Tip Calculator
Calculate the tip and total for any bill, and split it evenly among your party.
Your bill
15-20% is standard at a US sit-down restaurant.
Splits the tip and total evenly.
Total bill (with tip)
$100.89
$15.39 tip on $85.5
Tip per person
$3.85
Total per person
$25.22
Estimate calculated from the numbers you entered. This is not financial, tax, or legal advice — always consult a qualified professional before making significant financial decisions.
How the Tip Calculator works
Enter the bill amount, pick a tip percentage, and this tool works out the tip, the total, and — if you're splitting the check — what each person owes. It's pure arithmetic with no hidden assumptions: the tip is always the percentage you choose, applied to the bill amount you enter.
The formula
Tip = Bill × (Tip % ÷ 100) · Total = Bill + Tip · Per person = Total ÷ PeopleIf you're splitting the bill, the calculator divides both the tip and the total evenly across everyone in the party. If your group wants to split unevenly — say, because some people ordered more — you can still use this tool for the overall tip and total, then divide the shares yourselves based on what each person actually ordered.
A worked example
A $85.50 dinner bill with an 18% tip comes to a $15.39 tip and a $100.89total. Split four ways, that's $3.85 in tip per person and $25.22 total per person.
Typical US tipping ranges
- Restaurant server / bartender: 15-20% of the bill, more for exceptional service.
- Taxi or rideshare driver: 15-20% of the fare.
- Coffee shop / counter service: optional, often a flat $1-2 or a smaller percentage than full-service dining.
- Hair stylist or barber: 15-20% of the service cost.
- Food delivery: 15-20% of the order, with a higher minimum in bad weather or for a large or difficult delivery.
These are cultural norms, not legal requirements — the right amount always depends on service quality and your own budget.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I tip at a restaurant?
At a US sit-down restaurant, 15-20% of the pre-tax bill is the standard range for good service, with 20% increasingly common as the default. Many people tip on the total bill including tax for simplicity, though technically the tip is meant to reward the service, not the sales tax collected on top of it — either approach is widely accepted.
Should I tip on the pre-tax or post-tax amount?
Either is fine and both are common in practice. Tipping on the pre-tax subtotal is the more literal interpretation (you're tipping on what the server actually sold you, not the tax the state collects), but tipping on the total after tax is simpler and the difference is usually small. This calculator uses whatever amount you enter as the bill.
Do I need to tip if the receipt already includes a service charge?
Check first — many restaurants automatically add an 18-20% "automatic gratuity" or "service charge" for parties above a certain size (often 6-8 people), which is disclosed on the menu or receipt. If that charge is already there, an additional tip is optional and up to you; tipping again on top is a nice gesture but not expected.
Is tipping different for other services besides restaurants?
Yes — norms vary a lot by service. Common US guidelines: 15-20% for a restaurant server or bartender, 15-20% for a taxi or rideshare driver, $1-2 per drink at a bar, 15-20% for a hair stylist or barber, and $2-5 per bag for hotel bellhops or $2-5/night for housekeeping. This calculator works for any service — just enter the amount and the percentage you want to leave.
Why does tipping matter so much in the US?
In many US states, restaurants are legally allowed to pay tipped employees a lower base wage than the standard minimum wage, as long as tips make up the difference (a "tip credit"). That system varies by state — a handful require the full minimum wage regardless of tips — but it is part of why tipping generosity is treated as more than optional courtesy in US restaurant culture, unlike in many other countries.
What actually moves this number
Specific levers, and roughly what each one is worth. Not “save more” — the things that change the figure above by an amount you can measure.
Check for an automatic gratuity before adding a tip
Standard for large parties and increasingly common otherwise. Adding 20% on top of an 18% service charge is a costly reflex, and the line is easy to miss on a long bill.
Ask whether a "service fee" reaches the staff
An automatic gratuity is a tip by another name. A service fee may be revenue to the business, in which case an additional tip is reasonable. They are not the same line even when they look alike.
Tipping on the pre-tax subtotal is standard
Both conventions are accepted. On a $100 meal the difference is a dollar or two, so it is not worth agonizing over — but the subtotal is the more common basis.
What this calculator does not cover
Every calculator simplifies, and the useful thing is knowing exactly where. These are the specific gaps between this estimate and your real situation:
- Tipping norms vary by service, region, and situation, and they are conventions rather than rules. The percentages offered here are common US practice, not an obligation.
- It does not know whether a service charge or automatic gratuity is already on your bill, which is standard for large parties and increasingly common elsewhere.
- Whether to tip on the pre-tax or post-tax total is a matter of preference; the calculator lets you choose, and the difference is small.
- It does not model tip pooling or how a tip is distributed among staff, which varies by establishment.
For anything that turns on an exact figure, use the primary sources below or a qualified professional. How these limits are decided and disclosed is described in the editorial standards.
Sources