Tip Calculator
Calculate the tip and split the check between any number of people, with a rounding option and a US tipping reference.
Tip Calculator
Use the pre-tax subtotal - the usual US convention
Each person pays
$26.25
Tip amount
$17.50
Total bill
$105.00
Tip per person
$4.38
Party size
4
The check
- Bill$87.50
- Tip at 20%$17.50
- Total$105.00
- Split 4 ways$26.25
Customary tipping in the United States
Rates vary by region and situation. These are the commonly cited norms.
| Service | Customary tip |
|---|---|
| Sit-down restaurant | 18-20% of the pre-tax bill |
| Counter service / coffee | 0-10%, or round up |
| Food delivery | 15-20%, at least $5 |
| Bartender | $1-2 per drink, or 18-20% of the tab |
| Taxi or rideshare | 10-15% |
| Hair stylist / barber | 18-20% |
| Hotel housekeeping | $3-5 per night |
| Hotel bellhop | $2-3 per bag |
How the tip calculation works
Tipping arithmetic is simple; the awkward part is doing it in a restaurant while everyone waits. Two multiplications and a division cover every case:
Tip = bill × (percentage ÷ 100) Total = bill + tip Per person = total ÷ number of people
A worked example. A $87.50 bill, tipping 20%, split four ways:
- Tip: 87.50 × 0.20 = $17.50
- Total: $105.00
- Each person pays: 105.00 ÷ 4 = $26.25
The mental shortcut worth learning is to work from 10%. Move the decimal point one place left — $87.50 becomes $8.75 — and that is 10%. Double it for 20% ($17.50). Halve the 10% figure and add it for 15% ($13.13). Add half again to the 20% for 25%. You can produce any common tip rate from a single easy number.
Tip on the pre-tax amount. In the US, sales tax is added after the food and drink total and the standard convention is to tip on the pre-tax subtotal. On an $80 subtotal with $7.50 of tax, a 20% tip is $16.00 rather than $17.50 — a small difference that adds up across a year, and it is what most etiquette guides recommend. Some diners tip on the total to keep the math simple, which is a perfectly common choice.
Three situations where the standard percentage does not apply cleanly:
- A service charge or gratuity is already added. Large parties frequently have 18-20% built in. Check the itemized bill before tipping again — double-tipping is easy and expensive.
- A discount, voucher, or comped item. Tip on what the bill would have been without the discount. The server did the same work.
- Splitting unevenly. If one person had a $60 steak and another had a $12 salad, an even split is not fair. Apply the same tip percentage to each person's own subtotal instead.
The reference table below the calculator lists customary rates for restaurants, delivery, bars, taxis, hotels, and personal services in the United States. Rates elsewhere differ substantially — much of Europe and Japan tip little or not at all, and service charges are often included by law.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I tip at a restaurant?
In the United States, 18% to 20% of the pre-tax bill is customary for sit-down table service, with 20% now the common default in cities. Counter service and coffee shops usually attract nothing to 10%, or simply rounding up.
Should I tip on the total or the pre-tax amount?
The standard convention is to tip on the pre-tax subtotal, since sales tax goes to the state rather than the restaurant. On an $80 meal with $7.50 tax, a 20% tip is $16 rather than $17.50. Tipping on the total is common too and is never wrong, just slightly more generous.
How do I calculate a tip in my head?
Move the decimal point one place left to get 10%, then adjust. Double it for 20%, add half of the 10% figure for 15%, or add half of the 20% figure for 25%. On an $87.50 bill, 10% is $8.75, so 20% is $17.50.
What if a service charge is already on the bill?
Check the itemized bill before adding anything. Parties of six or more often have an automatic 18% to 20% gratuity applied. If a service charge is listed, no additional tip is expected, though rounding up for exceptional service is a normal courtesy.
How should we split an uneven check?
Rather than dividing the total evenly, apply the same tip percentage to each person's own subtotal, then have everyone pay their share plus their share of tax. An even split is fine when orders were similar and noticeably unfair when they were not.
Do tipping customs differ outside the United States?
Considerably. Much of Europe includes service in the price and tipping 5% to 10% is generous rather than expected. In Japan tipping is not customary and can cause confusion. Australia and New Zealand tip modestly. US tipping norms are among the highest in the world.
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