Tip Calculator
Choose a symbol or type your own (max 3 chars). Custom overrides the dropdown.
Set to 1 if you’re paying alone.
Results
Tip
Total
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🔹 Tip Formula
The calculator applies a percentage to your chosen tip base and then adds the tip back to the bill. If you enable the “pre-tax amount” toggle and provide a tax rate, the tip base becomes the estimated bill before tax.
| Concept | Formula |
|---|---|
| Pre-tax base (optional) | base = bill / (1 + tax_rate) (tax_rate as decimal, e.g., 13.5% → 0.135) |
| Tip amount | tip = base × tip_percent (e.g., 15% → 0.15) |
| Total bill | total = bill + tip |
| Per-person tip | tip_per_person = tip / people |
| Per-person total | total_per_person = total / people |
🔹 When to Use Pre-Tax Tip
In many regions, etiquette suggests tipping on the service value before sales tax. If that’s your preference, enable the pre-tax toggle and enter the local tax rate so the calculator estimates a pre-tax base automatically.
🔹 Rounding Options
- No rounding: Show exact math to 2 decimals.
- Round tip: Make the tip a whole currency unit.
- Round total bill: Make the final total a whole currency unit.
- Round per-person total: Keep per-person figures readable at 2 decimals.
🔹 Quick Example
Bill = €58.40, People = 2, Tip% = 15%, Pre-tax off →
tip = 58.40 × 0.15 = €8.76,
total = 58.40 + 8.76 = €67.16,
per-person total = 67.16 / 2 = €33.58.
🔹 Choosing a Tip Percentage
There’s no universal rule, but most diners use 10–20% as a starting range and adjust for service quality, complexity, and local norms. Use this guide to pick a fair, transparent percentage before you split the bill.
| Context | Common Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sit-down restaurant (table service) | 15–20% of the bill | Adjust up for large parties, complex orders, or exceptional service. |
| Counter service / café | 0–10% | Optional; consider 5–10% if there’s food prep or special handling. |
| Delivery | 10–15% | Factor in distance, weather, and order size. |
| Bar (table or counter) | €1–€2 per drink or 10–15% | Choose per-drink for simple orders; percent for rounds/tabs. |
| Hotel staff (bellhop, housekeeping) | €1–€5 per service | Varies by role and property; tip per bag or per night. |
| Takeout / pickup | 0–10% | Often optional; consider a small tip for large or custom orders. |
🔹 When to Adjust Up or Down
- Increase for special requests, dietary accommodations, or above-and-beyond attention.
- Decrease carefully for consistent issues after raising concerns (kitchen delays aren’t always the server’s fault).
- Check local norms when traveling—some regions include service charges.
Need to convert tip % into a precise value for other scenarios? Try our Percent Calculator.
🔹 Split & Rounding Scenarios
These realistic examples show how the calculator handles splitting, tax-aware tipping, and rounding. Change the numbers in the calculator above to mirror any scenario here.
| Example | Inputs | Math | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple dinner for two |
Bill €58.40, People 2, Tip 15% Pre-tax off, No rounding |
tip = 58.40 × 0.15 = €8.76 total = 58.40 + 8.76 = €67.16 |
Tip/pp = €8.76 / 2 = €4.38 Total/pp = €67.16 / 2 = €33.58 |
| Group of five, round total |
Bill €142.10, People 5, Tip 12.5% Pre-tax off, Rounding: Total to whole unit |
tip = 142.10 × 0.125 = €17.76 total ≈ €159.86 → €160 (rounded) new tip = 160 − 142.10 = €17.90 |
Total/pp = 160 / 5 = €32.00 Tip/pp = 17.90 / 5 = €3.58 |
| Pre-tax base with 13.5% tax |
Bill €84.00 (tax included), People 3, Tip 18% Pre-tax on, Tax 13.5%, No rounding |
base = 84 / 1.135 = €74.01 tip = 74.01 × 0.18 = €13.32 total = 84 + 13.32 = €97.32 |
Tip/pp = €13.32 / 3 = €4.44 Total/pp = 97.32 / 3 = €32.44 |
| Round per-person to 2 decimals |
Bill €51.75, People 4, Tip 20% Pre-tax off, Rounding: Per-person |
tip = 51.75 × 0.20 = €10.35 total = 62.10 |
Tip/pp = 10.35 / 4 = €2.5875 → €2.59 Total/pp = 62.10 / 4 = €15.525 → €15.53 |
🔹 Quick Steps
- Enter your bill and (optionally) enable pre-tax with a tax rate.
