Tip Calculator

How to use the tip calculator

1. Enter the bill amount. If you plan to add a tax rate below, enter the amount before tax.
2. Choose a tip percentage — tap one of the quick buttons (10%, 15%, 18%, 20%, 25%), drag the slider, or type any figure you like.
3. Set how many people are splitting the bill. Leave it at 1 if you are paying alone.
4. Optionally add a sales tax or VAT rate and choose whether the tip is calculated on the pre-tax or post-tax amount.
5. Turn on round up total or round up per person if you want a tidy number to hand over.

Everything recalculates while you type, and nothing you enter leaves your browser.

How it works

Three numbers drive the result: the bill before tax, the tax rate and the tip percentage.

tax    = bill × tax rate / 100
base   = bill                (tip on the pre-tax amount)
       = bill + tax          (tip on the post-tax amount)
tip    = base × tip rate / 100
total  = bill + tax + tip

All money is handled internally in whole cents, so the split is exact. When a total will not divide evenly, everyone pays the same rounded-down amount and the last person absorbs the leftover cents — one or two cents at most, but it means the shares always add back up to the printed total instead of falling a cent short.

Rounding up works the same way: the tool raises the total (or each person’s share) to the next whole unit and treats the difference as extra tip, so the tax line is never distorted.

Worked examples

A simple dinner. A bill of $85.50 with an 18% tip gives a tip of $15.39 and a total of $100.89. Split between two people, that is $50.44 and $50.45 — the odd cent goes to the last person.

Tipping before or after tax. On a $100 bill with 8.875% sales tax, the tax is $8.88. A 20% tip on the pre-tax amount is $20.00 and the total is $128.88. The same tip calculated on the post-tax amount is $21.78, taking the total to $130.66 — a difference of $1.78 on this bill.

Rounding up. A $47.30 bill with an 18% tip comes to $55.81. Rounding the total up to $56.00 pushes the tip to $8.70, which is an effective 18.39% — a painless way to make cash payment easier.

An awkward split. A $115.00 total between three friends is $38.33, $38.33 and $38.34. Turn on “round up per person” on a $100 bill with a 15% tip split four ways and each person pays a flat $29.00, taking the total to $116.00 and the tip to $16.00.

Tipping customs around the world

Tipping is a social custom, not a rule, and it changes over time and between cities, venues and situations. Treat the table below as a rough orientation rather than an instruction — when in doubt, look at the receipt for a service charge and follow what local people around you are doing.

Hotels, taxis, bars, delivery and personal services each have their own conventions in every one of these countries, and card terminals increasingly suggest percentages of their own. The figures here are estimates to help you decide quickly — they are not etiquette rules, and the amount you leave is always your choice.

Tips and common mistakes

• Check for a service charge first. If the bill already includes 12.5% service, an additional tip on top is optional.
• Tip on the subtotal, not the total, if you want the smaller figure. The difference grows with the tax rate.
• Watch the suggested percentages on card terminals. Some are calculated on the post-tax total, which quietly raises the amount.
• Split the total, not just the food. Dividing the tip separately from the tax is a common source of arguments and shortfalls.
• Cash tips reach staff sooner in many places, though pooling policies vary by venue.

Glossary

• Subtotal – the bill before tax and tip.
• Service charge – a percentage added by the restaurant itself, shown on the bill.
• Gratuity – another word for a tip, often used when it is added automatically for large groups.
• Effective tip – the tip you actually leave as a percentage of the pre-tax bill, after any rounding.

Last reviewed: September 21, 2026