How to use the tip calculator
- Type the bill amount. Use the subtotal before tax, the line above the tax on most receipts.
- Add the tax if there is any. Type the tax as an amount, as it is printed on the receipt. It is added to the total, and you choose whether the tip is worked out on the bill before tax or on the bill with tax.
- Pick a tip. Tap 15%, 18%, 20% or 25%, or type any other percentage.
- Split it between any number of people with the + and − buttons, and choose a rounding option if you would rather pay in whole dollars.
The tip, the total and each person's share update as you type. Copy result gives you a short summary to paste into a group chat.
How the tip is worked out
Every figure is worked in whole cents:
- Tip = tip base × tip % ÷ 100, rounded to the nearest cent (half a cent rounds up). The tip base is the bill before tax, or the bill plus tax if you choose that.
- Total = bill + tax + tip.
- Each person = total ÷ number of people.
Here is a $64.50 meal with $5.16 tax and a 20% tip, shared by 3 people:
| Line | Sum | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Bill before tax | $64.50 | |
| Tax | from the receipt | $5.16 |
| Tip at 20% (before tax) | 64.50 × 0.20 | $12.90 |
| Total | 64.50 + 5.16 + 12.90 | $82.56 |
| Each of 3 people | 82.56 ÷ 3 | $27.52 |
If the tip is worked out on the bill with tax instead, the base is $69.66 and the tip is $13.93 (20% of $69.66 is $13.932), so the total is $83.59.
Tip table for common bill amounts
The tip alone, worked out on the bill before tax and rounded to the cent:
| Bill | 15% | 18% | 20% | 25% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $20 | $3.00 | $3.60 | $4.00 | $5.00 |
| $25 | $3.75 | $4.50 | $5.00 | $6.25 |
| $40 | $6.00 | $7.20 | $8.00 | $10.00 |
| $50 | $7.50 | $9.00 | $10.00 | $12.50 |
| $75 | $11.25 | $13.50 | $15.00 | $18.75 |
| $100 | $15.00 | $18.00 | $20.00 | $25.00 |
| $150 | $22.50 | $27.00 | $30.00 | $37.50 |
A quick way to check 20% in your head: move the decimal point one place left to get 10%, then double it. On $64.50, 10% is $6.45 and 20% is $12.90. For 15%, add half of the 10% figure: $6.45 + $3.23 = $9.68 (the exact 15% is $9.675, which rounds to $9.68).
Rounding up per person or the total
Paying exact cents is awkward with cash, so the calculator can round up. It only ever rounds up, and the extra goes on the tip, so the server is never short. The result panel says how much rounding added and what the tip now works out to as a percentage.
- Round each share up. Each person's share goes up to the next whole dollar, so everyone pays the same round amount. In the example above, $27.52 becomes $28.00 each, the total becomes $84.00 and the tip $14.34, about 22.2% of the bill before tax.
- Round the total up. Only the total is rounded, to the next whole dollar: $82.56 becomes $83.00 and the tip $13.34. Shared by 3 that is $27.67, $27.67 and $27.66.
When a total does not divide exactly, it is shared in whole cents and the leftover cents go one each to the first people, so the shares always add up to the total. $83.00 ÷ 3 is $27.666..., so two people pay $27.67 and one pays $27.66.
How much to tip: what the guides say
Tipping is a custom, not a fixed rule, and it differs by country and by the kind of service. The calculator does not pick a percentage for you. Two sources worth knowing:
In the US, the Emily Post Institute's general tipping guide gives wait service at a sit-down restaurant as 15-20%, pre-tax
, and wait service at a buffet as 10%, pre-tax
. For takeout it says there is No obligation
, with 10% for extra service or a large, complicated order. Its guide also covers delivery, bartenders and other services, so check it for anything not listed here.
In the UK, there is no official tip percentage. What the law does cover is where tips go: GOV.UK says By law, all tips must be given to workers without deductions.
The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 applies to any amount a customer pays by way of a tip, gratuity or service charge
, and has been fully in force since 1 October 2024. Some bills already include a service charge, so check the bill before adding a tip on top.
Special cases
- Tax already in the bill. If your receipt only shows one total that includes tax, type it as the bill and leave tax empty. The tip is then worked out on the amount with tax.
- A coupon or discount. Type the bill after the discount. If you would rather tip on the full price, raise the tip percentage to match, or type the full price as the bill and adjust the total yourself.
- Service charge on the bill. Set the tip to 0% if you do not want to add more, or type the extra you want to leave.
- Uneven shares. To share by income or by what each person ordered, use the split bill calculator.
- Currency. The symbol follows your browser's language setting: £ for UK English, $ otherwise. The sums work the same in any currency with 100 smaller units.
Questions and answers
How do I calculate a 20% tip?
Multiply the bill by 0.20. A quick way is to take 10% by moving the decimal point one place left, then double it: on a $64.50 bill, 10% is $6.45, so 20% is $12.90.
Do you tip on the amount before or after tax?
The Emily Post Institute gives its restaurant tip ranges as pre-tax. Some people tip on the total with tax, which comes to a little more. This calculator lets you choose: on a $64.50 bill with $5.16 tax, 20% is $12.90 before tax or $13.93 with tax.
How much should I tip at a restaurant in the US?
The Emily Post Institute's tipping guide gives 15 to 20% of the bill before tax for wait service at a sit-down restaurant, and 10% at a buffet. It is a guide, not a rule.
Do tips go to the staff in the UK?
GOV.UK says that by law all tips must be given to workers without deductions. The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023, fully in force since 1 October 2024, covers tips, gratuities and service charges paid by customers.
How do I split a tip between several people?
Add the tip and tax to the bill, then divide the total by the number of people. An $82.56 total between 3 people is $27.52 each. Choose a rounding option to round each share or the total up to a whole dollar.
What is 15% of $50?
$7.50. 10% of $50 is $5.00, half of that is $2.50, and $5.00 + $2.50 = $7.50. The table on this page gives 15, 18, 20 and 25% for other common amounts.
Sources
Checked on 22 October 2026. If a rule has changed, please tell us.