Tip Calculator

A standard tip at restaurants is typically 15–20% of the pre-tax bill amount. 15% is considered acceptable for adequate service, 18% is standard for good service, and 20% or more is appropriate for exceptional service. In major US cities, 20% has become the new norm.

Calculate the total tip amount, add it to the bill total, then divide by the number of people splitting the bill. For example, on an $85 bill with a 18% tip split between 3 people: tip = $15.30, total = $100.30, per person = $33.43.

Traditionally, gratuity calculation is based on the pre-tax subtotal because sales tax goes to the government, not the service provider. Tipping on the post-tax amount means you are essentially tipping the tax itself, which inflates the tip beyond what the service warrants. For example, on a $60 meal with 8% tax ($4.80), a 20% tip on the pre-tax amount is $12, while a tip on the post-tax amount would be $12.96 — a $0.96 difference that you do not need to cover. Most etiquette experts agree that pre-tax is the correct baseline.

The fairest method is to calculate each person's share based on what they actually ordered, then divide the tip and tax proportionally. For example, if Person A orders $20 worth of food and Person B orders $40, Person A pays one-third of the total bill including an equal share of the tip and tax, while Person B pays two-thirds. Alternatively, you can split the tip evenly and charge each person only for their own items. Our tip calculator handles both methods — choose split bill evenly for simplicity or split by item cost for fairness.

Tipping customs vary widely by country and service type. In Japan and South Korea, tipping can be considered offensive or confusing because excellent service is already standard. In many European countries, a service charge is included in the bill and additional tipping is optional — rounding up or leaving small change is customary. In the United States, tipping is expected at sit-down restaurants, bars, food trucks, and for ride-share drivers. However, tipping is generally not expected at fast-food counters, coffee shops (though leaving coins is appreciated), or for self-service experiences. Always research local norms before traveling to avoid awkward situations.