on an auto-gratuity
Large groups are often charged an automatic gratuity of 18%-20%. If "gratuity", "service charge" or "service included" appears on your receipt, the tip is already added - leaving extra on top means you tip twice.
Forgetting to add tip before splitting
Splitting the bill first and then having one person cover the whole tip is unfair. Always add the tip to the bill, then divide the grand total so everyone shares the gratuity too.
Mixing up the subtotal and the taxed total
Tipping on the after-tax total isn't wrong, but it quietly raises your tip. If you mean to tip on the food only, enter the pre-tax subtotal, not the bottom-line total that includes sales tax.
Assuming US rates apply everywhere
Tipping norms differ worldwide - in many countries service is included and tipping is minimal or optional. Don't assume 20% is expected abroad; check local custom before you travel.
❓ Frequently asked questions
How is a tip calculated?
Multiply the bill by the tip percentage and divide by 100: tip = bill x tip% / 100. For a $75 bill at 20%, the tip is 75 x 20 / 100 = $15. Add it to the bill to get the total ($90), then divide by the number of people to split it.
How much should I tip at a restaurant in the US?
For sit-down restaurant service, 15% to 20% of the bill is the standard range in the United States, with 18% to 20% common for good service. Counter service, takeout and quick meals are often tipped less or not at all. Tipping is voluntary, so adjust for the quality of service.
Should I tip on the pre-tax or post-tax amount?
Either is acceptable, but many people tip on the pre-tax subtotal because the tax is not part of the service. Tipping on the post-tax total is also common and simply results in a slightly larger tip. This calculator applies the percentage to whatever bill amount you enter, so enter the subtotal if you want to tip pre-tax.
How do I split a bill and tip between people?
Add the tip to the bill to get the grand total, then divide by the number of people. For a $90 total split four ways, each person pays $22.50. This calculator shows the bill, tip and total per person automatically when you enter more than one person.
Is the tip already included in the bill?
Sometimes. Many restaurants add an automatic gratuity (often 18% to 20%) for large groups, and some venues add a service charge. Check your receipt for wording like 'gratuity', 'service charge' or 'service included' before adding more, so you do not tip twice.
How much should I tip on a $50 or $100 bill?
On a $50 bill: 15% is $7.50, 18% is $9.00, 20% is $10.00 and 25% is $12.50. On a $100 bill: 15% is $15, 18% is $18, 20% is $20 and 25% is $25. The percentage simply scales with the bill, which is why the same rate works at any price.
Do I tip on delivery or takeout?
Delivery is commonly tipped 10% to 20% (or a few dollars minimum) for bringing food to your door. Takeout that you pick up yourself is often tipped less or left at your discretion. Customs vary, so use the calculator to test the rate you are comfortable with.
What is the difference between a tip and a service charge?
A tip is a voluntary, discretionary amount you choose to leave for service. A service charge is a mandatory fee the business adds to the bill (often 18% to 20% for large parties or at certain venues). Service charges are set by the establishment and may or may not be passed on to staff, while a tip is yours to decide. If a service charge already appears on your check, you generally do not need to add a separate tip.
How do I figure out a tip in my head quickly?
A common shortcut for a 20% tip is to move the decimal one place left to get 10% of the bill, then double it. For a $48 bill, 10% is $4.80, so 20% is about $9.60. For 15%, take that 10% figure and add half of it again ($4.80 + $2.40 = $7.20). These mental estimates are close enough for everyday use, but this calculator gives the exact amount when you want it.
Should I tip a higher percentage on a small bill?
It is a thoughtful gesture. On a very small bill - a single coffee or a $6 snack - a strict 15% to 20% can leave only a dollar or less, even though the server did the same work as for a larger order. Many people round up or leave a small flat minimum (such as $1 to $2) on low-priced orders to keep the tip fair to the worker.
Do tipped workers rely on tips for their income?
In the United States, many tipped employees are paid a lower base wage and depend on tips to reach a normal income. Under federal law, employers can pay a cash wage as low as $2.13 per hour as long as tips bring the worker up to at least the full minimum wage; otherwise the employer must make up the difference. Some states require a higher cash wage. This is a key reason tipping is customary for table service in the US.
Is it better to tip in cash or on the card?
Both reach the worker, but cash tips are often received faster and in full, since card tips can be processed through payroll and may be subject to pooling or processing timing. If you tip on a card, write the tip amount clearly and double-check the total before signing. Either way, the amount this calculator shows is what counts - how you hand it over is your choice.
๐ก Good to know
Check for an auto-gratuity before you add more
Large parties and some venues add an automatic gratuity of 18%-20%, or a service charge. If your receipt says "gratuity", "service charge" or "service included", the tip is already there - look before you leave extra so you do not pay twice.
The 20% shortcut is faster than it looks
To estimate 20% in your head, move the decimal one place left to get 10% of the bill, then double it. For a $48 check that is $4.80 doubled, or about $9.60. It is close enough for a quick gut check, and this calculator gives the exact figure when you need it.
Tips are a real part of US service pay
Many tipped workers are paid a lower base wage and rely on tips to reach the minimum. That is why a fair gratuity matters for table service in the US - and why splitting the tip evenly with the bill keeps each person's share fair.