Tip Calculator
Work out the tip, the total and what each person owes.
How to use this tip calculator
- Enter the bill exactly as it appears on the receipt.
- Pick a tip percentage from the buttons, or type your own figure in the box. The buttons cover the range most people actually use.
- Say how many are splitting it. Leave it at one if you are paying alone.
- Choose a rounding option if you want tidy numbers. Rounding the total up is useful when paying cash; rounding each share up avoids the awkward pennies when everyone transfers their bit.
The working underneath shows the arithmetic, so you can check it at the table without doing the sums yourself.
How to calculate a tip
A tip is a percentage of the bill, so the arithmetic is short:
Total = bill + tip
Each share = total ÷ number of people
On a bill of 86.40 at 15 percent, the tip is 86.40 × 0.15 = 12.96, the total is 99.36, and split four ways that is 24.84 each.
The ten percent trick for doing it in your head
You almost never need a calculator for this. Ten percent is just the decimal point moved one place to the left, and everything else is built from that:
- 10% — move the point. On 86.40, that is 8.64.
- 20% — double the ten percent. 8.64 becomes 17.28.
- 15% — ten percent plus half of it again. 8.64 plus 4.32 is 12.96.
- 12.5% — ten percent plus a quarter of it. 8.64 plus 2.16 is 10.80.
Round the bill to something friendly first and nobody will ever notice. On a bill of 86.40, work from 86 and the answer is within a few pence.
How much should you tip?
There is no single right answer, because tipping is a social convention rather than a rule, and the convention differs by country and by service. In the United States tipping is effectively part of the wage; across much of Europe and Asia it is a genuine extra. This table covers the common expectations in countries where tipping is normal:
| Service | United States | United Kingdom | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sit-down restaurant | 18–20% | 10–12.5% | Check for a service charge first |
| Bar, per drink | 1–2 per drink | Not expected | Rounding up is common in the UK |
| Takeaway counter | 0–10% | Not expected | Optional either way |
| Food delivery | 10–15% | 10% or a round sum | More in bad weather |
| Taxi or rideshare | 10–15% | Round up the fare | Extra for luggage help |
| Hairdresser | 15–20% | 10% | Tip the person, not the salon |
| Hotel housekeeping | 2–5 per night | Optional | Leave it daily, not at checkout |
| Barista | Small change | Not expected | Jar rather than percentage |
Tipping around the world
Travelling makes this harder, because the same gesture reads differently depending on where you are:
| Country | Customary tip | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 18–20% | Expected, and staff wages assume it |
| Canada | 15–20% | Much the same as the US |
| United Kingdom | 10–12.5% | Often already added as service |
| France, Italy, Spain | 0–10% | Service is usually included by law |
| Germany | 5–10% | Round up and say the total out loud |
| Japan | None | Tipping can cause genuine offence |
| China, South Korea | None | Not part of the culture |
| Australia, New Zealand | 0–10% | For good service only |
| UAE | 10–15% | Service charge may already appear |
| India, Pakistan | 5–10% | Common in restaurants and hotels |
When you are unsure, asking a local is far less awkward than guessing. In Japan in particular, leaving money on the table is not generous, it is confusing.
Before you tip, check the bill
Two things on the receipt change the answer, and both catch people out.
A service charge may already be there
Plenty of restaurants add an optional service charge, often 12.5 percent, directly to the bill, especially for larger tables. If it is there, the tipping has been done for you. Adding a tip on top means paying twice, which is exactly what the layout of some receipts encourages. The charge is almost always optional and can be removed if the service was poor, though you will need to ask.
Tip on the pre-tax amount, if you prefer
Where sales tax or VAT is listed separately, you can reasonably calculate the tip on the amount before tax, since the tax is not part of what you were served. On a 100 bill with 20 percent VAT, tipping 15 percent on the pre-tax 83.33 gives 12.50 rather than 15.00. Nobody will object either way, but on a large bill the difference is real.
Splitting the bill with a group
Dividing evenly is the usual approach and the one this calculator assumes. It works when everyone ordered roughly the same. It does not when one person had a starter, a main and three rounds and another had soup.
If the group is paying by item, the fair method is to tip proportionally: work out each person’s share of the bill as a percentage, then apply that same percentage to the tip. Someone who ordered 30 percent of the food covers 30 percent of the tip. Use the rounding option to push each share up to a whole unit, which usually covers the gap left by whoever rounds down.
Large groups should expect an automatic service charge, often applied to parties of six or more. Check for it before anyone starts calculating.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate a 15 percent tip?
Move the decimal point one place left to get ten percent, then add half of that again. On a bill of 86.40, ten percent is 8.64, half of that is 4.32, so the tip is 12.96. For 20 percent, simply double the ten percent figure.
Should I tip on the pre-tax or post-tax amount?
Either is acceptable. Tipping on the pre-tax amount is defensible because tax is not part of the service, and on a large bill it saves a noticeable sum. Many people tip on the total out of habit. There is no rule, only convention.
Do I still tip if a service charge has been added?
Usually not. An added service charge is the tip, and adding more on top means paying twice. Check the receipt before you calculate anything, because the charge is often printed in small type above the total and is easy to miss.
How much should I tip for food delivery?
Around 10 to 15 percent, or a flat sum for a small order. Consider more in bad weather, for long distances, or for a large order that takes several trips from the car. Delivery fees charged by the app usually do not reach the driver.
Is it rude not to tip?
It depends entirely where you are. In the United States, not tipping at a sit-down restaurant is read as a complaint, because wages assume the tip. In Japan it is the opposite, and tipping can cause confusion or offence. In the UK and much of Europe it is appreciated but genuinely optional.
How do I split a tip between people fairly?
If everyone ordered similarly, divide the total evenly. If not, work out each person’s share of the bill as a percentage and apply the same percentage to the tip, so the person who ordered more contributes more. Rounding each share up smooths the pennies.
Should I tip in cash or on the card?
Cash reaches staff faster and, in some places, more completely, since card tips can pass through payroll or be pooled. If you want a specific person to receive it, hand it to them directly.
What is a normal tip percentage?
In the United States, 18 to 20 percent at a sit-down restaurant. In the United Kingdom, 10 to 12.5 percent. Across much of Europe, rounding up or around 5 to 10 percent. In Japan, China and South Korea, nothing at all.