Calculate your tip amount and total bill instantly. Choose from preset percentages (15%, 18%, 20%, 25%) or enter a custom tip. Split the total evenly between any number of people.
Tipping is straightforward: Tip Amount = Bill × (Tip % ÷ 100) and Total = Bill + Tip. For splitting: Per Person = Total ÷ Number of People. The challenge is doing this math quickly at a restaurant without a calculator, which is why memorizing a few shortcuts helps.
Quick mental math shortcuts: for a 20% tip, move the decimal point one place left (10% of $75 = $7.50) then double it ($15). For 15%, take 10% and add half. For 18%, take 20% and subtract 10% of that. For round numbers, these shortcuts take just seconds.
Note that in the U.S., tips are customarily calculated on the pre-tax subtotal, not the total including tax. Some people tip on the full total for simplicity, which slightly increases the tip amount. For a $60 meal with $5 in tax, tipping 20% on $60 = $12, vs tipping 20% on $65 = $13 — the difference is small either way.
Example 1 (Dinner for two): Bill = $82.50, 20% tip. Tip = $82.50 × 0.20 = $16.50. Total = $99.00. Split two ways = $49.50 each.
Example 2 (Group dinner): Bill = $245, 18% tip. Tip = $245 × 0.18 = $44.10. Total = $289.10. Split 6 ways = $48.18 per person.
Example 3 (Coffee shop): Bill = $7.50 for specialty coffee. 20% tip = $1.50. Total = $9.00. Counter service tip is optional but appreciated for complex orders.
Tipping etiquette varies by service type. Full-service restaurants: 18–22%. Bars: $1–2 per drink or 15–20%. Coffee shops: optional, 10–20% for complex orders. Food delivery: $3–5 or 15–20% of order. Haircuts: 15–20%. Hotel housekeeping: $2–5/night. Taxi/rideshare: 15–20%. When service is exceptional, 25% or more is appropriate and meaningful to service workers.
Tipping on the pre-tax subtotal is the traditional etiquette in the U.S. However, tipping on the total (including tax) is also common and results in a slightly higher tip. For a $60 meal with $5 tax, the difference between tipping 20% on $60 vs $65 is only $1. Either is acceptable — the server will appreciate your generosity either way.
The widely accepted standard for full-service restaurant tips in the United States is 18–20% for satisfactory service. 15% was the standard decades ago but has shifted upward. For exceptional service, 25% or more is appropriate. For poor service, it's acceptable to tip less (10–15%), though leaving zero tip for non-hostile poor service is generally not recommended.
In the United States, tipping is customary but legally voluntary — it's not required by law. However, many restaurant servers earn below minimum wage with the legal expectation that tips bring total compensation to minimum wage or above. Choosing not to tip in a full-service restaurant where tipping is expected directly reduces a server's income below minimum wage.
This calculator splits the tip and total evenly by default. For unequal splits, calculate each person's share by entering their individual subtotal and the agreed tip percentage. Alternatively, add all individual amounts with their respective tips, then divide by the number of people — though this gets complex quickly. Many restaurants will split checks on request.
Yes. In the United States, tips are considered taxable income by the IRS. Service workers are required to report all tip income on their tax returns. Employers are also required to report tip income. This is important context for why tipping culture is deeply embedded in U.S. service industries — it forms a significant part of workers' legal taxable compensation.