Tip Calculator (with Bill Split)

Work out the tip and what each person owes in one step. Enter the bill, pick a tip percentage, and choose how many people are splitting the check. The total and the per-person share update as you go, so there is no mental math at the table.

How much to tip in the United States

At a sit-down restaurant with table service, the usual range is 15% to 20% of the bill. A simple way to read those numbers: on a $60 check, 15% is a $9 tip, 18% is $10.80, and 20% is an even $12. Most people treat 18% to 20% as the default for ordinary, attentive service, drop to 15% when service was slow or careless, and go above 20% when someone clearly went out of their way.

The percentage you start from changes by setting, not just by how the meal went. Rough customs that come up often:

Table service: 15% to 20% of the bill is the normal band.
Counter pickup and plain takeout: often nothing, or a few dollars if staff packed and carried a larger order.
Food delivery: commonly 10% to 20%, with a floor of a few dollars on small orders since the driver still made the trip.
Bartender: roughly $1 to $2 per drink, or 15% to 20% on a tab.
Barber and hair salon: 15% to 20% of the service price is typical.

Tip on the pre-tax bill or the total?

Both are common, and the gap is smaller than people expect. Tipping on the pre-tax subtotal is the more traditional approach, since the sales tax is money the restaurant never sees. But because tax rates in most places sit under 10%, the difference is minor. On a $100 subtotal with 8% sales tax, a 20% tip is $20 on the subtotal versus $21.60 on the $108 total — about $1.60. This calculator applies the tip to whatever bill figure you type, so enter the pre-tax subtotal if you would rather tip before tax, or the full total if you do not want to fuss with it.

Splitting the check evenly

Once the tip is added, the calculator divides the full total — bill plus tip — equally by the number of people you set. The arithmetic is exactly what you would do by hand: an $80 bill with an 18% tip comes to $94.40, and split four ways that is $23.60 each. Splitting two ways halves the total; splitting four ways quarters it. Everyone covers an equal share of both the meal and the tip.

An even split is the fastest fair option for most tables, and it works best when orders are roughly similar. When one person ordered something far more expensive — a steak against everyone else's salads — the even split quietly overcharges the lighter eaters. The common fix is to peel that pricier item out, have that person cover it on their own, then split the rest of the bill and the tip evenly.

Rounding the per-person share

Splits rarely land on round numbers. A $53.69 total divided three ways is about $17.90 a head, which is awkward to hand over. Most groups round each share up to the nearest dollar or five — $18 or $20 here — which clears the bill and nudges the tip a little higher. Rounding up is the easy way to be slightly generous without recalculating anything.

Frequently asked questions

Should I tip on takeout or counter pickup?

It is optional and usually lighter than table service. Many people leave nothing for plain counter pickup and round up a little when staff prepare or carry an order out.

How do I tip when a group has very different orders?

An even split is the quickest fair option for most tables. If one person ordered far more, have them cover their extra item separately, then split the rest and the tip evenly.

Do I still tip when a service charge is already on the bill?

Check the receipt first. Some restaurants add a service charge for large parties that already covers the tip, so an extra tip on top is your choice rather than expected.

Should I round the per-person amount?

Rounding each share up to the nearest dollar makes paying simpler and usually adds a small amount to the tip, which most servers appreciate.

Last reviewed June 2026. A quick way to handle the tip and the split at the table.