Calculate the tip amount and total bill with bill splitting for any party size, plus a country-by-country tipping guide.
Quick-pick service quality presets (10% poor to 25% excellent), live tip slider, optional pre-tax with separate tax %, and three rounding modes (none, round up total, round per person). Visualizes tip per person and total per person side by side.
Disclaimer: Tipping norms vary widely by country. In the US, 18 to 20% is standard for sit-down restaurants; in Japan and South Korea, tipping is unusual and can feel rude.
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Calculator information
📋 How to use this calculator
- Enter the total bill before or after tax (toggle available). Example: $85.00.
- Pick a service-quality preset: Poor 10%, Fair 15%, Good 18%, Great 20%, Excellent 25%, or drag the slider for a custom percentage.
- If you choose pre-tax mode, enter the applicable sales tax rate (typically 6-9% in most US states; e.g., NYC 8.875%, Chicago 10.25%).
- Set the number of people for splitting the bill (1-50) and choose a rounding mode: per person, total, or no rounding.
- Review the results: total tip, tip per person, total bill per person, and grand total.
- Tip: In the US, 18-20% gratuity for sit-down service is the social norm; counter service, takeout, and quick-service often expect 10-15% or no tip at all.
🧮 Tip and Bill Split
tip = subtotal * tip_percent ; total = subtotal + tax + tip ; per_person = ceil(total / n_people)
- subtotal = food/beverage price before tax and tip
- tax = subtotal * tax_percent (in pre-tax mode)
- tip_percent = tip percentage applied to the subtotal (or to the total in post-tax mode)
- n_people = number of people splitting the bill
- ceil = round up, optional
In the US, tipping is customary at sit-down restaurants and is considered a meaningful part of server income because the federal tipped minimum wage is $2.13/hour under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), with employers required to make up the difference if tips plus base do not reach the regular minimum wage. Automatic gratuity (often 18-20%) may be added for parties of 6 or more.
💡 Worked example: Dinner for three at a restaurant with a $120.00 bill
Given:- Pre-tax subtotal: $120.00
- Sales tax: 8% (typical urban combined rate)
- Tip: 18% (Good service)
- Number of people: 3
- Rounding: per person to the nearest dollar
Steps:- Tax = 120.00 * 0.08 = $9.60.
- Tip = 120.00 * 0.18 = $21.60.
- Total bill = 120.00 + 9.60 + 21.60 = $151.20.
- Per person before rounding = 151.20 / 3 = $50.40.
- Rounded up to the nearest dollar = $51.00 per person.
Result: Total tip $21.60, grand total $151.20, $51.00 per person.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What is the standard tip percentage in the US?
For sit-down restaurant service the customary range is 18-20% of the pre-tax subtotal, with 15% considered the minimum for acceptable service and 25%+ for exceptional service. Counter service, coffee shops, and takeout typically see 10-15% or rounded-up change. Bartenders are usually tipped $1-2 per drink or 20% of the tab. Hairstylists, taxi drivers, and food delivery drivers generally receive 15-20%.
What is the difference between sales tax and a service charge?
Sales tax is a government-imposed consumption tax collected by the seller and remitted to state and local revenue departments; rates vary by jurisdiction (e.g., 7.25% in California, 6.25% in Texas, 4% base in New York). A service charge is a mandatory fee added by the business itself (often 18-20% for large parties or banquet events) and, unlike a voluntary tip, may legally belong to the employer under DOL guidance unless the policy explicitly distributes it to staff. Always check the receipt to see whether a service charge has already been added before tipping.
Should tip be calculated pre-tax or post-tax?
The standard etiquette recommendation in the US is to tip on the pre-tax subtotal because tax is not a service the server provides. Many restaurants print suggested tip amounts at the bottom of receipts based on the post-tax total, which inflates the suggestion by roughly 0.5-2 percentage points. This calculator defaults to pre-tax, with a toggle for post-tax.
How do I split a bill when portions are uneven?
For a fair itemized split, total each person's own items, then add their proportional share of tax and tip. For example, if person A's items make up 60% of the subtotal, A pays 60% of the tax and tip as well. This calculator uses an even split; for itemized splits, apps such as Splitwise or Tab handle line-by-line allocation automatically.
Are tips taxable income?
Yes. The IRS treats cash and charged tips as taxable wages. Employees are required to report tips of $20 or more per month to their employer (Form 4070) and on Form 4137 if not reported through payroll. Employers withhold income, Social Security, and Medicare taxes on reported tips and report them on Form W-2. Large food and beverage establishments must also file Form 8027 for annual tip reporting.
📚 Sources & references
Last updated: May 11, 2026