Tip
Calculator
Calculate your tip instantly — choose a preset or enter a custom %, split the bill among any number of people, and see every amount broken down in real time.
15–20% for sit-down service; 25%+ for exceptional.
15–20% of order total, minimum $3–5 for small orders.
15–20% of service cost is standard etiquette.
| # | Bill Share | Tip Share | Total |
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Tipping Guide by Service Type
Standard US tipping etiquette across common service industries.
Etiquette experts recommend tipping on the pre-tax bill amount, since tax is not part of the service. However, tipping on the post-tax total is also widely accepted.
On a $50 pre-tax bill with 8% tax ($54 total), the practical difference is minimal: a 20% tip on pre-tax = $10, vs post-tax = $10.80. Either is perfectly acceptable.
Many restaurants automatically add an 18–20% gratuity to bills for parties of 6 or more. Always check your receipt before adding an additional tip — you may be double-tipping.
If the service was exceptional despite the auto-grat, adding a few extra dollars on top is a gracious gesture that servers genuinely appreciate.
Tip Calculator — How It Works
Our tip calculator takes three inputs — bill amount, tip percentage, and number of people — and instantly calculates the tip amount, total bill, and the per-person share of both. Results update in real time as you type, so there's no need to press a button.
Use the quick preset buttons (10%, 15%, 18%, 20%, 25%) to match common tipping situations, or enter any custom percentage. The split breakdown table shows each person's individual share when splitting a bill among multiple diners.
The Tip Calculation Formula
Rounding Up vs Down
When splitting a bill, rounding each person's share up to the nearest dollar is common practice and makes cash payments simpler. It also typically results in a slightly higher effective tip for the server, which is appreciated. Our calculator shows the exact decimal amount — round as you prefer.
Tipping Etiquette in the United States
Tipping is a deeply embedded social norm in the US service industry. Unlike many countries where service charges are included in prices, American service workers often earn a tipped minimum wage that can be as low as $2.13 per hour federally (though most states have higher minimums). Tips make up the majority of many servers' and bartenders' take-home income.
When 20% Became the Standard
The standard restaurant tip shifted from 15% to 18–20% over the past two decades, driven by rising costs of living in major cities and greater awareness of service worker wages. In major US cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, 20% is now the baseline expectation for good service, with 25% becoming more common for exceptional dining experiences.
Tipping at Counter Service and Fast Casual
The rise of digital payment systems and tablet-based POS systems has created "tip creep" — tip prompts appearing at coffee shops, bakeries, and fast-casual restaurants where tipping was historically uncommon. There is no obligation to tip at counter service establishments, but 10–15% is increasingly customary at coffee shops, especially at independent cafés where staff provide more attentive service.
International Tipping Norms
Outside the US, tipping norms vary dramatically. In Japan, tipping can be considered rude — service excellence is considered part of the job and a tip may be refused. In Australia, tipping is appreciated but not expected. In the UK and Europe, rounding up or leaving 10% is common for sit-down service. In Canada, tipping norms closely mirror the US at 15–20%.