How to calculate a tip
Enter the total bill amount before tax (or after tax — whichever you prefer to tip on), select a tip percentage, and enter the number of people splitting the bill. The tip amount is bill × (tip% / 100). The per-person total is (bill + tip) ÷ number of people. Quick tip presets (10%, 15%, 18%, 20%, 25%) are available for fast selection.
Tip percentage guide
10%: poor service or personal preference | 15%: standard, adequate service | 18%: good service (common default added by restaurants for large parties) | 20%: great service, increasingly the standard | 25%: exceptional service. In the US, tipping 15–20% is expected at sit-down restaurants. Tipping norms vary significantly by country.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I tip on the pre-tax or post-tax amount?
Etiquette varies. Tipping on the pre-tax amount is technically correct — you are rewarding the service, not the government. In practice, tipping on the post-tax total is common and simpler. The difference is small: on a $50 meal with 10% tax, it's $9 vs. $10 tip at 18%.
What if the bill is already rounded?
You can tip any amount you're comfortable with — there is no strict rule. Many people round up to the nearest dollar for simplicity. The calculator shows the exact amount; feel free to round as you see fit.