Tip Calculator

How to use the Tip Calculator

Enter the bill and the calculator does the rest. Three tabs cover the usual situations.

• Bill, Tip & Split is the everyday one: enter the bill, choose a tip percentage, and set how many people are sharing. You get the tip, the total, and what each person owes.
• Compare Tip Rates takes the bill and lays 15, 18, 20 and 25 percent next to each other, so you can see the difference a few points makes before you decide.
• Tip From a Total runs it backwards: enter what you actually paid and the bill before tip, and it tells you the tip amount and what percentage that worked out to.

Tip on the pre-tax bill if you want to follow the usual convention. Tipping on the tax-inclusive total is not wrong, but it quietly adds a little to the tip.

Tip formula

A tip is a percentage of the bill, and everything else follows from it.

• tip = bill × tip% ÷ 100
• total = bill + tip
• per person = total ÷ number of people

On a $60 bill the common rates come out like this:

Tip rate	Tip on $60	Total
15%	$9.00	$69.00
18%	$10.80	$70.80
20%	$12.00	$72.00
25%	$15.00	$75.00

Worked example

Say the bill is $60 and you want to leave 20 percent, split four ways.

• Tip: 60 × 20 ÷ 100 = $12.
• Total: 60 + 12 = $72.
• Each person: 72 ÷ 4 = $18.

So a 20 percent tip on $60 is $12, the table pays $72, and four people put in $18 each.

What the result means

The headline figure is the total to pay, tip included. The tip on its own is shown too, because that is the number you write on the receipt or hand over in cash.

When you split the bill, each share is the total divided evenly. That is the simple, fair way to do it when everyone ate similarly. If one person ordered far more, it is fairer to split the bill itself by what each had and apply the tip to each share, rather than dividing the whole thing equally.

Common mistakes

• Tipping on the tax. The customary tip is a percentage of the pre-tax bill. Tipping on the total after tax is common and harmless, but it does raise the tip a little.
• Rounding the wrong way. Rounding the total up to a neat number is easy and always appreciated; rounding the bill down before working out the tip shortchanges it.
• Splitting before adding the tip. Divide the total, tip included, not just the bill, or the tip comes out of nobody’s share.
• Assuming a percentage everywhere. Tipping customs vary by country and by the type of service. The percentages here reflect common US restaurant practice, not a universal rule.

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate a tip?

Multiply the bill by the tip percentage and divide by 100. For a 20 percent tip on a $60 bill, that is 60 times 20 divided by 100, which is $12. Add it to the bill for the total.

How do you calculate tip percentage from a total?

Subtract the bill from the total to get the tip, then divide the tip by the bill and multiply by 100. The Tip From a Total tab does this for you.

What is a 20 percent tip on $60?

A 20 percent tip on $60 is $12, which brings the total to $72. Split four ways that is $18 each.

How much should I tip at a restaurant?

In the United States, 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax bill is the usual range for table service, with 20 percent common for good service. Customs vary elsewhere, so treat this as a guide rather than a rule.

Should I tip on the bill before or after tax?

The customary tip is a percentage of the pre-tax bill. Tipping on the after-tax total is common and perfectly acceptable; it just adds a little to the tip.

How do I split the bill and the tip between people?

Work out the total with the tip included, then divide by the number of people. Enter the number sharing in the Split Between box and the calculator shows the per-person amount.

What is the difference between 18 and 20 percent?

On a $60 bill, 18 percent is $10.80 and 20 percent is $12, a difference of $1.20. The Compare Tip Rates tab shows 15, 18, 20 and 25 percent side by side.

Do I tip on takeout or delivery?

Takeout is often not tipped or tipped lightly, while delivery is usually tipped, commonly around 10 to 15 percent or a few dollars, whichever is greater. This is customary practice, not a fixed rule.