- Pick a tip percent or tap a preset (10–20%).
- Set how many people are splitting.
- Choose rounding if you want tidy totals.
🔹 Taxes, Service Charges & Regional Norms
Prices and tipping customs vary by country. Some places show VAT included on menus, others add sales tax at checkout. A few venues include a service charge automatically—if so, you usually don’t add another tip unless service was exceptional.
| Region / Situation | What’s typical | How to use the calculator |
|---|---|---|
| United States (sales tax added) | 15–20% on the pre-tax amount for table service. Delivery 10–15%. | Enable Pre-tax and enter local sales tax (e.g., 8.875%). Tip base becomes pre-tax automatically. |
| Canada (GST/HST/PST added) | 15–20% common for full service; check province rate. | Turn on Pre-tax and enter the combined tax for your province. |
| EU/UK (VAT included in menu price) | Service charge may appear on the bill (10–15%). If included, extra tip is optional. | If a service charge is listed, you can leave tip % at 0 or add a small extra if desired. Usually keep Pre-tax off. |
| Automatic gratuity (large parties) | Some restaurants add 12.5–20% automatically for groups. | If gratuity is added, set Tip % to 0 to avoid double tipping, or add a small extra only if warranted. |
| Counter service / takeaway | Often 0–10% or a small coin/digital tip. | Enter a modest Tip % (e.g., 5%). Keep Split at 1 unless sharing. |
| Cash payments | Round to a convenient total. | Use “Round total to whole unit” so you can pay exact notes/coins. |
🔹 Service Charge vs. Tip
- Service charge: Added by the venue, sometimes mandatory; often distributed by the employer.
- Tip (gratuity): Voluntary; usually goes to staff according to local policy.
- To avoid double tipping, check your receipt for a service charge line before adding a tip.
Traveling or dining in another currency? Convert your total or per-person share first with our Currency Calculator, then apply the tip locally.
🔹 How to Use the Tip Calculator
- Enter the bill: Type the total on your receipt. Pick a currency or type a custom symbol (e.g.,
LVL,AED). - Choose a tip %: Use presets (10–20%) or enter any percent. Adjust based on service quality and local etiquette.
- Split the bill: Set how many people are paying. The tool shows both per-person tip and per-person total.
- Pre-tax (optional): If your region adds tax at checkout, enable Pre-tax and enter the tax rate so the tip is calculated on the service value.
- Rounding: Pick the mode that matches how you plan to pay (cash-friendly totals or exact per-person amounts).
🔹 Which Rounding Should I Use?
| Rounding Mode | Best For | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| No rounding | Card payments; precise accounting | Exact math to 2 decimals |
| Round tip to whole unit | Leaving a neat, simple gratuity | Tip becomes a whole number; total adjusts |
| Round total bill to whole unit | Cash payments with notes/coins | Total becomes a whole number; tip re-derived |
| Round per-person total to 2 decimals | Even splits among friends | Each person pays a tidy 2-decimal amount |
🔹 Pro Tips
- Uneven orders? Have each person calculate their own share, then use the split just for shared items.
- Service charge on bill? If you see a service/gratuity line, set Tip % to 0 or add a small extra only if warranted.
- International travel: If the bill/receipt is in a different currency, convert first with your bank’s rate, then tip in the local norm.
🔹 Edge Cases & Troubleshooting
If numbers look off, check these common pitfalls. The calculator is strict about inputs so totals remain accurate and easy to verify on a receipt.
| Issue | Why it happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Tip feels too high with tax added | You’re tipping on a tax-inclusive bill where etiquette expects pre-tax. | Enable Pre-tax and set the local tax rate (e.g., 8.875). The tool will tip on the pre-tax base. |
| Totals don’t divide evenly per person | Some splits create repeating decimals. | Select Round per-person to 2 decimals for clean, fair shares. |
| Service charge + extra tip | Receipt already includes a mandatory gratuity. | Set Tip % to 0 or add a small extra only for exceptional service. |
| Unexpected currency symbol | Custom symbol overrides the dropdown. | Clear the custom field or retype your desired symbol (max 3 chars). |
| Inputs show big arrows/spinners | Some themes force large number spinners. | Our CSS hides them within this block; refresh cache if you still see them. |
| Need whole-number total for cash | Coins/notes make exact change awkward. | Choose Round total to whole unit. The tool re-derives the tip to match. |
🔹 Accuracy Notes
- All math uses decimal arithmetic with two-decimal display unless rounding rules specify otherwise.
