Tip Calculator

How to work out a tip

Multiply the bill by the tip percentage. A 20% tip on $84 is $84 × 0.20 = $16.80, making the total $100.80. To split it, divide the total by the number of people: three people pay $33.60 each.

To do it in your head, find 10% by moving the decimal point one place left ($84 becomes $8.40), then double it for 20% ($16.80), or add half again for 15% ($12.60).

Splitting and rounding up

Splitting evenly is the simplest fair option when everyone ordered similar amounts. If orders were very different, have each person tip on their own share of the bill instead; the tip percentage stays the same, only the base changes.

Rounding up keeps the math and the payment simple, especially in cash. Rounding each person's share up to the next dollar always covers the bill, and the extra goes to the server. In the default example, rounding each $33.60 share up to $34 makes the total $102 and the tip $18, which is 21.43% of the bill.

Pre-tax or after-tax, and service charges

Whether to tip on the amount before or after sales tax is a personal choice; tipping on the pre-tax subtotal is common. Enter whichever amount you prefer to tip on. On a typical bill the difference is small.

Check the bill for a service charge or automatic gratuity before adding a tip. Under federal wage rules, a compulsory service charge, such as 15% added to the bill, is not a tip: it belongs to the business, which may or may not pass it to staff. A tip is voluntary and belongs to the employee who receives it.

The formulas

• B = bill amount you are tipping on
• T = tip percentage as a decimal (20% = 0.20)
• N = number of people splitting

Example

1. Three people split an $84 bill and want to leave a 20% tip.
2. Tip = $84 × 0.20 = $16.80.
3. Total = $84 + $16.80 = $100.80.
4. Each person pays $100.80 ÷ 3 = $33.60.
5. Rounding each share up to $34 makes the total $102.00 and the tip $18.00 (21.43%).

Frequently asked questions