Tip Calculator
Free tip calculator. Work out the tip amount, total, and per-person share for any bill, by percentage or flat amount. No signup.
A tip calculator works out the tip, the total including tip, and each person’s share when the bill is split. You can tip by percentage or enter a flat amount. With the defaults — an $85 bill, an 18% tip, split two ways — the tip is $15.30, the total is $100.30, and each person pays $50.15.
The arithmetic
- Percentage mode: tip = bill × tip% ÷ 100
- Flat mode: tip = the flat amount you enter
- Total: bill + tip
- Per person: total ÷ number of people
The tip is calculated on the bill as entered and then split evenly; there is no per-person weighting in this tool. If the bill already contains a service charge, do not add a tip on top of it.
Worked example with the defaults
| Step | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Tip | $85 × 18 ÷ 100 | $15.30 |
| Total | $85 + $15.30 | $100.30 |
| Per person (2) | $100.30 ÷ 2 | $50.15 |
Switching to flat mode with the default $15 gives a total of $100.00 and $50.00 each — an effective tip of 17.6%. Flat tipping is handy when the service was good but the bill is small, so a percentage would round to something awkward.
Common bill sizes at common rates
| Bill | 15% tip | 18% tip | 20% tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40 | $6.00 | $7.20 | $8.00 |
| $60 | $9.00 | $10.80 | $12.00 |
| $85 | $12.75 | $15.30 | $17.00 |
| $120 | $18.00 | $21.60 | $24.00 |
| $200 | $30.00 | $36.00 | $40.00 |
In the United States, 18% is a common default for table service, 15% for standard service, and 20% or more for excellent service. Check local custom elsewhere; in many countries a service charge is already included and an extra tip is optional.
Common mistakes
- Tipping on the post-tax total. Tipping on the pre-tax subtotal is the norm; tipping on tax inflates the tip slightly.
- Double-tipping when service is included. A service charge line means the tip is already there.
- Splitting before adding the tip. Split the total that includes the tip so everyone pays the same effective rate.
- Rounding down. Round the per-person share up to whole dollars for cash and payment apps.
Should I tip on the pre-tax or post-tax amount?
Pre-tax is the accepted convention in the US, since tax is not a service. Many people simply tip on the total for convenience; the difference is usually small. On an $85 bill with 8% sales tax, the tax is about $6.80, and an 18% tip on the post-tax total would be $16.52 instead of $15.30 — roughly $1.22 more.
What is the difference between a service charge and a tip?
A service charge is added by the venue and may or may not reach the staff. A tip is discretionary and goes to the server. If a service charge is present, an additional tip is optional.
How do I tip for takeout?
There is no fixed rule. Many people tip 10–15% for takeout or use the flat option for a small order. The default percentages here are intended for full table service.
How does tipping compare across countries?
US sit-down service generally expects 15–20%. Canada is similar but often slightly lower. Much of Europe includes a service charge, with rounding up or a few percent customary. Australia and New Zealand typically do not expect a tip at all. When travelling, check the local norm before the calculator sets your expectation.
How do I tip on a bill that already includes tax?
Enter the pre-tax subtotal as the bill for the convention-correct result, or enter the full total for a slightly more generous tip. The calculator does not separate tax, so whichever figure you enter is the one the percentage applies to.
Should the tip change for a large group?
Many restaurants add an automatic service charge of 18% or more for parties above six or eight people. Check the receipt before adding anything; if a service charge is already there, set the tip to zero.
Splitting the bill
The split field divides the total — bill plus tip — evenly between any number of people, which covers the common restaurant case: one shared bill, one tip, equal shares. Enter the number of diners and the per-person figure updates alongside the tip and total.
Even splitting is the fair default when everyone shared the same food. It is less fair when one person had the steak and another a side salad; for unequal shares, work out each person’s subtotal first, add their share of the tip, and total them separately.
Tip math is a percentage calculation, and the percentage calculator handles the reverse question of what percent a given tip represents. When the group is larger or the shares are unequal, use the split field above to divide the total evenly between people.