Tip Calculator
Calculate tips and split bills evenly among your group
What is a tip calculator?
A tip calculator computes the gratuity for a restaurant bill or service based on your chosen tip percentage. It can also split the total evenly among multiple people, showing each person's share of both the tip and the bill. This eliminates mental math and ensures fair, accurate bill splitting every time.
Total with Tip
$102.00
20% tip on $85.00 bill
Tip Amount
$17.00
Per Person Total
$51.00
Split between 2 people
Per Person Tip
$8.50
How is tip calculated?
Tip calculation uses simple multiplication to determine gratuity, then divides the total evenly when splitting among multiple people. The formulas ensure every cent is accounted for.
Tip Formula
Where Bill is the pre-tip total, and Tip Rate is the tip percentage expressed as a decimal (e.g., 20% = 0.20).
Per Person Formula
The total bill including tip is divided equally among all people in the group.
Variable Definitions
- Bill: The pre-tip total amount of the bill
- Tip Rate: The tip percentage as a decimal (e.g., 20% = 0.20)
- Tip: The gratuity amount (Bill × Tip Rate)
- Number of People: How many people are splitting the bill
When splitting, any remainder cents from rounding are distributed to ensure the total always adds up correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions
In the United States, standard tip percentages for sit-down restaurants range from 15% to 20% of the pre-tax bill. A 15% tip is considered acceptable, 18% is average, and 20% or more indicates excellent service. For buffets, 10% is common, while delivery drivers typically receive 15-20%.
Tip more than 20% for exceptional service, large parties, complex orders, or during holidays. Tip less (but at least 15%) if service was noticeably poor. For very large bills, 15-18% is still generous in dollar terms. Never penalize servers for kitchen delays or food quality issues.
Tipping is not legally required in the US, but it is a strong cultural expectation. Many service workers earn below minimum wage and depend on tips for their livelihood. Skipping a tip is considered socially unacceptable unless the service was truly egregious.
Etiquette experts generally recommend tipping on the pre-tax subtotal, since the tax goes to the government rather than reflecting the cost of your meal. However, tipping on the post-tax total is also common and results in only a slightly higher tip amount.
Tipping customs vary widely. In Japan and South Korea, tipping is considered rude. In most of Europe, a service charge is included in the bill, and small additional tips (5-10%) are optional. In Canada and Mexico, tipping norms are similar to the US at 15-20%. Always research local customs before traveling.
For delivery orders, a 15-20% tip is customary since the driver uses their own time and vehicle. For takeout, tipping is optional but appreciated — 10% or a few dollars is a nice gesture, especially for large or complex orders. During the pandemic, tipping on takeout became more common.