TOOLS WORX

Tip Calculator

Calculate tips and split bills between multiple people

Calculate

Enter your values below

Total bill before tip

How much to tip (typically 15-20%)

Split the bill between how many people?

About Tip Calculator

Calculate tips and split bills easily. This calculator helps you determine the appropriate tip amount and divides the total among multiple people.

Why Use This Tool?

  • ✓ Calculate tips instantly without mental math - no more awkward pauses pulling out your phone calculator at the table trying to figure out 18% of $87.43
  • ✓ Split bills fairly among any number of people with exact per-person amounts including tip, eliminating group confusion and "who owes what" arguments
  • ✓ Adjust tip percentages easily to match service quality (15% for okay, 18% for good, 20% for excellent, 25% for exceptional) and see exact dollar amounts
  • ✓ Works before or after tax - calculate tips on pre-tax amount (proper etiquette) or total with tax (easier but slightly overtips), you choose
  • ✓ Completely private and free - no app download, no account, no tracking, just quick calculations when you need them at restaurants, bars, or for deliveries

Formulas

  • Tip Amount: T = B \times \frac{P}{100}
  • Total with Tip: \text{Total} = B + T
  • Per Person: \text{Each} = \frac{\text{Total}}{N}
  • Where: B = bill amount, P = tip percentage, N = number of people

Standard Tipping Guidelines

  • 15%: Acceptable service
  • 18%: Good service
  • 20%: Excellent service
  • 25%+: Exceptional service

When to Tip

  • Restaurants: 15-20% of bill before tax
  • Bars: $1-2 per drink or 15-20% of tab
  • Delivery: 10-15% or $2-5 minimum
  • Taxis/Rideshare: 15-20% of fare

Common Questions

  • Q: Should I tip on the bill before or after tax? Technically, proper etiquette is to tip on the pre-tax amount since tax isn't part of the service. On a 100 meal with 8 tax, 20% tip should be 20 (on 100), not 21.60 (on 108). However, many people tip on the total with tax because it's easier - your waiter won't complain about the extra 1.60! Use pre-tax for strict etiquette or post-tax for simplicity. For large bills, the difference adds up: 500 + 40 tax at 20% = 100 pre-tax tip vs $108 post-tax.
  • Q: What should I tip for bad service? Even for poor service, tip at least 10-15% unless service was truly terrible or offensive. Many service issues aren't your server's fault (slow kitchen, understaffed restaurant, computer problems). If service was bad but effort was visible, tip 15%. For truly awful service (rude, neglectful, incorrect orders ignored), 10% or less. For exceptional problems, consider speaking to a manager rather than just not tipping - servers rely on tips and deserve feedback, not just punishment.
  • Q: How do I split bills when people ordered different amounts? For unequal orders, split proportionally: each person pays (their items / total bill) × (total + tip). If Bill orders 30 and Alice orders 20 on a 50 bill with 10 tip, Bill pays (30/50) × 60 = 36 and Alice pays (20/50) × 60 = 24. For roughly equal meals, just divide total equally - easier and fairer for group harmony. Use this calculator's 'split evenly' for equal division, or do proportional splits separately if needed.
  • Q: Do I tip on takeout orders? Takeout tipping is optional but appreciated. Standard: 0-10% for pickup (someone still packed your order carefully), 10-15% for delivery (driver relies on tips), 15-20% for complex orders or small restaurants where staff put extra effort in. Many people don't tip on takeout, but $2-5 or 10% shows appreciation. During COVID/tough times, generous takeout tips help struggling restaurant workers. Skip tip for chain fast food, but consider it for local restaurants you want to support.
  • Q: How does tipping work in other countries? US has high tipping culture (15-20% standard) because servers earn below minimum wage ($2-3/hour) and rely on tips. Most other countries include service in wages: Europe (5-10% or round up), Australia/Japan (no tipping, considered rude), UK (10-15% at restaurants, less than US), Canada (15-20%, similar to US), Mexico (10-15%). Always research local customs when traveling - over-tipping can offend in some cultures, under-tipping causes offense in others. Look for 'service charge' on bills which means tip is already included.

