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Restaurant Tip Calculator
Use this free restaurant tip calculator to work out the tip, the total bill, and what each person pays. Enter your bill, pick a tip percent, and split the check between up to 20 people — with options for tax, currency, and rounding up to the nearest dollar.
Tap a preset or type your own percent above.
| Figure | Value |
|---|---|
| Bill | $80.00 |
| Tax | $0.00 |
| Tip basis | $80.00 |
| Tip (18%) | $14.40 |
| Total to pay | $94.40 |
| Per person | $47.20 |
| Tip per person | $7.20 |
How it works
A restaurant tip is a percent of your bill, and the only real decisions are which percent to use and whether tax counts. This calculator handles both, then splits the result fairly between everyone at the table. Start with the bill amount as printed on the check, before any tip is added. If your check shows tax separately, enter it in the tax field; if the bill already includes tax, leave tax at zero and the tip will be figured on the full amount.
The tip percent is the heart of the calculation. The presets cover the usual range: 10% for takeout or very basic service, 15% for solid service, 18% to 20% for good sit-down service, and 25% for exceptional service. You can also type any custom percent, such as 17% or 22%, if you want something in between. The tip amount is simply the tip basis multiplied by the percent. With the "before tax" setting, the basis is the bill alone; with "after tax", the basis is the bill plus tax, which produces a slightly larger tip.
Once the tip is known, the total is the bill plus tax plus tip. Splitting is equally simple: divide the total by the number of people, and divide the tip by the same number to see each person's share of the tip. The calculator supports splits of 1 to 20 people, which covers anything from a solo lunch to a large group dinner. If the split is uneven in real life — one person ordered a steak and another a salad — work out each person's share of the food separately and use this calculator for the tip percent, or split the total evenly and settle the difference between yourselves.
The round-up option is for cash payers. It rounds the total up to the next whole dollar, so a $94.40 total becomes $95.00, and the extra $0.60 goes to the tip. It keeps things simple at the table and is a small, friendly gesture to the server. The currency selector changes the symbol shown ($, €, or £) but not the math — the same percentages apply in any currency.
One common question is whether to tip on the pre-tax or post-tax amount. The widely used convention is pre-tax, because sales tax is money the restaurant collects for the government, not payment for service. Tipping after tax is also perfectly acceptable and simply adds a little more. On an $80 bill with $6.40 of tax, an 18% tip is $14.40 before tax and $15.55 after tax — a difference of $1.15. Pick the basis you are comfortable with and be consistent.
Worked example
Two friends have dinner. The bill is $80.00 with no separate tax shown, the service was good, and they want to leave 18% and split the check evenly.
Step 1: The tip basis is the bill, $80.00.
Step 2: The tip is $80.00 × 18% = $14.40.
Step 3: The total is $80.00 + $14.40 = $94.40.
Step 4: Split between 2 people, each person pays $94.40 ÷ 2 = $47.20, including $14.40 ÷ 2 = $7.20 of tip each.
The result: a $14.40 tip on an $80 bill, a $94.40 total, and $47.20 per person. Try changing the tip to 20% in the calculator — the tip becomes $16.00, the total $96.00, and each person pays $48.00.
FAQ
How much should I tip at a restaurant?
In the United States, 15% to 20% of the pre-tax bill is the standard range for sit-down restaurant service. 15% is fine for adequate service, 18% to 20% is typical for good service, and 25% or more is generous for exceptional service. On an $80 bill, 18% is a $14.40 tip.
Should I tip on the bill before or after tax?
The common convention is to tip on the pre-tax bill, because tax is money the restaurant passes on to the government, not money for the service. Tipping on the after-tax total is also acceptable and simply gives a slightly larger tip. This calculator lets you choose either basis.
How do I split a restaurant bill between people?
Add the tip to the bill to get the total, then divide by the number of people. For an $80 bill with an 18% tip, the total is $94.40, so two people pay $47.20 each, including $7.20 of tip each. This calculator does the split for up to 20 people.
What is a good tip for takeout or delivery?
For takeout, 10% is a common and appreciated tip, since there is no table service. For delivery, 15% to 20% is standard, with a minimum of a few dollars on small orders, because the driver uses their own vehicle and time. Use the tip presets above to switch quickly between these rates.
What does round up to the nearest dollar do?
It rounds the total bill up to the next whole dollar, so a $94.40 total becomes $95.00. The extra $0.60 goes to the tip. It is a handy way to pay with cash and leave a clean, round amount.