Everyday money
Tip Calculator
Enter your bill, tap a tip percentage (or type your own), and tell us how many people are splitting. The worksheet shows the tip, the grand total and exactly how much each person owes — updating as you type, right in your browser, with the formula below. In the U.S., tipping is a core part of service work: 18–20% is the common range for sit-down restaurants, while 15% is often considered the minimum for adequate service. Whether you're settling a group dinner check, tipping a delivery driver or a hairstylist, the quick 10/15/18/20 buttons let you compare amounts in a tap so the table can split the bill fairly.
Bill & tip
split evenly, tip included
Per-person amounts are rounded to the cent; collected totals may differ by a few cents.
How the tip calculator works
The tip is a percentage of the pre-tip bill. Add it to the bill to get the total, then divide by the number of people to split the cost evenly. The quick buttons just preset the percentage — you can always type a custom value.
Formula
tip = bill × tip% ÷ 100 total = bill + tip per person = total ÷ number of peoplewhere: bill = the amount before tip, tip% = the gratuity rate, people = how many ways to split
For example, an $80 bill at 18% gives a $14.40 tip and a $94.40 total; split between 4 people that's $23.60 each.
Notes & assumptions
- Tip is calculated on the bill amount you enter — if your bill already includes tax, the tip is on the tax-inclusive figure.
- Splitting assumes an even share; uneven splits aren't applied here.
- Calculations are for general information only — verify before relying on them.
Worked example: a five-person dinner
Five coworkers share a dinner with a $137.50 subtotal. Local tax adds 8%, so the printed total is $148.50. They tip 20% on the pre-tax subtotal: $137.50 × 0.20 = $27.50. Adding that to the taxed total gives $148.50 + $27.50 = $176.00, and dividing by 5 puts each share at $35.20.
Now compare tipping 20% on the post-tax figure instead: $148.50 × 0.20 = $29.70, which raises each person's share by only 44 cents. On typical checks the pre-tax versus post-tax gap stays this small, which is why many diners just tip on the bottom line. It only becomes real money on large bills: on a $600 banquet with 9% tax, tipping post-tax adds $10.80 to the tip.
Typical U.S. tipping ranges by service
These are customary ranges, not rules. Tip toward the top of a range for great service, big or complicated orders, or late-night work, and below it only when service was genuinely poor.
| Service | Typical tip | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sit-down restaurant | 18-20% | 15% reads as a minimum; 25% or more for exceptional service |
| Counter service or coffee | 0-10% | Optional; a dollar in the jar is a normal gesture |
| Bartender | $1-2 per drink, or 15-20% of the tab | Lean toward $2 for cocktails that take real work |
| Food delivery | 10-15%, with a $3-5 minimum | Add more for storms, stairs, or long drives |
| Hairdresser or barber | 15-20% | Tip an assistant who washed or dried $3-5 separately |
| Taxi or ride-share | 10-15% | Round up on short trips |
| Hotel housekeeping | $3-5 per night | Leave it daily with a note; staff often rotate |
Outside the United States the customs flip. In Japan and South Korea tipping is not expected and can even prompt a polite refusal; excellent service is simply the standard. Across much of Europe a service charge (often 10-15%, sometimes printed as \"service compris\") is already in the bill, so locals round up a euro or two at most. When traveling, check the bill for a service line before adding anything.
Pre-tax or post-tax, and splitting without drama
Traditional etiquette says tip on the pre-tax subtotal, since tax is not part of the service. The math difference is modest: on a $100 subtotal with 8.5% tax, a 20% tip is $20.00 pre-tax and $21.70 post-tax. Pick one habit and stay consistent; servers care far more about the percentage you choose than the base you compute it on.
For splitting, an even split is fastest and fair when everyone ordered in the same range. When orders diverge sharply (one $62 steak against a $16 salad), itemizing is kinder: each person covers their own items plus a proportional share of tax and tip. A practical middle path is splitting food evenly while keeping bar tabs separate. Whatever the group picks, decide before the check arrives, and let one person absorb the few cents of rounding rather than chasing exact change.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I tip at a restaurant?
At full-service restaurants in the United States, 18–20% of the pre-tax bill is the customary range for good service, with 15% generally treated as the floor and 25% or more reserved for exceptional service. For counter-service or takeout, tipping is optional and usually lower. The quick buttons above cover the most common rates so you can pick one and see the per-person amount instantly.
Should I tip on the pre-tax or post-tax amount?
Etiquette experts generally say it's fine to tip on the pre-tax subtotal, since the tax isn't part of the service you received. In practice many people tip on the total because it's simpler, and the difference is only a dollar or two on most checks. This calculator applies your tip percentage to whatever bill figure you type in, so enter the pre-tax subtotal if you want to tip on that.
How do I split a bill evenly between friends?
Enter the full bill, choose your tip percentage, and set "Split between" to the number of people. The worksheet divides the bill-plus-tip total evenly and shows the per-person amount. Because cents are rounded, the collected total can be off by a penny or two — one person can simply cover the rounding difference.
Do I have to tip on a large party's automatic gratuity?
Many U.S. restaurants add an automatic gratuity (often 18–20%) for parties of six or more, which is printed on the check. If gratuity is already included, you don't need to add more on top, though you can leave a little extra for outstanding service. Always check the bill before tipping so you don't accidentally double-tip.
What's a good tip for delivery, takeout, or a barista?
For food delivery, 15–20% (or a $3–5 minimum on small orders) is typical, with more for bad weather or a long drive. For coffee shops and counter service, rounding up or tipping a dollar or two is common but optional. Takeout you pick up yourself usually warrants little or nothing, though 10% is a kind gesture for a large or custom order.
How much should I tip a hairdresser or barber?
15-20% of the service price is the common range in the U.S., so $9-12 on a $60 cut. If an assistant shampooed or blow-dried, a separate $3-5 for them is a welcome extra. For inexpensive services like a $20 trim, many clients simply round the tip up to $5.
Is tipping expected outside the United States?
Often not, or not at U.S. levels. In Japan and South Korea tipping is not part of the culture and may be politely refused. In much of Europe a 10-15% service charge is already included in the bill, so rounding up a euro or two is plenty. Check the bill for a service line before adding a tip abroad.