Tip Calculator
Enter your bill amount, choose a tip percentage, and split between people. See exactly what everyone owes — instantly.
Tip guidelines are based on US customs. Adjust percentages based on your local culture and the quality of service received.
How the Tip Calculator Works
This calculator does four things at once: computes the tip from your bill amount, adds optional tax, splits the total between your party, and shows a full line-by-line breakdown so everyone knows exactly what they owe.
What the calculator shows
- Each person pays — the headline number: total bill + tip + tax, divided evenly. This is what each person should pay.
- Bill subtotal — the food and drink total before tip or tax.
- Tip amount — the dollar amount of the tip based on your chosen percentage.
- Tax — the tax amount you entered (if any).
- Total with tip & tax — the grand total.
- Bill per person / Tip per person — how the bill and tip break down individually.
How to calculate a tip manually
The fastest mental method uses the "10% trick":
- Move the decimal point one place left to find 10%. Example: $47.50 → $4.75.
- Double it for 20%: $4.75 × 2 = $9.50.
- For 15%, add half of 10% to 10%: $4.75 + $2.38 = $7.13.
- For 18%, take 20% and subtract 2% (2 cents per dollar): $9.50 − $0.95 = $8.55.
Then add the tip to the bill and divide by the number of people. This calculator does all of that automatically — but knowing the method helps when your phone isn't handy.
Tipping Guide: How Much to Tip for Every Service
Tipping customs vary widely by service type and country. Here are the current US standards:
| Service | Standard Tip | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant (sit-down) | 15-20% | 20% is the new standard for good service in most cities. |
| Bar / bartender | $1-2 per drink or 15-20% | Tip per drink for beer/wine; percentage for cocktails or a tab. |
| Food delivery | 15-20% or $3-5 min | Tip more in bad weather, for large orders, or long distances. |
| Taxi / rideshare | 10-15% | Round up for short rides; 15% for longer trips or help with luggage. |
| Hair salon / barber | 15-20% | Tip the stylist; tip separately for shampoo assistant ($3-5). |
| Nail salon | 15-20% | Same as hair salon. Tip more for intricate designs. |
| Hotel housekeeping | $2-5 per night | Leave daily, not at checkout — different staff may clean each day. |
| Hotel bellhop | $1-2 per bag | Tip when bags are delivered to your room. |
| Valet parking | $2-5 | Tip when the car is returned, not when you drop it off. |
| Moving crew | $5-10 per hour per mover | Or $20-50 flat per person for a half-day move. |
| Takeout | 10% (optional) | Not required, but appreciated for large or complex orders. |
| Coffee shop | $0-1 | Tip jar or round up. Not expected for a simple coffee. |
Tip on pre-tax or post-tax?
Traditionally, tip is calculated on the pre-tax subtotal — you're tipping for the service, not the government's cut. This calculator lets you enter tax separately so the tip is always on the food/service subtotal. However, many people tip on the total (including tax) for simplicity. On a $50 bill with 8% tax, tipping on pre-tax vs. total at 18% differs by only about 40 cents — not enough to worry about.
What about tip screens showing 25/30/35%?
Payment tablets at cafes and counter-service spots often show default tip options of 25%, 30%, or even 35%. These are suggestions set by the merchant, not social obligations. You are never required to tip more than 20% at counter service — and for coffee shops, $0-1 is perfectly acceptable. Choose "Custom" and enter your own amount if the defaults feel too high.
How to Split a Bill Fairly
Splitting a restaurant bill can get awkward. Here are the three common approaches:
- Equal split. Total with tip divided evenly. The simplest approach — works well when everyone ordered similarly or you're close friends who don't keep score. If one person had 3 cocktails while another had water, this gets unfair fast.
- Itemized split. Each person pays for exactly what they ordered, plus their proportional share of tax and tip. Fairer but more complex — requires the receipt and some math. Apps like Splitwise handle this, or use this calculator for each person's items.
- Round up. Each person rounds their share up to the nearest $5 or $10. The extra covers tip and avoids penny-splitting. Generous and simple.
Tipping for large groups
Many restaurants automatically add an 18-20% gratuity for parties of 6 or more. Always check your receipt before adding an additional tip — you may already be covered. If service was exceptional, adding a few extra dollars on top of the auto-gratuity is a nice gesture.
Worked Examples
Example 1: Date night dinner
You and your partner have a nice dinner. The bill is $87.50 and you want to leave an 18% tip. Tax is $7.00 (already included in the receipt total, but you enter it separately for accuracy).
- Bill: $87.50
- Tip (18%): $87.50 × 0.18 = $15.75
- Tax: $7.00
- Total: $87.50 + $15.75 + $7.00 = $110.25
- Split 2 ways: $55.13 per person
Example 2: Birthday dinner with friends
A group of 6 friends shares a $240 dinner. The restaurant already added 18% auto-gratuity. You want to check how much that is per person:
- Bill: $240.00
- Auto-gratuity (18%): $240 × 0.18 = $43.20
- Total: $240 + $43.20 = $283.20
- Split 6 ways: $47.20 per person
Since the gratuity is already included, no additional tip is needed unless you want to reward exceptional service.
Example 3: Splitting a pizza delivery
Three roommates order a $32 pizza with a $5 delivery fee. The total comes to $37.80 (with tax). They want to leave a $5 tip for the driver and split evenly:
- Bill: $32.00 (food) + $5.00 (delivery fee) = $37.00
- Tip: $5.00 flat (enter as percentage: ~13.5% of $37)
- Tax: $0.80
- Total: $37.00 + $5.00 + $0.80 = $42.80
- Split 3 ways: $14.27 per person
Frequently Asked Questions
In the US, 15-20% is standard for sit-down service. 15% for acceptable, 18% for good, 20%+ for excellent. For takeout, 10% is customary.
Add tip to the total, then divide by people. A $60 bill with 18% tip = $70.80. Split 3 ways = $23.60 per person.
Traditionally on the pre-tax amount. This calculator computes tip on the bill subtotal. The difference from tipping on total is usually under $1.
It's optional but appreciated. 10% is customary for large or complicated orders. For simple pickups, no tip is expected. If the staff packed everything carefully and included condiments, a few dollars is a nice gesture.
15-20% of the order total, with a $3-5 minimum. Tip more in bad weather, for large orders, or long distances. If the app lets you tip in advance, do it — it often speeds up delivery.
Yes, 20% is the standard for good service at sit-down restaurants. Some high-end areas expect 22-25%. Tip screens showing 25/30/35% are merchant suggestions, not obligations — you can always enter a custom amount.
Use the 10% trick: move the decimal left one place for 10%, then double for 20%. For 15%, add half of 10% to the full 10%. For 18%, take 20% and subtract 2% (2 cents per dollar). Example: $47.50 → 10% = $4.75 → 20% = $9.50 → 18% = $8.55.
For an equal split, yes — everyone pays the same total. If one person ordered significantly more, consider an itemized split where each person pays for their own items plus a proportional share of tip and tax.