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Tip Calculator

Tip percentage

Tip amount

$10.00

Total bill (with tip)
$60.00

Estimates for educational purposes — not financial, medical, or legal advice. See terms.

How tipping works

When you tip, you multiply the bill amount by the tip percentage to get the tip amount, then add it to the original bill to get the total. For a $60 bill with a 20% tip:

  • Tip: $60 × 0.20 = $12.00
  • Total: $60 + $12 = $72.00

When splitting, the total is divided equally by the number of people. Two people splitting that $72 total each pay $36 — which includes $6 each in tip.

Tipping conventions by situation

Sit-down restaurants (US): 18–20% is the baseline expectation for decent service. The 15% floor that was standard in the 1980s hasn’t kept pace with inflation, so treating 15% as the new floor and 20% as the standard is fairer to servers, most of whom earn well below minimum wage before tips.

Fast casual and counter service: Tipping is increasingly expected at the point-of-sale screen, but it is genuinely optional. If there is no table service, tipping $1–2 or choosing “no tip” is both acceptable.

Delivery: $3–5 minimum, or 15–20% of the order total — whichever is more — is appropriate. Delivery workers often drive their own vehicles and cover fuel costs. Bad weather, distance, and complex orders all justify tipping higher.

Bars: $1–2 per drink for simple orders (draft beer, well drinks); 20% for craft cocktails or when running a tab.

Outside the US: In the UK, 10–12.5% is common; service charges are often already included — check before adding more. In France, service is included by law; small rounding up is appreciated but not required. In Japan, tipping is considered rude and may be refused.

Example: dinner for four

A table of four runs up a $180 bill at a restaurant. The service was good, so the group decides on 20%.

  • Tip: $180 × 0.20 = $36.00
  • Total: $180 + $36 = $216.00
  • Per person: $216 ÷ 4 = $54.00 (of which $9 is tip)

If one person had a significantly smaller order, the fairest approach is to have each person pay their own subtotal and then split the tip proportionally. But for most restaurant meals where everyone ordered similar amounts, the equal split keeps things simple.

Pre-tax vs post-tax tipping

Tipping on the pre-tax subtotal is the technically correct approach — you are rewarding service, not the government’s cut. On a $60 meal with 8% sales tax, tipping 20% on the subtotal gives a $12 tip; tipping 20% on the $64.80 post-tax total gives a $12.96 tip. The $0.96 difference matters little in practice, and most people tip on whichever number is easiest to read on the check. For other percentage questions (discount, markup, percent change), the percentage calculator covers the general case.

Frequently asked questions

Should I tip on the pre-tax or post-tax total?

In the US, tipping on the pre-tax subtotal is technically correct — the server didn't cook your food and doesn't set tax policy. In practice, most people tip on the post-tax total shown on the check because it is easier. The difference on a $60 bill at 20% tip in a city with 8.5% sales tax is about $1. This calculator applies the tip to whatever bill amount you enter, so use the subtotal or the final total — just be consistent.

What is the standard tip percentage in the US?

For sit-down restaurant service, 18–20% is the current baseline. 15% signals mediocre service; 25% or more signals excellent service or a desire to be generous. For takeout, 10–15% is common but not obligatory. For bartenders, $1–2 per drink or 15–20% of the bar tab is standard. For delivery, $3–5 minimum or 15–20%, whichever is higher, especially in bad weather.

How is the per-person share calculated?

The calculator adds the tip to the bill to get the total, then divides equally by the number of people. If four people share a $100 bill with a 20% tip, the total is $120 and each person owes $30 — including $5 in tip. The split assumes everyone ordered roughly the same amount; if the spending was very uneven, use the total bill and have each person pay their own subtotal plus a proportional tip.

Is it rude to tip less than 20%?

Tipping norms vary by country and context. In the US, 18–20% is expected for table service at restaurants — anything under 15% is generally read as a comment on the service rather than a budget decision. In many European countries, rounding up or leaving 5–10% is perfectly normal, and in Japan tipping is considered rude. When travelling, check local custom rather than applying US norms.

How do I tip on a large group bill?

Many restaurants automatically add a gratuity of 18–20% for parties of six or more — check the check before adding a second tip. If no auto-gratuity was added, calculate the tip as you normally would, then divide the total by the number of people. This calculator handles any party size from 1 to 20.