How the tip math works
A tip is a percentage of the bill: multiply the bill by the percentage and divide by 100. Twenty percent of $100 is $20, so the total is $120. When several people split the check, this calculator divides the total — bill plus tip — by the number of people, which is the fair way to do it: everyone shares the tip in the same proportion as the meal. On that same $100 bill at 20%, four people pay $30 each. Dividing only the bill and leaving the tip to whoever feels generous is how arguments start; the equal split avoids the whole discussion.
The round-up option handles a small social nicety. Card receipts and cash both get simpler when the total is a whole number, so the calculator lifts the total to the next whole dollar and folds the extra cents into the tip. A bill of $83.40 with a 15% tip comes to $95.91; rounded up, the total is $96.00 and the tip becomes $12.60 — the server gains 9 cents and nobody has to think about coins.
How much to tip: a quick guide
| Situation | Usual tip |
|---|---|
| Sit-down restaurant, adequate service | 15% |
| Sit-down restaurant, good service | 18–20% |
| Exceptional service | 25% or more |
| Food delivery | 15–20% (a few dollars minimum) |
| Bartender | $1–2 per drink, or 15–20% of the tab |
| Takeout / coffee counter | Optional — loose change to 10% |
| Hair salon, taxi, hotel housekeeping | 15–20%, or $2–5 per night for housekeeping |
These are United States customs. In much of Europe a service charge is already included and rounding up is enough; in Japan tipping is not customary at all and can cause confusion. Wherever you are, when service was genuinely poor it is reasonable to tip less — and, ideally, to say why politely rather than letting a small tip speak in code.
Splitting fairly when people ordered differently
Equal splits are fastest, but they sting when one person had a salad and water and another had the steak and two cocktails. Two compromises work well in practice. The first is splitting by subtotal: each person pays their own items plus the same tip percentage on those items (and a share of any shared dishes). The second is the generous shortcut: the person who ordered most covers the tip. Either way, running the numbers here first — before the server returns with the check — keeps the end of a good meal from turning into a spreadsheet session.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I tip at a restaurant?
In the United States, 15% is a baseline for adequate table service, 18–20% is standard for good service, and 25% or more rewards exceptional service. For takeout and coffee counters, tipping is optional and usually a dollar or two; for delivery, 15–20% of the bill is customary.
Should the tip be calculated before or after tax?
Tradition says tip on the pre-tax amount, because the tip is for service, not for the government's share. In practice many people tip on the total — the difference on a typical bill is a dollar or so. This calculator tips on whatever bill amount you enter, so enter the pre-tax subtotal if you prefer the traditional method.
How does splitting the bill work?
The calculator adds the tip to the bill and divides the grand total by the number of people, so each person pays an equal share of both. A $100 bill with a 20% tip split four ways is $120 ÷ 4 = $30 each. Amounts are rounded to the nearest cent, so shares can differ from the exact total by a cent or two.
What does the round-up option do?
It raises the grand total to the next whole dollar and adds the difference to the tip. A $95.91 total becomes $96.00, with the extra 9 cents going to the server. It keeps card receipts and cash simple and is slightly generous by design.
Private by design: your bill is calculated in your browser. Nothing is sent to or stored on a server.