Tip Calculator Guide: How to Calculate & Split Tips
Tipping can feel awkward — how much is enough? Should you tip before or after tax? How do you split the bill when one friend ordered the steak and the other a salad? This guide walks through the math so you'll never second-guess the bill again.
The Tip Formula
- Bill — the pre-tip amount (subtotal or total)
- Tip% — percentage you choose to tip (as a decimal)
Most people tip on the pre-tax subtotal, but tipping on the total is also common.
Example: on a $48 bill with 18% tip, the tip is 48 × 0.18 = $8.64, bringing the total to $56.64.
Standard Tip Percentages
- 15% — acceptable baseline for adequate service in the US.
- 18–20% — standard for good service at a sit-down restaurant.
- 20%+ — for exceptional service or large groups (many restaurants auto-add 18% for parties of 6+).
- 0% — in many countries (Japan, South Korea, Australia), tipping is uncommon or even impolite.
The 10% "shift the decimal" trick: take 10% of the bill (just move the decimal), then double it for 20% or halve the 10% for 5%.
Splitting the Bill Fairly
The simplest split divides the total evenly — fine if everyone ordered similar items. For fairness, each person's share should be their own items plus their portion of tip and tax. The calculator can split the total evenly across N people, or let you compute per-person totals.
Put It Into Practice
Enter the bill, choose a tip percentage, and optionally split among any number of people.