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Tip Calculator

Enter the bill, choose a tip and say how many people are paying. You get the tip, the total and each person’s share, split so the cents add up exactly.

The total on the bill, including any tax.

Common tip percentages

For example, $25.94 becomes $26.00; the extra goes to the tip.

Result

Each person pays

$47.20

$94.40 in total, including a $14.40 tip

Bill
$80.00
Tip (18%)
$14.40
Total with tip
$94.40
Tip per person
$7.20
Total per person
$47.20
Show the working
  1. Tip = amount × tip percentage$80.00 × 18% = $14.40
  2. Total = bill + tip$80.00 + $14.40 = $94.40
  3. Share = total ÷ people$94.40 ÷ 2 = 47.2

Shares are whole cents. When the total doesn’t divide evenly, the leftover cents go one each to the first shares, so the shares always add up to the total.

Tipping customs differ between countries and types of service; the buttons are shortcuts, not a rule.

How the tip and the split are worked out

The tip is a percentage of the bill. Pick one of the common percentages or type your own, and enter how many people are sharing. The calculator adds the tip to the bill and divides the total between everyone.

Two options change the result:

  • Tip on the amount before tax. Tick it and enter the tax shown on the bill. The tip is then worked out on the bill without the tax; you still pay the tax.
  • Round each share up. Everyone pays the next whole amount (no cents) and the extra goes to the tip. The calculator shows the new tip and what percentage it works out to.

Money is handled in whole cents. The tip is rounded to the nearest cent, and a total that doesn’t divide evenly is split so the shares differ by at most one cent: the leftover cents go one each to the first people. Nothing is lost or added, so the shares always add up to the total on the table.

Tip and split formulas

Tip = B × p

Total = bill + tip; share = total ÷ n

Leftover = total − n × (share rounded down to the cent)

Rounded share = share rounded up to a whole unit; new tip = n × rounded share − bill

B
the amount you tip on: the bill, or the bill minus tax
p
tip percentage as a decimal (18% → 0.18)
n
number of people paying

With rounding on, the effective tip is the new tip divided by B, so you can see how far rounding moved you from the percentage you chose. For other percentage questions, use the percentage calculator.

Worked example

Four friends get a bill for $86.45 and want to leave 20%.

  1. Tip: $86.45 × 0.20 = $17.29
  2. Total: $86.45 + $17.29 = $103.74
  3. Split four ways: $103.74 ÷ 4 = $25.935. That isn’t a whole number of cents, so two people pay $25.94 and two pay $25.93 — together exactly $103.74.
  4. Rounding up instead: each pays $26.00, a total of $104.00. The tip becomes $104.00 − $86.45 = $17.55, which is 20.30% of the bill.

If the $86.45 includes $6.45 of sales tax and they tip on the amount before tax, the tip is 20% of $80.00 = $16.00, and the total is $102.45 — $1.29 less than tipping on the full bill.

Tipping customs and things to check

  • Customs vary. Whether to tip, and how much, depends on the country, the kind of service and sometimes the venue. In some places service is included in prices or listed on the bill and a tip is not expected; in others it is customary. When travelling, check local guidance rather than relying on habits from home.
  • Why tips matter so much in the US. Federal law lets employers pay tipped employees a cash wage as low as $2.13 an hour, as long as tips bring them up to at least the federal minimum wage of $7.25. Many states set higher minimums.
  • Look for a service charge first. Some restaurants add an automatic charge, often for larger groups. The IRS treats a mandatory service charge as a service charge, not a tip: a tip is an amount the customer chooses freely. Check the bill before adding a tip on top.
  • Discounts and coupons. If part of the bill was discounted, you may want to tip on the price before the discount, since the service was the same. The discount calculator shows the original price.

Tips are part of many workers’ earnings. To turn an hourly wage into a yearly figure, see the salary calculator.

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate a 20% tip?

Multiply the bill by 0.20. A quick way in your head: find 10% by moving the decimal point one place to the left, then double it. On an $86.45 bill, 10% is $8.645, so 20% is $17.29.

Should I tip on the amount before or after tax?

Both are common, and it is a personal choice. Tipping before tax gives a slightly smaller tip. On an $86.45 bill that includes $6.45 tax, a 20% tip is $16.00 before tax and $17.29 on the full bill. Tick the pre-tax option to compare.

How does the calculator split a bill that doesn’t divide evenly?

It works in whole cents. Everyone pays the total divided by the number of people, rounded down to the cent, and the few leftover cents go one each to the first people. The shares differ by at most one cent and always add up to the exact total.

Is a service charge the same as a tip?

Not for US tax purposes. The IRS says a tip must be voluntary and its amount chosen by the customer, so a mandatory service charge added to the bill is not a tip. Check whether your bill already includes one before adding more.

What does rounding each share up do?

Each person pays the next whole amount instead of an amount with cents, which is easier with cash. The difference goes to the tip, so the tip ends up a little higher than the percentage you chose; the calculator shows the new effective percentage.

Sources

Last reviewed September 15, 2026