Tip Calculator
Tip amount and per-person split, rounded cleanly.
Calculate the tip on any bill and split it between any number of people. Choose a tip percentage, round the total, and see exactly what each person owes.
Use the pre-tax subtotal if you tip on that.
Rounding adds to the tip so the bill is always covered.
Each person pays
$50.15
$100.30 split 2 ways
How the Tip Calculator works
Work out the tip, the total, and each person's share in one step. The rounding option bumps the final total to a whole number so you can settle up without counting coins.
Also known as: gratuity calculator · how much to tip · split the bill calculator · calculator with tips
What is customary where
Tipping conventions vary enormously and being wrong in either direction is uncomfortable. In the United States, 15% to 20% is standard in restaurants and is effectively part of the wage, because tipped minimum wages are lower.
In the UK, 10% to 12.5% is common and a service charge is frequently added to the bill already, in which case an additional tip is not expected. In much of continental Europe, rounding up or leaving 5% to 10% is typical.
In Japan tipping is not customary and can cause confusion or offence. The same is broadly true across much of East Asia, and in Australia and New Zealand it is appreciated rather than expected.
Before or after tax
The convention in the US is to tip on the pre-tax amount, though many people tip on the total, which is more generous by roughly the tax rate.
In the UK and EU, prices are quoted inclusive of VAT, so the question does not really arise and the tip is on the bill as presented.
Where a service charge has already been added, that is the tip. Adding a further tip on top is a choice rather than an obligation, and asking whether service is included is entirely normal.
Splitting a bill
The simplest split divides the total including tip by the number of people. It is fast and it overcharges anyone who ate lightly.
Itemised splitting is fairer and slower, and it needs a decision about shared items and about how the tip and any service charge are apportioned. The usual convention is to apportion them in proportion to each person's share.
Rounding up to a convenient figure per person is the common practical compromise, with the excess going to the tip. It avoids the arithmetic and the awkwardness, and it usually costs each person less than a pound.
Where the money goes
Tips are frequently pooled and shared with kitchen and support staff rather than kept by the server who received them, and the arrangements vary by establishment.
In the UK the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 requires that tips be passed to workers in full and allocated fairly, and requires employers to have a written policy. That was a response to widespread deductions by employers.
Card tips and cash tips are treated differently in some places, with cash more likely to go directly to staff. Asking is reasonable, and in a place with a fair policy the answer will be straightforward.
The wider argument
Tipping is contested. It creates income insecurity for workers, and research has documented that tip amounts correlate with factors unrelated to service quality, including the server's appearance and race.
Some restaurants have moved to service-included pricing with higher wages, and the results have been mixed, with several reverting after finding that customers compared their higher menu prices unfavourably against competitors.
None of which helps at the point of paying a bill. The practical position is to follow local convention, tip on the pre-tax amount where that is the norm, check whether service is already included, and be aware that in tipped-wage countries the tip is not discretionary in the way it feels.
Where to go next
The Tip question rarely arrives on its own. These are the ones that usually come with it:
- Discount Calculator — Final price after one or two discounts, plus tax.
- Loan & EMI Calculator — Monthly payment, total interest, and a full amortization schedule.
- Mortgage Calculator — Full monthly cost including tax, insurance, and PMI.
- Car Affordability Calculator — Worked back from income, with running costs taken out first.
Not financial advice. This calculator is for planning and illustration, not financial advice. Real products carry fees, taxes, and terms it does not model. Confirm figures with your lender or a qualified adviser before committing.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I tip?
In the US, 18-20% is standard for sit-down restaurant service, 15% for adequate service, and 25% for exceptional. Counter service and takeout typically get 0-10%. Outside North America, tipping norms are far lower and often built into the bill.
Should I tip on the pre-tax or post-tax total?
Etiquette guides say pre-tax, and that is what servers generally expect. Tipping on the post-tax figure adds a few percent and is a common way to round up generously.
What if a service charge is already included?
Check the bill for 'service charge' or 'gratuity included', common for large parties and in Europe. If it is there, no additional tip is expected, though rounding up a small amount is still appreciated.
How do I split a bill unevenly?
Calculate the tip on the full bill here, then divide it in proportion to what each person ordered rather than by headcount. For most groups an even split is faster and the difference is a dollar or two.
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