How much to tip
Tipping norms vary a lot by country and even by type of service. In the US, 15-20% is standard at sit-down restaurants (20%+ for excellent service), while counter service, delivery, and bars typically run lower (10-15%) or a flat few dollars. In many European countries, service is already included in the bill, and tipping is a smaller, optional rounding-up gesture rather than an expected percentage. When traveling, it's worth checking local norms before assuming your home country's tipping percentage applies.
Splitting the bill
This calculator splits the total (bill + tip) evenly across however many people you enter. For an even split, divide the pre-tip bill by the number of people, calculate the tip on the total bill, then add the two together and divide again -- or simply enter the party size and let the calculator do both steps at once. Keep in mind an even split isn't always fair if people ordered very differently (one person had drinks, another just an appetizer) -- for itemized splitting, you'd want to allocate each person's actual items plus a proportional share of the tip and tax.
Frequently asked questions
Should I tip on the pre-tax or post-tax total? Most tipping guidance in the US refers to the pre-tax subtotal, though tipping on the post-tax total is also common and only adds a small amount -- either convention is acceptable.
Is tipping mandatory? In most places it's a social norm rather than a legal requirement, though in the US many service workers are paid a lower base wage specifically because tips are expected to make up the difference, which is why skipping a tip there has a bigger real impact on the worker than in a country where full wages are already guaranteed.
What's a good tip for exceptional service? 20-25% is a common way to signal genuinely excellent service in tip-based systems, though this is ultimately a personal and cultural judgment call, not a fixed rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I calculate a tip?
- Multiply the bill amount by the tip percentage and divide by 100. For a $50 bill with an 18% tip, that's (50 × 18) ÷ 100 = $9.
- Should I tip before or after tax?
- Conventions vary, but tipping on the pre-tax subtotal is the more common and traditional approach, since tax isn't part of the service being rewarded.
- What's a standard tip percentage?
- In the US, 15–20% is typical for sit-down restaurant service, with 20%+ often reserved for excellent service.
- How do I split a bill and tip between multiple people?
- Add the tip to the total bill first, then divide the combined amount evenly by the number of people (or by each person's individual share if splitting unevenly).