Tip Calculator

Work out the tip, the total, and what each person owes on any US restaurant bill — pre-tax or post-tax, with 10–25% presets and a round-up option. The default is an $85.00 bill at 20%: a $17.00 tip, a $102.00 total, and $51.00 per person for two people.

What Is a Tip Calculator?

A tip calculator works out how much to tip on a restaurant bill, what the total comes to, and what each person owes when the bill is split. Enter the bill, pick a tip percentage, and the answer appears instantly. The free tip calculator above does exactly that, with presets for the percentages Americans use most: 10%, 15%, 18%, 20% and 25%.

Tipping is a big part of everyday spending in the United States. A sit-down meal, a food delivery, a taxi ride, a haircut — in each case the person serving you is often paid partly in tips, and the amount you leave matters to their income. Getting the maths right should be the easy part, and that is what this page is for. Below you will find the US tipping norms, the difference between tipping before and after tax, how to split a bill fairly, and the mistakes that cost people money.

How the calculator works

Type the bill amount, choose a tip percentage or enter your own, add sales tax if you want it included, and say how many people are splitting the bill. The calculator shows the tip, the total, the amount per person, and the tip per person. It also shows a comparison table for 15%, 18%, 20% and 25% on the same bill, so you can pick the level that fits the service you received. With the default bill of $85.00 and a 20% tip, the tip is $17.00, the total is $102.00, and each of two people pays $51.00, including $8.50 of tip per person.

How to Use the Tip Calculator

The calculator is designed to be used at the table, in seconds, with no sign-up and nothing to install. Follow these steps and you will have the answer before the server returns with the card machine.

1. Enter the bill. Type the subtotal printed on the check, before tax, for the most accurate US-style result.
2. Pick a tip percentage. Tap 15%, 18%, 20% or 25%, or type a custom percentage. The 20% button is marked typical for sit-down service.
3. Add sales tax if you like. Enter the tax rate from the receipt. The tip stays on the pre-tax subtotal unless you switch the basis to post-tax.
4. Split the bill. Enter the number of people sharing the check. The calculator divides the total and the tip evenly.
5. Round up if you want. Tick the round-up box and each person’s share rises to the next whole dollar, with the extra cents going to the tip.

That is all there is to it. The result updates as you type, so changing the tip percentage from 18% to 20% instantly shows the difference — on an $85.00 bill, that is $15.30 versus $17.00, a difference of $1.70.

What the comparison table tells you

The comparison table under the result shows four tip levels side by side on your bill. It is useful when the service was somewhere between good and great and you are deciding between two percentages. On the $85.00 default bill, 15% gives a $12.75 tip and a $97.75 total, 18% gives $15.30 and $100.30, 20% gives $17.00 and $102.00, and 25% gives $21.25 and $106.25. The jump from 15% to 20% costs $4.25 on this bill — a small amount that means a lot to the person serving you.

Tip Comparison: 15% vs 18% vs 20% vs 25%

These four percentages cover almost every tipping decision in the United States. Fifteen percent is the floor for acceptable sit-down service, 18% is good service, 20% is the modern standard for good-to-great service, and 25% is for outstanding service or fine dining. The table below shows what each level costs on the default $85.00 bill with no sales tax, so you can see the real dollar difference before you decide.

Notice how small the steps are. Moving from 18% to 20% on an $85.00 bill adds $1.70 to the tip and $0.85 per person for two people. Moving from 20% to 25% adds $4.25. When the service was genuinely good, the difference between a decent tip and a generous one is usually less than the cost of a coffee.

How Much Should You Tip in the US?

The short answer for a sit-down restaurant is 15% to 20% of the pre-tax bill. Fifteen percent is adequate service, 18% is good service, and 20% or more is excellent service. Fine dining usually calls for 20% to 25%. These are the norms used across the United States, and they are the reason the calculator’s presets start at 10% and run to 25%.

Different situations have different norms, and the table below covers the ones Americans meet most often. The minimums matter: a $2 delivery tip on a $10 order is only 20% in percentage terms, but many delivery drivers count on a $5 minimum to make the trip worthwhile, and the same logic applies to a short taxi ride.

