What is a tip calculator?

A tip calculator finds the tip for a bill and adds it to the total. A bill splitter goes one step further and divides that total among several people. This page does both in one place. Enter the bill, choose a tip percentage, type how many people are sharing, and you will see the tip, the final total and what each person owes. It is useful at restaurants, cafes and bars, and for taxis, deliveries and salon visits.

Tipping is a small sum of money, but doing the math in your head at a busy table is awkward, especially when the bill is split four ways. The calculator removes the guesswork so you can pay quickly and fairly.

How the tip and split are calculated

• Tip = bill × tip percentage ÷ 100.
• Total = bill + tip.
• Each person pays = total ÷ number of people.
• Rounding option: if you choose to round each share up to the next dollar, the calculator raises each person’s share to a whole dollar and shows the effective tip, which is the real percentage you end up leaving.

The bill you enter should be the amount before the tip. Many people use the amount before sales tax, which is the common etiquette advice for restaurants, but some prefer to tip on the full amount. Either choice is acceptable. Use whichever number you decide on as the bill.

How to use this calculator

1. Type the bill amount in dollars.
2. Tap 15%, 18%, 20% or 25%, or type any percentage in the tip box.
3. Enter the number of people sharing the bill. Leave it at 1 if you pay alone.
4. Choose exact amounts or round up to make cash payments easier.
5. Read the large number for each person’s share. The table below it shows the tip, total and effective tip.

Worked examples

A simple tip. A $60.00 lunch with a 20% tip gives a tip of $12.00 and a total of $72.00.

Splitting four ways. A $96.00 dinner with a 20% tip has a tip of $19.20 and a total of $115.20. Divided by 4, each person pays $28.80.

A lower tip. A $45.80 bill with a 15% tip has a tip of $6.87 and a total of $52.67.

The default example above. A $85.50 bill, an 18% tip and 4 people gives a tip of $15.39, a total of $100.89, and about $25.22 per person.

Quick tip chart

This table shows the tip amount for common bills. It is handy when you want to check the calculator or work the tip out in your head.

Bill	15%	18%	20%	25%
$20	$3.00	$3.60	$4.00	$5.00
$50	$7.50	$9.00	$10.00	$12.50
$100	$15.00	$18.00	$20.00	$25.00
$150	$22.50	$27.00	$30.00	$37.50

How much should you tip?

Customs differ by country and by service, and a tip is a voluntary thank-you, not a legal requirement. In the United States, the common guidance for sit-down restaurants is a tip of 15% to 20% of the pre-tax bill, with many diners now choosing 18% to 20% for good service. The table below is a general guide only. Use your own judgment and the local custom.

Service	Common tip
Sit-down restaurant server	15% to 20%
Buffet server	About 10%
Bartender	$1 to $2 per drink, or 15% to 20% of the tab
Taxi or ride-share driver	15% to 20%
Food delivery	15% to 20%, with a small minimum for short orders
Hair salon or barber	15% to 20%
Hotel housekeeping	A few dollars per night, left each day

Tips for splitting a bill fairly

• Agree on the tip first. Decide the percentage before you divide, so no one is surprised.
• Tip on the full bill. Work out the tip on the whole table’s bill, then split the total, instead of each person tipping on their own small share.
• Handle shared dishes separately. If one person ordered much more, such as drinks or a pricey dish, consider splitting by item. This calculator splits equally.
• Use rounding for cash. Rounding each share up to a whole dollar makes cash payment easy and slightly raises the tip.
• Check for an included service charge. Some restaurants add a gratuity for large groups. Look at the bill before adding a second tip.

Tip before or after tax?

Etiquette guides often suggest calculating the tip on the pre-tax amount, because the tax is money the server did not earn. If a coupon or discount lowered your bill, many guides suggest tipping on the price before the discount, since the server did the same amount of work. In practice, many people simply tip on the total shown on the receipt. The difference is small, and the calculator lets you enter whichever amount you choose.

Are tips taxable income?

For the person who receives them, yes. In the United States, employees who receive tips must keep a daily record and report them as income, as explained in IRS Publication 531, linked below. This does not change how much you should leave as a customer, but it is a useful reminder that tips are part of workers’ pay.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Tipping twice. Check whether a service charge is already on the bill.
• Dividing before adding the tip. Add the tip to the bill first, then divide, or each share will be too low.
• Typing the total instead of the bill. If you enter an amount that already includes a tip, the calculator will add a second tip.
• Forgetting the people count. A 1 in the people box shows the full total instead of each share.

Tipping when you travel

Tipping rules change from country to country. In some places a service charge is already included and extra tipping is optional, while in others a tip is a normal part of the meal. Before a trip, look up the local custom, and check the bill for a service charge. You can still use this calculator with any currency, because the math works the same way; just read the dollar sign as your own currency symbol.

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate a 20% tip quickly?

Move the decimal point one place to the left to find 10%, then double it. For a $64 bill, 10% is $6.40, so 20% is $12.80.

How do I split a bill with tip evenly?

Add the tip to the bill, then divide the total by the number of people. The calculator does both steps and shows each person’s share.

What does the effective tip mean?

When you round each share up to a whole dollar, the real tip is a little higher than the percentage you chose. The effective tip shows the actual percentage of the bill that you leave.

Is a tip required?

Tipping is voluntary, though it is expected in many places, especially for restaurant servers in the United States where tips are a large part of their pay. If service was poor, you may choose to leave less.

Is my information saved?

No. All calculations run in your browser, and nothing you type is sent to our server or stored.

Helpful resources

• Tipping guide from the MIT International Students Office, with common percentages for restaurants and other services
• Publication 531: Reporting Tip Income from the IRS, on how tips are treated as income
• Our Percentage Calculator and Discount Calculator

This calculator provides estimates for general information only. Tipping customs vary, and the amount you leave is your own choice. See our Terms & Disclaimer.