Tip Calculator: Free Online Tip & Bill Split Calculator
Calculate the tip, total, and per-person split instantly. Private and free — runs entirely in your browser.
About the Tip Calculator
You type in a bill amount, pick or type a tip percentage, and the calculator returns the tip, the total, and — if you're splitting the check — what each person owes. Every field updates the result as you type, so you can test a few percentages before settling on one. Nothing you enter is sent anywhere; the math runs in your browser and disappears when you close the tab.
How the numbers are calculated
The tip amount is the bill multiplied by the tip percentage. Add that to the bill and you get the total. If more than one person is splitting the check, the calculator divides both the tip and the total evenly across the number of people you enter. That covers the common case: a group that wants to split everything, tip included, right down the middle.
It won't handle itemized splits, where each person only pays for what they ordered. For that, add up each person's items separately, then apply the same tip percentage to each subtotal — the percentage buttons and custom field work the same way for a smaller bill as they do for a large one.
Tipping norms by service
These ranges reflect common practice in the US and Canada. Tipping customs shift by country, by service type, and sometimes by neighborhood — nobody hands out a rulebook. In much of Europe, East Asia, and Australia, tipping is either uncommon or already folded into the price, and a large tip can even come across as odd rather than generous. Check your receipt for a "service charge" or "gratuity included" line before adding anything on top of it.
Pre-tax or post-tax?
People disagree on this one, and both are defensible. Tipping on the pre-tax subtotal keeps the tip tied strictly to the cost of food and service, which is what many servers and etiquette guides recommend. Tipping on the post-tax total is simpler to calculate at the table and, in cities with high sales tax, only adds a small amount more. Enter whichever figure matches your own convention as the bill amount — the calculator treats it the same way either way.
Splitting fairly in a group
An even split works well when everyone ordered roughly the same amount. It breaks down fast when one person had a steak and three drinks while another had a side salad and water. For groups where spending varies a lot, either calculate each person's share of the bill separately and tip on each share, or agree up front that the group is splitting evenly regardless of what anyone ordered — both are common, and the awkward part is usually agreeing which one applies, not the math itself.
Tips for a smoother bill
Round the total up to a clean number if the difference is small — it saves everyone from digging for exact change. Adjust the percentage for exceptional service in either direction; the presets are a starting point, not a ceiling. And if you're settling a group tab through an app that charges a processing fee, factor that into who owes what before you split, since the fee itself usually isn't part of the tip calculation.
For a large group, agree on the tip percentage before the food arrives rather than after the bill lands on the table. Debating whether the service earned 15% or 20% while everyone's standing up to leave tends to produce a worse outcome than picking a number in advance and sticking to it unless something genuinely changes your mind.
Why the presets are set where they are
10% and 15% cover counter service, delivery, and situations where a tip is appreciated but not expected at the higher end. 18% and 20% sit at the range most US sit-down restaurants treat as standard for competent service, and 25% covers a tip for service that went well above the ordinary. None of these are fixed rules — they exist as fast starting points so you're not typing a custom number into the field every time you use the calculator, and the custom field is right there the moment a preset doesn't fit your situation.
When a tip isn't optional
Some restaurants add an automatic gratuity for large parties, usually somewhere above six or eight guests, printed directly on the check. If that's already on your bill, treat the pre-gratuity subtotal as your bill amount here and skip adding a separate tip on top, unless the service was exceptional enough that you want to leave more voluntarily. Reading the fine print at the bottom of the receipt before entering a number into this calculator avoids the common mistake of tipping twice on the same meal without realizing it.
Related: Percentage Calculator for other quick percentage math, or Freelance Rate Calculator for pricing your own services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Tip Calculator free?
Yes — completely free. No account and no data sent to a server; everything is calculated locally in your browser.
How is the per-person amount calculated?
The total (bill + tip) is divided evenly by the number of people entered. This assumes an even split — for itemized splitting where people paid different amounts, calculate each person's share separately.
What tip percentage should I use?
It depends on the service and location. The presets (10%, 15%, 18%, 20%, 25%) cover the most common range for restaurant service in the US, but you can enter any custom percentage that fits your situation.
Should I tip on the pre-tax or post-tax total?
Conventions vary. Many people tip on the pre-tax subtotal; others tip on the total including tax for simplicity. Enter whichever amount matches your preferred convention as the "bill amount."