Sit-down restaurants

For table service, 18% to 20% is the modern standard. In the past, 15% was the standard, and it still counts as acceptable for adequate service. But tipping norms have drifted upward, and many servers now expect 20% for good service. If the service was slow, rude, or wrong, you can drop to 15% or lower — but talk to a manager about the problem rather than silently punishing the server, since the kitchen or staffing may be at fault.

Delivery and takeout

Delivery drivers use their own cars, pay for their own gas, and often take several trips an hour, so 15% to 20% with a $5 minimum is the fair range. In rain, snow, or late at night, add more. Takeout is different: the kitchen did the work and nobody served you at a table, so 10% is generous and many people tip nothing at all for a simple pickup. A tip jar at a coffee counter is optional — a dollar is kind, and nobody expects a percentage.

• Table service: 18% to 20% for good service, 15% for adequate service.
• Delivery: 15% to 20%, with a $5 minimum even on small orders.
• Takeout: 10% is generous; nothing is normal for a simple pickup.
• Bartender: $1 to $2 per drink, or 15% to 20% of the tab.
• Taxi or rideshare: 15% to 20% of the fare.
• Coffee counter tip jar: a dollar is kind, and nobody expects a percentage.

Pre-Tax vs Post-Tax Tipping: Which Is Correct in the US?

The US convention is to tip on the pre-tax subtotal, not on the total after sales tax. That is the standard recommended by NerdWallet and by most tipping guides, and it is the default in the calculator above. The reason is simple: sales tax goes to the state, not to the restaurant or the server, so tipping on it means tipping on money the server never sees.

Card terminals and payment screens often suggest tips calculated on the post-tax total, which quietly raises the tip. On an $85.00 bill with 8% sales tax, the tax is $6.80, so the post-tax total is $91.80. A 20% tip on the pre-tax bill is $17.00; a 20% tip on the post-tax total is $18.36 — a difference of $1.36 that goes to the server only because the tax was included. Neither is wrong in a moral sense, and tipping on the total is generous, but if you want to follow the US convention, use the pre-tax number. The calculator lets you switch the basis so you can see both amounts and choose deliberately.

• Pre-tax (recommended): tip on the subtotal printed before tax. This is the US convention.
• Post-tax: tip on the bill plus sales tax. Slightly more generous, and what many card terminals suggest.
• Check the receipt: the subtotal is usually printed above the tax line, so you do not need to subtract anything yourself.

How to Calculate a 20% Tip in Your Head

You do not always have a calculator at the table, and the 20% trick is the one worth memorizing. Move the decimal point one place to the left to get 10% of the bill, then double it to get 20%. On an $85.00 bill, 10% is $8.50, so 20% is $17.00. On a $46.00 bill, 10% is $4.60, so 20% is $9.20. It works on any bill in two seconds.

The 15% trick

For 15%, take 10% (move the decimal), then add half of that number again. On an $85.00 bill, 10% is $8.50, half of that is $4.25, and $8.50 plus $4.25 is $12.75 — the 15% tip. For 18%, take 20% and subtract 2%: on $85.00, 20% is $17.00 and 2% is $1.70, so 18% is $15.30. These two tricks cover the three percentages you will use most.

• 10%: move the decimal one place left.
• 15%: 10% plus half of 10%.
• 18%: 20% minus 2% (2% is one-fifth of 10%).
• 20%: 10% doubled.
• 25%: divide the bill by four.

Splitting the Bill Between People

When the check is split, the fair way is to divide the total — bill plus tax plus tip — evenly. The calculator does this automatically: on the default $85.00 bill with a 20% tip, two people pay $51.00 each, of which $8.50 is tip per person. For three people the same bill comes to $34.00 each, and for four people $25.50 each.

The round-up option

Rounding each person’s share up to the next whole dollar is a neat way to be generous without thinking about it. With round-up on, two people splitting the $102.00 total would each pay $51.00 already — it is already a whole dollar, so nothing changes. But on a $97.75 total split between two people, each share is $48.88, and rounding up to $49.00 each adds $0.25 to the tip. On larger groups the rounding adds up: six people splitting a $100.30 total pay $16.72 each, and rounding to $17.00 each adds $1.70 to the tip. The extra money always goes to the tip, never to the restaurant.