- Per-person rounding does not change the true grand total—only the displayed per-person amounts.
- For audits, record values before rounding and note your chosen rounding rule on the receipt.
🔹 Equal vs. Proportional Split
You can split a check evenly or in proportion to what each person ordered. Your calculator supports either approach: use Split between for equal splits, or calculate each person’s share first and enter the final people count just to display per-person totals.
| Method | When to use | How to do it |
|---|---|---|
| Equal Split | Everyone ordered similarly, or the group prefers simplicity. | Enter full bill, pick tip %, set Split between to the number of diners. Optional rounding for cash-friendly totals. |
| Proportional Split | Different order sizes or alcohol vs. no alcohol; fairness matters. | Add up each person’s pre-tip share first (their items + shared items/people). Tip each share by the same % and add tax/service charges as applicable. |
🔹 Proportional Split Formula
Let s_i be person i’s pre-tip share and r the tip rate (e.g., 15% → 0.15).
Then each pays:
tip_i = s_i × rtotal_i = s_i + tip_i(plus their share of tax/service charge if used)
If you prefer tipping on pre-tax only, compute each s_i without tax, tip it, then add back that person’s tax portion.
🔹 Proportional Example
| Person | Pre-tip share si | Tip (15%) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | €22.00 | €3.30 | €25.30 |
| B | €14.50 | €2.18 | €16.68 |
| C | €19.00 | €2.85 | €21.85 |
| Group | €55.50 | €8.33 | €63.83 |
Want to sanity-check the math when people order unevenly? First compute each person’s pre-tip share, then verify the group total equals the receipt before applying the same tip rate across the board.
🔹 Mobile Payments & Digital Tipping
Card terminals and QR menus often prompt for tips with preset buttons (e.g., 12%, 15%, 18%, 20%). Those prompts may default to higher percentages or apply the tip to a tax-inclusive total. Use the calculator first to choose a fair percent and rounding rule, then enter a custom amount on the terminal if needed.
| What to know | Why it matters | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Preset buttons | May anchor you to higher tips than you intended. | Calculate your ideal tip here, then choose custom on the device. |
| Pre-tax vs. post-tax | Terminals usually tip on the final (tax-included) amount. | If you prefer pre-tax etiquette, enable Pre-tax in the calculator and enter that number manually at checkout. |
| Service charge already added | A separate gratuity prompt can cause double tipping. | Check the receipt; if a service charge exists, set Tip % to 0 or add a small extra only if warranted. |
| Splitting with friends | One card often pays the whole bill, then others reimburse. | Use Split between to show exact per-person totals. Share the figure in your chat app. |
| Cash-friendly totals | Coins/notes make exact change awkward. | Select Round total to whole unit before you pay. |
If the device blocks custom tipping or shows unfamiliar currency, compute the tip with this tool and confirm the final number with staff before completing payment.
🔹 Frequently Asked Questions
0 in the calculator, or leave a small extra only if service was exceptional.
🔹 References & Sources
Key materials consulted for tipping etiquette, tax concepts, and service charge distinctions used in this page.
| Source | What we referenced | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Emily Post Institute — Tipping Etiquette | Common U.S. ranges for restaurant, delivery, bar; notes on when to adjust. | general-tipping-guide |
| U.S. Sales Tax Basics (Tax Foundation) | Sales tax is usually added at checkout; rationale for pre-tax tipping preference. | taxfoundation.org |
| Canada Revenue Agency — GST/HST | Overview of GST/HST/PST applied on restaurant bills; provincial differences. | canada.ca/en/revenue-agency |
| UK Government — VAT Guidance | VAT generally included in menu prices; interaction with optional tips/service charge. | gov.uk/vat-businesses |
| UK HMRC — Tips, Gratuities & Service Charges | Difference between discretionary tips and mandatory service charges. | gov.uk/tips-at-work |
| Hospitality Industry Guidelines (various) | Typical ranges for cafés, hotels, and counter service; cash-rounding practices. | restaurant.org |