How this tip calculator works
The arithmetic behind a tip is simple; doing it in your head at the table is not. This calculator takes three inputs. The bill is whatever you have decided to tip on: the pre-tax subtotal is the customary base in the United States, though plenty of people tip on the final total because that is the number already printed in front of them. The tip percentage comes from the 15, 18, 20 and 25 presets, or from the custom field when you want something in between, such as 22% or 12.5%. The split is the number of people sharing, set with the 1 to 5 buttons or typed into the "More" box.
From there the tip is the bill multiplied by the percentage, the grand total is the bill plus the tip, and each person's share is the grand total divided by the number of people. Everything recalculates as you type. Amounts show to two decimal places, so on an awkward split the per-person figures can land a penny away from the grand total; if you want a rounder number to hand over, nudge the custom percentage up until the total sits where you like it.
Three worked examples
Dinner for four, $68.50 bill, 20%
The tip is $13.70 and the grand total is $82.20. Divided four ways, that is $3.43 of tip and $20.55 per person. If everyone is paying cash, rounding each share up to $21 brings the total to $84, or roughly 22.6%, which is the easy way to avoid counting out coins.
Bar tab of $46.00 for two, 20%
The tip is $9.20 and the total is $55.20, so each person owes $27.60. Compare that with the per-drink habit: if the tab was four drinks, $1 to $2 a drink comes to $4 to $8, noticeably less. Percentages are the more generous route once cocktails are involved. See tipping a bartender for when each convention applies.
Delivery order of $32.75, one person
At 20% the tip is $6.55 for a total of $39.30; at 15% it is $4.91 for a total of $37.66. Both clear the informal $3 to $5 minimum, which is the figure that matters most on a cheap delivery, since a strict percentage of a $12 order would leave the driver with almost nothing. More in the food delivery guide.
Typical US tip ranges at a glance
These are customary expectations in the United States, where tips form a meaningful part of many workers' pay. They are social norms rather than rules, and they are meant as a starting point you adjust for the service you actually received.
| Situation | Typical tip | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant (sit-down) | 15-20% | 20% is the common default; 15% reads as the floor |
| Bar, ordering rounds | $1-2 per drink | $1 a beer, $2 a cocktail |
| Bar, running a tab | 18-20% | Settled once at the end of the night |
| Food delivery | 15-20% | With a $3-5 minimum; more in bad weather |
| Coffee / counter service | Optional | Round up or leave $1; appreciated, not expected |
| Hairdresser / barber | 15-20% | Of the service price |
| Nail salon | 15-20% | Same for manicures, pedicures, and nail art |
| Tattoo artist | 15-20% | 20% is the norm for custom work |
| Taxi / rideshare | 10-15% | Round up on short trips |
| Hotel housekeeping | $2-5 per night | Left daily, since staff rotate |
Outside the United States these numbers change completely, and in several countries a tip is not expected at all. The tipping by country guide covers the customs travelers actually run into, and the full tipping guide adds movers, valets, tour guides, and spa services.
When to tip more, and when to tip less
Push above the range when service earned it: a server who handled a complicated order, a driver who came out in a storm, a stylist who fixed another salon's mistake. Large groups, holiday weeks, and a table you sat at all evening are all fair grounds for going higher. Going below the range is a signal, so use it deliberately: 15% says something was off, and nothing at all says a great deal more. Two things to check first. Many restaurants add automatic gratuity for parties of six or more, and if it is already on the bill the tip is handled. And counter service is discretionary in a way table service is not, so rounding up or leaving a dollar there is a kindness rather than an obligation.
Quick answers
Should I tip on the subtotal or the total? Pre-tax is the customary base and the total is the convenient one; the gap is only the sales tax, and either is perfectly acceptable.
What counts as a good tip? For US sit-down service, 20% is the everyday default, 15% is the floor, and 25% or more is a real compliment.
How do I split a tip fairly? Add the tip to the bill first, then divide, which is exactly what the calculator above does so nobody has to do it on a phone at the table.
The full FAQ works through a dozen of these in detail, including whether an included service charge replaces the tip, how to estimate a tip in your head, and what the calculator does with the numbers you type (nothing: they never leave your browser).
More guides: the complete tipping guide · tipping by country · restaurants · food delivery · large groups · hotel staff · taxis and rideshare · movers · coffee shops · hairdressers · nail salons · tattoo artists · bartenders · FAQ · about this site