• Even split: divide the total by the number of people. Simple and fair when everyone ordered similar amounts.
• Split by order: when orders differ a lot, split the food by what each person ordered and share the tip in the same proportions.
• Tip on the shared total: calculate the tip on the whole bill first, then split — tipping on each person’s share gives the same answer, but the whole-bill way is simpler.
• Round up per person: rounding each share to the next whole dollar adds a little to the tip and makes the maths clean.

• Even split: divide the total by the number of people. Simple and fair when everyone ordered similar amounts.
• Itemized split: if one person ordered a $40 steak and another a $12 salad, split the food by what each person ordered, then split the tip by the same shares.
• One person pays, others reimburse: the payer should collect the per-person amount including tip, not just the food cost.
• Do not forget tax: the split should include sales tax and the tip, not just the food subtotal.

Service Charges and Auto-Gratuity: Check Before You Tip Twice

Many restaurants add an automatic gratuity — usually 18% to 20% — for large parties, typically six or more people. Some add a service charge for all tables. Either way, the charge is printed on the check, and it is already a tip. Adding another 20% on top means tipping twice, which is the most common tipping mistake in the United States.

A service charge is not legally the same as a tip. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, a compulsory service charge is not a tip — it belongs to the restaurant, which may distribute it to staff but does not have to treat it the same way as a voluntary tip. That distinction matters to workers, and it is one reason the US Department of Labor fact sheet on tipped employees explains the difference. For you as the customer, the practical rule is simple: a printed service charge replaces the tip unless you choose to add more.

• Parties of 6 or more: expect an 18–20% auto-gratuity and check the check before adding anything.
• Service charge: a compulsory charge is not a voluntary tip, even when it goes to staff.
• Resorts and hotels: a daily service charge on the room bill is not a tip for the housekeeper — leave housekeeping tips separately, usually $3–$5 per night.
• Banquets and catering: a 20% service charge is standard, and an additional cash tip is optional.

Tipping Around the US: Who Gets Tipped and How Much

Tipping extends well beyond restaurants. The table below covers the services Americans tip for most often, with the usual amounts. When in doubt, 15% to 20% of the service cost is a safe default for personal services, and $1 to $5 is the usual range for small, quick services.

Some services are not tipped at all in the US: fast-food counter workers, retail cashiers, and professionals such as doctors, lawyers, and teachers. Tipping them is unusual and can be awkward. When a payment screen suggests a tip for a service that was never traditionally tipped — the so-called tip prompt on a tablet at a counter — you are free to choose no tip or a small amount. The prompt is a suggestion, not an obligation.

Tipping and Taxes: The Worker’s Side

Tips are taxable income in the United States, and tipped workers must report them. The federal tipped minimum wage is $2.13 per hour, and the employer can claim a tip credit of up to $5.12 per hour, as long as the worker’s tips plus cash wage reach at least the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour in each workweek. If tips fall short, the employer must make up the difference. These figures come from the US Department of Labor, and many states require a higher cash wage than $2.13 or forbid the tip credit entirely.

Knowing this changes how you think about a tip. For a server earning the $2.13 cash wage, the tip is not a bonus — it is most of their pay. That is why 20% has become the standard for good service, and why rounding up or adding a dollar matters more to the worker than it costs you. If you earn an hourly wage yourself, the salary calculator converts it to an annual figure, and tips are taxable income, so the federal tax calculator shows how they add to your tax. If you want a deeper explanation of how tipping is calculated as a percentage, the percentage calculator on this site works the same maths on any numbers, and NerdWallet’s tip calculator guide explains the US norms in detail.

Tip pooling

Many restaurants pool tips and share them among servers, bussers, bartenders, and sometimes kitchen staff. Pooling is legal under the Fair Labor Standards Act, with limits: managers and supervisors may not take a share of a tip pool, and when the employer takes a tip credit the pool is limited to workers who customarily receive tips. If you tip in cash, the money still goes into the pool in most pooled houses — cash does not bypass the system. That is fine; the pool exists so that everyone who served you is paid.

Common Tipping Mistakes to Avoid

Most tipping mistakes are small, but they repeat every time you eat out, so they add up. Here are the ones to watch for.

