Tip Calculator
Quickly calculate the tip amount and total bill, and split it evenly among your group.
Tip Calculator
Calculate your tip instantly.
Total Bill (with tip)
$0Working Out the Tip
Tipping is straightforward arithmetic complicated by social convention. The maths takes a second; knowing what percentage is expected, and whether service has already been charged, is the part that trips people up.
Enter the bill, choose a percentage, and split it if you need to. The calculator handles the rounding and the division so nobody at the table has to do it on a napkin.
The Formula
Tip = Bill × (Percentage ÷ 100)
Total = Bill + Tip · Per Person = Total ÷ Number of People
A $85 bill at 18% produces a $15.30 tip and a $100.30 total. Split four ways, that's $25.08 each.
Doing It in Your Head
Every mental shortcut starts from 10%, which is just moving the decimal point one place left. On a $64 bill, 10% is $6.40.
| Target | Method | On a $64 bill |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | Move the decimal one place | $6.40 |
| 15% | 10% plus half of it again | $9.60 |
| 18% | 20% minus a tenth of that | $11.52 |
| 20% | Double the 10% figure | $12.80 |
| 25% | Divide by four | $16.00 |
Most people round up to a convenient number from there. Rounding a $11.52 tip to $12 costs almost nothing and makes settling up faster.
Customs Vary Enormously
Tipping norms differ so widely between countries that applying the wrong one is either insulting or expensive. A rough guide:
| Region | Restaurant norm | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| United States, Canada | 18–22% | Wages often depend on tips; not tipping is a strong statement |
| United Kingdom, Ireland | 10–15% | Often already added as a service charge |
| Western Europe | 5–10% | Service usually included; rounding up is common |
| Japan, South Korea | None | Tipping can cause genuine offence |
| Middle East, South Asia | 10% | Widely appreciated, frequently added to the bill |
| Australia, New Zealand | 0–10% | Optional, reserved for notably good service |
Always check the bill before adding anything. A service charge already included means an additional tip is entirely optional — and in many places, double-tipping is simply a mistake.
Beyond Restaurants
- Bars — commonly a small amount per drink, or the usual percentage on a running tab.
- Taxis and rideshare — rounding up to a convenient figure, or roughly 10% on longer journeys.
- Delivery — a flat amount is typical, often higher in bad weather or for a long distance.
- Hairdressers and personal services — similar to restaurant percentages where tipping is customary at all.
- Hotel staff — a set amount per bag or per night rather than a percentage.
- Coffee counters — entirely optional, and the small prompts on card terminals are just prompts.
Splitting Without Awkwardness
Two approaches, and the choice usually comes down to how similar everyone's order was.
Split Evenly
Divide the total including tip by the number of people. Fast, and fine when orders were broadly comparable. Gets unfair quickly if one person had a starter and three courses.
Split by Order
Each person covers their own items plus the same tip percentage on their share. Fairer, slower, and the right call when the bill is genuinely lopsided.
Whichever you use, calculate the tip on the pre-tax subtotal if you want to be precise. Tipping on tax is common and costs a little more, but nobody will comment either way.
Frequently Asked Questions
The pre-tax subtotal is technically correct, since tax isn't part of the service provided. In practice most people tip on the total because it's simpler, and the difference is usually a dollar or two.
Then no additional tip is expected. Some people add a small amount for exceptional service, but it's entirely optional. Check the bill carefully — service charges are often printed in small type near the total.
It depends where you are. In much of the US and Canada, 18% to 20% has become the standard for ordinary service and 15% now reads as slightly below par. Elsewhere 15% remains generous or even above the norm.
Calculate on the original amount before the discount. The server delivered the full experience regardless of what you paid, and tipping on the reduced figure effectively passes your saving on to them.
Reducing the tip is a reasonable response to genuinely poor service, though it's worth considering whether the fault lay with the server or the kitchen. Where staff depend on tips for income, leaving nothing is a significant act — raising the issue with a manager is usually more effective.
Generally optional and lower than for table service, since there's no ongoing service to reward. A small amount is a common courtesy for large or complicated orders, but nobody expects a full percentage.