How to use it
- Type the bill amount from your check. Commas and a dollar sign are fine, so "$1,234.50" works.
- Tap a tip percent, or type your own in the custom box. Decimals like 17.5 work too.
- If you're splitting the check, set the number of people with the + and − buttons or type it in.
- Turn on Round each share up if everyone wants to pay a whole-dollar amount.
Results update as you type. The Calculate button does the same thing if you prefer to tap it. Copy result puts a plain-text summary on your clipboard, ready to paste into a group text. Your numbers are also saved in the page address, so you can bookmark the result or send someone the link.
The formula
Tip = Bill × Tip percent ÷ 100
Total = Bill + Tip
Each person = Total ÷ Number of people
Extra from rounding = (Rounded share × People) − Total
The calculator works in whole cents. It rounds the tip to the nearest cent once, then adds and divides. Each person's share is rounded to the nearest cent only when it's shown on screen.
Worked example: $85.40 split three ways at 18%
- Tip: 85.40 × 18 ÷ 100 = 15.372, which rounds to $15.37
- Total: 85.40 + 15.37 = $100.77
- Each person: 100.77 ÷ 3 = $33.59
With rounding turned on, each person pays $34.00. Three shares of $34.00 come to $102.00, which is $1.23 more than the total. That $1.23 goes to the server, so the tip becomes $16.60, or about 19.4% of the bill.
Common mistakes
- Tipping twice. Some restaurants add an automatic gratuity or service charge, especially for large groups. Check the bottom of the receipt before you add a tip on top.
- Typing the percent as a decimal. An 18% tip is "18", not "0.18". The calculator reads 0.18 as less than one percent.
- Rounding the total instead of the shares. If you round the total up and then divide it, each share can still end up with cents. Rounding each share, which is what the toggle does, gives everyone an even number to pay.
- Mixing up the bill before and after tax. Decide which number you're tipping on and enter that one. The calculator tips on exactly the amount you type.
Questions people ask
How much should I tip?
In the U.S. there's no law that sets a tip. It's a custom, and it varies by the kind of service and by region. For sit-down restaurant service, 15% to 20% is a common range, and many people start at 18% or 20%. The quick buttons cover 15% to 25%, and you can type any other amount.
Should I tip on the total before or after tax?
Both are common. Some people tip on the subtotal before tax, and others tip on the final total because it's the number in front of them. Tipping on the total with tax is simpler and a little more generous. Enter whichever amount you want to tip on.
Why don't the shares add up to the exact total?
Some totals don't divide evenly. A $100.00 total split three ways is $33.333… per person, which shows as $33.33, and three of those make $99.99. Someone has to cover the extra cent. Turning on rounding avoids the problem, because every share becomes a whole-dollar amount.
What does "round each share up" do?
It raises each person's share to the next whole dollar. A share of $33.59 becomes $34.00. A share that's already a whole dollar stays the same. The extra money from rounding is added to the tip, and the calculator shows how much that adds and what the final tip percent works out to.
Can I use it for things other than restaurants?
Yes. It works for delivery, haircuts, rideshares or any shared bill. To split a bill evenly with no tip at all, set the tip to 0.
Does this calculator save my information?
No. The math runs in your browser, and nothing you type is sent to us. Your numbers appear only in the page address, so they're there if you bookmark or share the link. The privacy policy has the details.