• Tipping on the post-tax total without noticing. Card terminals suggest post-tax tips, which quietly add a dollar or two. Use the pre-tax subtotal unless you mean to be generous.
• Tipping twice on an auto-gratuity. Check the check for a service charge before adding a tip for a large party.
• Forgetting the delivery minimum. A 20% tip on a $12 order is only $2.40. Delivery drivers count on a $5 minimum.
• Splitting only the food cost. The split should include tax and tip, not just the subtotal, or the payer ends up covering the difference.
• Leaving no tip for bad service without saying why. If the service was genuinely bad, tell a manager. A zero tip with no explanation fixes nothing.
• Rounding the tip down. Rounding $16.80 down to $16.00 saves you $0.80 and costs the server the same. Round up, not down.
• Tipping on a credit card fee. Some restaurants add a card surcharge; do not tip on the surcharge amount.

Three Worked Examples

These examples use the calculator above, so you can check every number yourself by entering the same inputs.

Example 1 — dinner for two. Bill $85.00, tip 20%, no tax, 2 people. Tip $17.00, total $102.00, $51.00 per person, $8.50 tip per person. This is the calculator’s default, and it is the most common restaurant scenario in the US: a mid-range dinner for two with good service.

Example 2 — delivery with tax. Bill $46.00, tip 18%, sales tax 8%, 1 person. Tax is $3.68. The tip is calculated on the pre-tax $46.00, so the tip is $8.28 and the total is $57.96. If the tip were calculated on the post-tax $49.68 instead, the tip would be $8.94 and the total $58.62 — a difference of $0.66. Either way, the $5 delivery minimum is comfortably met.

Example 3 — a group of six. Bill $240.00, tip 20%, no tax, 6 people. Tip $48.00, total $288.00, $48.00 per person, $8.00 tip per person. With round-up on, each share is already $48.00, so nothing changes. But check the check first: a party of six is often charged an 18% auto-gratuity of $43.20, in which case the extra tip is optional.

Tip Calculator vs Percentage Calculator

A tip calculator is a percentage calculator with restaurant logic built in: presets for the usual tip rates, a tax field, a pre-tax versus post-tax choice, bill splitting, and round-up. If you only need a raw percentage of a number, the percentage calculator does it. If you are at a restaurant, the tip calculator saves you the steps of working out the tax, the split, and the comparison between 15%, 18% and 20%.

The two tools agree on the maths: 20% of $85.00 is $17.00 in both. The difference is convenience. The tip calculator also reminds you about auto-gratuity and the pre-tax convention, which a plain percentage tool cannot. For shopping, use the discount calculator instead — it works out sale prices and savings, which is the same percentage maths pointed at a different problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good tip percentage in the US?

For sit-down restaurants, 18% to 20% of the pre-tax bill is the modern standard for good service. Fifteen percent is acceptable for adequate service, and 20% to 25% is right for excellent service or fine dining.

Should I tip on the pre-tax or post-tax amount?

Pre-tax is the US convention: tip on the subtotal before sales tax. Tipping on the post-tax total is slightly more generous and is what many card terminals suggest, but it is not the standard.

How much should I tip for delivery?

Tip 15% to 20% with a $5 minimum, more in bad weather or for a large order. On a small order the percentage alone can be too little, which is why the minimum matters.

Do I need to tip if a service charge is already on the bill?

No. A service charge or auto-gratuity of 18% to 20% is already a tip. Check the check first so you do not tip twice, and add extra only if the service was outstanding.

How do I split a bill between friends?

Divide the total — bill plus tax plus tip — by the number of people. If everyone ordered similar amounts, an even split is fair; if orders differ a lot, split the food by what each person ordered and share the tip in the same proportions.

What is the tipped minimum wage in the US?

Federally, a tipped worker must be paid at least $2.13 per hour in cash wages, and tips plus cash wage must reach at least the $7.25 federal minimum wage each workweek. Many states require a higher cash wage.

Is 10% ever enough for a tip?

Yes, for takeout or counter service, where nobody served you at a table. For sit-down service, 10% is below the usual standard and will read as a complaint about the service.

Disclaimer: This calculator is for general information only. Tipping norms vary by region and establishment; the amounts shown are estimates, not legal or financial advice. Always check your bill for service charges before adding a tip.