Tip & Bill Split Calculator

Work out the tip and what everyone owes — evenly, or by what each person actually ordered, with tax and tip allocated proportionally.

Where are you?

United States Europe & UK

AWG, NEC, 120/240 V, miles and gallons — we remember this on every calculator.

Each of 4 pays

$38.40

Bill total: $153.60
Subtotal: $120.00
Tax: $9.60
Tip: $24.00
People: 4
Exact per person: $38.40

🪿 The goose says: $38.40 each. That is a $153.60 bill including $24.00 of tip, split 4 ways.

Tipping on the pre-tax subtotal is the traditional convention. On this bill the difference between the two is $1.92.
Check the bill for an automatic service charge before adding a tip. Large groups are frequently charged 18–20% gratuity automatically, and tipping again on top is a common and expensive mistake.

How this tip and bill split calculator works

An even split is trivial arithmetic. The version worth getting right is the unequal one, and it is where most bill-splitting apps quietly cheat.

The fair method allocates tax and tip in proportion to what each person actually ordered. If your meal was 35% of the pre-tax subtotal, you pay 35% of the tax and 35% of the tip. Splitting the tip evenly across an unequal bill means the person who had soup subsidises the tip on someone else's steak and two cocktails.

The other question people ask is whether to tip on the pre-tax or post-tax amount. Tipping on the subtotal is the traditional convention and what most etiquette guidance suggests, since tax is not the server's doing. Tipping on the total is increasingly common and slightly more generous — on a typical bill the difference is a dollar or two.

Step 1 Subtotal even: the bill as entered itemised: sum of everyone's orders
Step 2 Tax tax = subtotal × tax%
Step 3 Tip tip = (subtotal or subtotal + tax) × tip% Pre-tax is the traditional base; post-tax is a little more generous.
Step 4 Even split per_person = (subtotal + tax + tip) ÷ people
Step 5 Unequal split share = person's order ÷ subtotal owes = order + tax × share + tip × share This is the part that makes it fair.

Example: four people order 42, 28, 34 and 16 — a subtotal of 120. With 8% tax and a 20% pre-tax tip, the total is 153.60. The person who ordered 42 owes 35% of the tax and tip, so they pay 53.76, not the 38.40 an even split would charge them.

Assumptions & caveats

Everything this calculator quietly assumes on your behalf. If one of these does not match your situation, the answer will be off.

Tax is applied to the whole subtotal at one rate. In practice, many jurisdictions tax food and alcohol at different rates, and some do not tax food at all — split the bill in two calculations if that matters.
The default tip base is the pre-tax subtotal, which is the traditional convention. Switching to post-tax raises the tip by the tax rate multiplied by the tip rate, typically 1 to 2 percent of the bill.
In itemised mode, each person's entered figure is their pre-tax subtotal. Shared plates are handled by adding an equal portion to each person who shared them.
Rounding up rounds each person to the next whole unit of currency, and the extra goes to the server rather than reducing anyone else's share.
Automatic gratuity is not detected. Many restaurants add 18 to 20 percent automatically for parties of six or more, and tipping again on top of that is a common and expensive error — always check the bill.
Tipping norms are entirely local. The US convention of 18 to 22 percent does not apply in most of Europe, where service is usually included and rounding up is the norm, or in Japan, where tipping can cause offence.
Nothing here handles per-item tax exemptions, discounts, vouchers or split payment across cards with different amounts.

Frequently asked questions

Should I tip on the pre-tax or post-tax amount?

Traditionally on the pre-tax subtotal, since sales tax goes to the government rather than the restaurant. Tipping on the post-tax total is increasingly common and marginally more generous — on a 100 bill with 8% tax and a 20% tip it is the difference between 20 and 21.60. Either is perfectly acceptable.

How do I split a bill when people ordered different amounts?

Work out each person's share of the pre-tax subtotal, then charge them that percentage of the tax and tip on top of their own order. Someone whose meal was 35% of the subtotal pays 35% of the tax and tip. Splitting the tip evenly across an unequal bill quietly overcharges whoever ordered least.

How do I work out a 20% tip quickly?

Move the decimal point one place left to get 10%, then double it. A 68 bill gives 6.80, so a 20% tip is 13.60. For 15%, take that 10% figure and add half of it again; for 18%, take 20% and subtract a tenth of it.

What is a normal tip in the US?

Eighteen to twenty-two percent for sit-down restaurant service, with 20% the most common default. Fifteen is now considered low for full service, and counter service or takeaway is more variable — a few dollars or nothing at all. Delivery is usually 15 to 20% with a minimum of a few dollars.

Do I still tip if there is a service charge?

Usually not, or only a small amount on top for exceptional service. Automatic gratuity of 18 to 20 percent is common for parties of six or more and appears as a separate line on the bill. Tipping the full amount again on top is a frequent mistake — read the bill before you sign it.

How do I split shared plates fairly?

Add an equal portion of each shared plate to the subtotal of everyone who ate it, then let the proportional method handle the rest. If four people shared a 40 starter, add 10 to each of their subtotals. That way the tax and tip on the shared item are also split among the people who actually had it.

Should I round up when splitting a bill?

It makes the maths payable and the extra goes to the server, so it is usually worth it. Rounding each person to the next whole dollar on a table of four typically adds a couple of dollars in total. Just be aware that the round-up is added on top of the tip rather than replacing part of it.