Pro Tips & Best Practices

  • 💡 Quick mental math for common percentages: For 20% tip, divide bill by 5 (85 ÷ 5 = 17 tip). For 15%, find 10% (move decimal left) then add half (80 → 8 is 10%, half is 4, so 12 total). For 18%, double the first digit plus dollar amount (40 → 4×2 = 8, so ~8 tip). These shortcuts work within a dollar or two and save phone fumbling. Verify with this calculator if you want exact amounts or are splitting bills.
  • 💡 Tip generously for service jobs you couldn't do: Many people undertip servers, bartenders, delivery drivers, and hairdressers without realizing these workers often make 2-5/hour base pay and rely on tips for rent. If you order a 10 lunch, a 2 tip (20%) might seem big, but that's all your server makes from you. Consider: would you wait tables for 2/hour? If service was good, tip well - 20-25% standard. Being known as a good tipper also gets you better service on return visits.
  • 💡 Always tip delivery drivers well, especially in bad weather: Delivery drivers use their own cars (gas, maintenance, insurance costs), risk accidents, and work in rain/snow/heat. Minimum tip: 5 or 15%, whichever is higher, even on small orders. For bad weather, far distances (3+ miles), or large/heavy orders, tip 7-10 or 20%+. App suggested tips are often too low. Remember: if you're comfortable enough not to go out in a storm, the driver deserves hazard pay for coming to you.
  • 💡 For group dinners, collect exact change or use payment apps: When splitting bills among friends, decide upfront: split evenly (easiest) or proportionally (fairer but complex). Use Venmo/Cash App/Zelle so one person can pay card and collect digitally - avoids hassle of combining credit cards or counting cash. Add tip before splitting: on 200 bill with 20% tip = 240 total ÷ 6 people = $40 each. Don't be the person who 'forgets' to chip in for tip - everyone notices.
  • 💡 Adjust tips for party size and complexity: Large groups (6+ people) often get automatic 18-20% gratuity added - check your bill before adding more. For very complex orders (multiple substitutions, separate checks, picky eaters), tip 22-25% since you made extra work. For simple orders (water, basic menu items, pleasant interaction), standard 20% is fine. Servers remember good and bad tippers - if you're a regular, consistent generosity pays off in service quality, free drinks, or overlooked minor issues.

When to Use This Tool

  • Restaurant Dining: Calculate tips for dine-in meals based on service quality, split bills evenly among friends or family, determine exact per-person amounts including tax and tip
  • Food Delivery: Calculate appropriate delivery tips based on distance, weather, and order size, ensure drivers are fairly compensated for gas and time, adjust tips for exceptional or poor service
  • Bar Tabs: Calculate tips on full bar tabs when paying by card, determine per-drink tips for cash payments, split tabs among groups when treating rounds
  • Ride Services: Calculate tips for taxi or rideshare drivers (Uber/Lyft/etc), adjust for trip length, traffic delays, or driver helpfulness, budget total trip cost including tip
  • Personal Services: Calculate tips for hairdressers, barbers, nail technicians (15-20% standard), spa services, massage therapists, determine tips for hotel staff or valet parking
  • Group Events: Split bills for birthday dinners, work lunches, or celebrations, calculate per-person amounts when some people ordered drinks and others didn't, ensure everyone contributes fairly to shared tip

Related Tools

  • Try our Percentage Calculator to calculate custom tip percentages, discounts, or tax amounts on purchases
  • Use our Loan Calculator if your restaurant bill is so large you need to finance it (just kidding - but it's there for actual loans)
  • Check our Currency Converter when tipping in foreign countries to understand local currency tipping amounts
  • Explore our Date Calculator to figure out when you last visited a restaurant if you're a regular tipper wondering about frequency

Quick Tips & Navigation