Tip amount, bill total, and each person’s share from the pre-tax bill, any tip percentage, and the party size — with the arithmetic shown line by line.
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FORMULA USEDTip Calculator
The tip math
A tip is a percentage of the bill: tip = bill × rate/100, and the total is the two added together. Splitting is a plain division of that total by the party size. The formula line shows all three steps with your numbers substituted, so the mental math checks out at the table.
Tipping on the pre-tax subtotal
The bill field means the food-and-drink subtotal before sales tax. Tipping pre-tax is the common recommendation — sales tax is not service — and on a $100 check with 8% tax, 20% pre-tax saves $1.60 versus tipping on the post-tax line. Nobody audits the choice, but the subtotal is the conventional base.
What rate to use
US table-service norms hover around 15–20%, with 18% as a common default and 20%+ reading as generous; counter service runs lower and often optional. Elsewhere the etiquette inverts — Japan expects no tip at all, and 20% in much of Europe would be outsized. The percentage is a dial, not a law.
Worked example
Dinner for four: $148.50 subtotal, 20% tip.
Tip: 148.50 × 20/100 = $29.70.
Total: $178.20 — each of the four pays $44.55.
The formula line reads: $148.50 × 20/100 = $29.70 → $178.20 → $44.55 each.
How to use it
Enter the pre-tax bill subtotal.
Set the tip percentage and the number of people splitting.
Read the total, the tip amount, and each person’s share.
Round your share up to the nearest dollar — servers never minded.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I tip?
For US table service, 18–20% of the pre-tax bill is the current standard; 15% reads as dissatisfied and 20%+ as generous. Counter service, takeout, and other countries follow different norms, so treat the percentage as a dial rather than a rule.
How do I calculate a tip?
Multiply the bill by the tip percentage written as a decimal: $50 × 0.18 = $9.00. Add it to the bill for the total, and divide by the party size if you are splitting.
Should I tip before or after tax?
Before, by the usual recommendation — tax is not service. On an $84 check with 8% tax, the difference between 20% of $84 and 20% of $90.72 is $1.34.
How do we split the bill with the tip?
Compute the tip on the whole bill first, then divide the total by the number of people — the order the calculator uses. Splitting before tipping tends to under-tip whenever orders are uneven.
What is a fair tip for poor service?
Something in the 10–15% range signals dissatisfaction while still acknowledging the person, since tips are often pooled with the kitchen and bussers. For genuine problems, a word with the manager communicates more than a low number on the receipt.