How to Use This Tip Calculator
Three inputs, instant answers:
- Bill amount — the check total (pre- or post-tax, your preference; tipping pre-tax is the traditional standard, post-tax is increasingly common).
- Tip percentage — tap a preset (10/15/18/20/25%) or drag the slider for anything from 0–100%.
- People — set the split and per-person amounts appear automatically.
Results update live: tip amount, grand total, and — when splitting — each person's tip and share. The copy button formats the whole breakdown for pasting into a group chat.
The Math (and a Mental Shortcut)
Example — $84.60 bill, 18%, 4 people
| Tip | 84.60 × 0.18 | $15.23 |
| Total | 84.60 + 15.23 | $99.83 |
| Each pays | 99.83 ÷ 4 | $24.96 |
No-phone fallback: move the decimal for 10% ($8.46), double it for 20% ($16.92), halve the 10% and add for 15% ($12.69). Close enough for any table.
US Tipping Norms by Service
| Service | Customary |
|---|---|
| Sit-down restaurant | 15–20% (18–20% for good service) |
| Bar | $1–2 per drink or 15–20% of the tab |
| Food delivery | 10–15%, $3–5 minimum |
| Takeout counter | Optional, 0–10% |
| Taxi / rideshare | 10–15% |
| Hair / spa | 15–20% |
| Hotel housekeeping | $2–5 per night |
Check the bill first for an auto-added service charge (common for parties of 6+) — when present, additional tip is optional. In the US, tipped-wage laws make gratuity a genuine part of server income, which is why norms run higher than most of the world.
Tipping Around the World
- Japan, South Korea, China: not customary — can even cause confusion; excellent service is the default.
- Western Europe: service is often included ("service compris"); rounding up or 5–10% for good service is appreciated, not required.
- UK: 10–12.5% where no service charge appears on the bill.
- Canada: mirrors US norms (15–20%).
- Middle East / Southeast Asia: varies — service charges common in hotels; small cash tips welcomed elsewhere.
Traveling? The safest sequence: check the bill for included service, then apply the local norm — not your home one. The currency selector in the site header formats this calculator for wherever you are.
Splitting Fairly: Options Beyond Equal Shares
Equal splits are simplest, and this calculator defaults to them. When the table's orders differ wildly:
- Itemized fairness: each pays their items +% share of tax and tip — more bookkeeping, cleaner consciences.
- Rotating host: one pays fully, rotate next time — great for regular groups.
- Round-up kindness: equal split, rounded up per person; the small overage pads the tip.
Group-trip and shared-expense math beyond one bill goes well with the Percentage Calculator; sales-tax questions with the Sales Tax Calculator.
The Bottom Line
Tipping is thirty seconds of arithmetic wrapped in social pressure — remove the arithmetic and only the generosity decision remains. Presets for the standard cases, a slider for judgment calls, and a split that ends the "who owes what" ritual before it starts.