Enter the check amount, pick a tip percentage and say how many people are paying to see the tip, the total and each person’s share. On a $92.40 check that includes $7.40 of sales tax, a 20% tip on the amount before tax is $17.00, the total comes to $109.40 and two people pay $54.70 each.
Tip Calculator
Tip, total and bill split per person · Updated October 13, 2026
- Total with tip
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- Each person pays
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- Tip per person
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- Tip worked out on
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- Tip as a share of the pre-tax bill
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When you round up, the extra cents are added to the tip.
How the tip is calculated
- Tip on the amount before tax = (bill − sales tax) × tip percentage
- Tip on the total = bill × tip percentage
- Total = bill + tip, and each person’s share = total ÷ number of people
- Rounding up raises the total, or each person’s share, to the next whole dollar and counts the extra cents as tip.
Etiquette guides such as the Emily Post Institute suggest working out a restaurant tip on the amount before tax, because the sales tax goes to the state, not to the server. Tipping on the full total is simpler and slightly more generous: in the example above, 20% of the whole $92.40 is $18.48, which is $1.48 more than 20% of the $85.00 of food and drink.
Quick tip table
| Tip | Tip on an $80 bill | Bill plus tip |
|---|---|---|
| 15% | $12.00 | $92.00 |
| 18% | $14.40 | $94.40 |
| 20% | $16.00 | $96.00 |
| 22% | $17.60 | $97.60 |
| 25% | $20.00 | $100.00 |
For mental math, find 10% by moving the decimal point one place to the left ($80 becomes $8), double it for 20%, and add half of it again for 15% ($8 + $4 = $12).
How much to tip in the US
There is no law that sets tip amounts, so the figures below are etiquette guidelines rather than rules. They come from the Emily Post Institute’s general tipping guide.
| Service | Suggested tip |
|---|---|
| Sit-down restaurant | 15–20% of the bill before tax |
| Buffet | 10% of the bill before tax |
| Bartender | $1–2 per drink, or 15–20% of the tab |
| Food delivery | 10–15% of the bill ($2–5 for pizza) |
| Takeout | Not required; 10% for curbside service or a large, complicated order |
| Taxi | 15–20% of the fare, at least $1 |
| Hair stylist | 15–20% |
What people actually do varies. In a Pew Research Center survey of 11,945 adults in August 2023, 92% of those who eat at sit-down restaurants said they always or often tip there, but 57% said they would leave 15% or less for an average meal and only about a quarter would leave 20% or more. 72% said tipping is expected in more places than it was five years earlier.
Splitting the bill fairly
- An even split works when everyone ordered about the same. Set the number of people and the calculator shows each share, including the tip.
- When orders differ a lot, run the calculator once per person with only their items and their part of the tax, using 1 as the number of people.
- A total rarely divides into exact cents. The calculator tells you when one or two people need to pay a cent more so the shares add up.
- Check the receipt for an automatic gratuity or service charge, which some restaurants add for large groups. If it’s there, you don’t need to tip the full amount again.
Tips and the new federal tax deduction
Since 2025, workers in jobs that customarily received tips can deduct up to $25,000 a year of qualified tips from their federal taxable income. The deduction runs for tax years 2025 through 2028 and starts to phase out above $150,000 of modified adjusted gross income ($300,000 for joint filers). It doesn’t change how much you should leave, but it means more of each tip stays with the person who earned it.
FAQ
Should I tip on the amount before or after tax?
Etiquette guides recommend the amount before tax, and that’s the default here. Many people simply tip on the total because it’s quicker; the difference is the tip percentage multiplied by the tax, usually a dollar or two.
What should I tip when I use a coupon or gift card?
The server did the same work whatever the discount, so many people tip on the original price. Enter the undiscounted bill to see that figure.
Is a service charge the same as a tip?
Not always. A tip is voluntary and goes to the staff, while a service charge is set by the business and may be shared differently. If the receipt shows a service charge or automatic gratuity, ask how it is handled before adding more.
How do I tip on a bill split between several cards?
Use the per-person total from the calculator as the amount to charge on each card, or add the per-person tip to each person’s own share of the bill.
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Sources
- Emily Post Institute: General tipping guide
- Pew Research Center: Tipping culture in America · November 9, 2023
- IRS: One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act tax deductions for working Americans and seniors
Figures current as of October 13, 2026
Each formula is checked against a separate test sheet with at least three worked examples. Results are estimates based on the numbers you enter and the published rules; your actual figures may differ. This is general information, not financial or tax advice.
Spotted a mistake? Contact us and we will fix it and update the date above.