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Tip Calculator

Work out the tip and split a bill between any number of people, with or without tax included.

Your details

$
%
people

Details

%

Set this if you prefer to tip on the pre-tax amount

This calculator runs entirely on your device. Nothing you enter is uploaded, stored, or sold. How this works

Each person pays

$25.92

$103.68 total between 4

Save these results

Includes your inputs, the full breakdown, and every row of the table.

Tip

$17.28

Total

$103.68

Tip per person

$4.32

Effective tip rate

20.0%

Breakdown
Bill
$86.40
Tip at 20% of the full bill
$17.28
Total
$103.68
Split 4 ways
$25.92
At other tip percentages
TipAmountTotalEach
10%$8.64$95.04$23.76
15%$12.96$99.36$24.84
18%$15.55$101.95$25.49
20%$17.28$103.68$25.92
22%$19.01$105.41$26.35
25%$21.60$108.00$27.00

What this means

  • Tipping on the full bill including tax is simpler and slightly more generous — the difference is usually a dollar or two.
  • Check for an automatic service charge before adding a tip. Large groups are frequently charged gratuity by default, and tipping again on top is a common and expensive mistake.

How the tip calculation works

Tipping arithmetic is simple but easy to fumble at the table, and the two decisions that change the answer are whether to tip on the pre-tax subtotal and how to handle the split. Traditionally the tip is calculated on the cost of the food and service rather than on tax, since the tax is not something the restaurant provides. In practice most people tip on the total because it is faster, and on a typical bill the difference amounts to a dollar or two.

The quickest mental method is to find ten percent by moving the decimal point one place left, then scale it: double it for twenty percent, add half of it for fifteen. Rounding up the total or each person's share avoids the awkward small change and usually costs less than a dollar, which is why splitting the rounded figure is the practical choice for a group.

Frequently asked questions

Should I tip on the pre-tax or post-tax amount?

The conventional answer is pre-tax, because tax is a government charge rather than part of the service. In practice the difference on a typical restaurant bill is small, and most people tip on the total for simplicity. Either is perfectly acceptable.

What if a service charge has already been added?

Then the tip is generally already covered and adding another is optional. Restaurants commonly apply an automatic gratuity to parties above a certain size, and it appears as a separate line rather than being folded into the prices. Always read the bill before adding anything.

How do I split a bill fairly when people ordered differently?

An even split is quickest and works when orders were broadly similar. When they were not, calculate each person's items, then apply the same tip percentage and tax proportionally to each subtotal. Splitting evenly after one person ordered the most expensive thing on the menu is the usual source of friction.

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Disclaimer. This calculator is provided for general information and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, legal, medical, or engineering advice. Results are estimates based on the inputs you provide and the assumptions described above. Confirm any figure with a qualified professional before acting on it.