Tip Calculator
Calculate the tip, the total and each person's share when splitting a bill.
Why use this tool?
Work out the tip on a restaurant bill and how much each person pays when splitting it.
How to use it
- Enter the bill amount and how many people are splitting it.
- Pick a tip percentage or type your own.
- Read the tip, total and amount per person.
How the calculation works
Tip = bill × tip percentage. Total = bill + tip. If you're splitting, each person's share is the total divided by the number of people, and the calculator also shows each person's part of the tip.
Example: a bill of $84 with an 18% tip. The tip is $84 × 0.18 = $15.12, the total is $99.12, and split four ways each person pays $24.78.
Before or after tax?
Where sales tax is added to the bill, many people work out the tip on the amount before tax, since tax isn't part of the service. If that $84 bill was $78 of food plus $6 tax, an 18% tip on the $78 is $14.04 instead of $15.12. Enter the pre-tax amount to get the tip, then add the tax back to know the full total. Either way is acceptable; it's a matter of local habit and personal choice.
Tipping customs vary by country
Expectations are very different around the world. In the United States, tips are a large part of many service workers' pay, and 15-20% is common for table service. In much of Europe a smaller tip, or rounding up, is normal, and some restaurants add a service charge to the bill. In Japan tipping is generally not expected and can even cause confusion. Many other countries fall somewhere in between.
Always check the bill for a line such as service charge, service included or gratuity before adding a tip, so you don't tip twice. When traveling, a quick look at local guidance avoids both under- and over-tipping.
Splitting fairly
An even split is simplest when everyone ordered similar amounts. If orders were very different, each person can work out their own items plus their share of the tip and tax instead. Some groups simply round each share up to a convenient number, which also covers small rounding differences.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate an 18% tip quickly in my head?
Take 10% by moving the decimal point one place, double it to get 20%, then subtract a little. On $50: 10% is $5, 20% is $10, so 18% is $9.
Should I tip on the amount before or after tax?
Many people tip on the pre-tax amount, but tipping on the total is also common. The difference is usually small.
What if a service charge is already on the bill?
A service charge is usually instead of a tip. Check what it covers; you only need to add more if you want to.