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How to use the tip calculator
This tip calculator works out the tip, the total and what each person owes, and it copes with the awkward parts of splitting a check: tipping on the pre-tax amount, rounding to whole dollars, and friends who ordered very different things.
- Type the bill total from the check. If you want to tip on the amount before tax, tick the box and enter the tax shown on the receipt.
- Pick a tip percentage or tap how the service was. Switch to Tip amount if you already know you want to leave, say, $15.
- Set the number of people with the + and − buttons.
- Choose how to split: evenly, by shares, or by items, where each person enters what they ordered.
- Round up per person or round the total if you are paying cash. The extra goes to the tip, and the calculator shows the real tip percentage after rounding.
Copy breakdown puts a short summary on your clipboard for the group chat. Save as PDF gives you a receipt-style page with every line, which is handy for work dinners you need to expense.
How much should you tip?
In the US, 15% to 20% of the pre-tax bill is the normal range for a sit-down restaurant, and 20% has become the default for good service. Go lower when service was poor, higher when the server went out of their way or the bill is small. Customs differ a lot abroad: in the UK a 10% to 12.5% service charge is often already on the bill, and in Japan tipping is not expected at all.
Tips on common bill amounts
| Bill | 15% tip | 18% tip | 20% tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| $25 | $3.75 | $4.50 | $5.00 |
| $50 | $7.50 | $9.00 | $10.00 |
| $75 | $11.25 | $13.50 | $15.00 |
| $100 | $15.00 | $18.00 | $20.00 |
| $150 | $22.50 | $27.00 | $30.00 |
How do I calculate a tip in my head?
Start with 10%: move the decimal point one place left. On a $64 bill that is $6.40. Double it for 20% ($12.80). For 15%, add half of the 10% figure: 6.40 + 3.20 = $9.60. For 18%, take 20% and knock off a little (20% minus 2%, so 12.80 − 1.28 = $11.52).
Total = bill + tip
Per person = total ÷ number of people
Should you tip before or after tax?
Etiquette writers usually say before tax, since tax isn't part of the service. The difference is small but real. On a $100 meal with $8 of sales tax, a 20% tip is $20 on the pre-tax amount and $21.60 on the total. Tick "Tip on the amount before tax" and enter the tax line from your receipt to get the first figure. One thing to watch: some card terminals suggest tip amounts based on the total after tax, so the "20%" button on the screen can be a bit more than 20% of the food.
How to split a bill evenly with tip
Add the tip to the bill, then divide by the number of people. Five friends with a $186.50 check and a 20% tip owe $223.80 in total, which is $44.76 each. Nobody carries 76 cents, so choose Round up for each person: everyone pays $45, the total becomes $225 and the tip works out at 20.64%. Rounding the total instead ($224) keeps the tip closer to what you picked but leaves each share at $44.80.
Splitting the check when people ordered different things
An even split is only fair when everyone ate roughly the same. Say Ana had a $42 steak, Ben an $18 salad and Cal a $30 pasta, and you shared $15 of nachos. Tax is $8.40 and you tip 20% on the $105 before tax, so the total is $134.40. With By items, each person pays their own food plus a third of the nachos, and the tax and tip are shared in the same proportion:
| Person | Own items + shared | Pays (by items) | Pays (even split) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ana | $47.00 | $60.16 | $44.80 |
| Ben | $23.00 | $29.44 | $44.80 |
| Cal | $35.00 | $44.80 | $44.80 |
Splitting evenly would have cost Ben an extra $15.36 for food he didn't eat. By shares is quicker when the split is simple, like a couple paying for two (2 shares) and a friend paying for one (1 share), or someone being treated (0 shares).
Things the calculator can't know
If the restaurant already added a service charge or "gratuity" for a large group, it is in the bill total, and tipping again on top is optional. Check the receipt before you pick a percentage. Results are rounded to the cent for display, so a split can be a cent off the check; when that happens, round up per person and let the server keep the difference.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a 20% tip on $85?
A 20% tip on $85 is $17, making the total $102. Quick way: 10% is $8.50, so double it.
Should I tip on the amount before or after tax?
Etiquette guides usually say before tax, though many people tip on the total. On a $100 meal with $8 tax, 20% before tax is $20 and 20% after tax is $21.60.
How much should you tip at a restaurant in the US?
15% to 20% of the pre-tax bill is the usual range for table service, with 20% now common for good service. On a $60 dinner that is $9 to $12.
How do I split a bill with tip between 4 people?
Add the tip to the bill, then divide by 4. A $120 bill with an 18% tip is $141.60, so each person pays $35.40.
How do you split a bill when people ordered different amounts?
Each person pays for their own items plus a share of the tax and tip in proportion. With $30 and $50 meals, $8 tax and a 20% tip on $80, one pays $39 and the other $65.
What is a 15% tip on $60?
A 15% tip on $60 is $9, for a total of $69. Take 10% ($6) and add half of that ($3).
Do I need to tip if there is already a service charge?
Usually not, because a service charge is the tip under another name. If a $90 bill already has an 18% service charge of $16.20, leave nothing extra unless you want to reward great service, and ask whether the charge goes to the staff.