Bill Tip & Split Calculator
Split a restaurant bill with friends in seconds. Enter the bill, tip percent, and party size, then see the tip, total, and what each person owes. Optional tax and pre-tax / post-tax tip toggle.
Bill Tip & Split Calculator
Bill Amount
Sales Tax (optional)
Leave at $0 if your bill is already tax-inclusive.
Tip Percentage
Sit-down service standard: 18-22%.
Calculate Tip On
Pre-tax is the US etiquette standard. Post-tax adds a few cents to a few dollars depending on your local tax rate.
People Splitting
Round Up Per Person
A small over-tip buffer goes to your server. We show the exact amount below.
How to split a restaurant bill with tip in 30 seconds
Enter the pre-tax subtotal, drop in the sales tax if your receipt shows it separately, pick a tip percent (or tap a chip), and set the party size. The per-person total updates as you type. If you want everyone to pay a clean dollar amount, flip on Round up per person and you will see the small over-tip buffer that creates.
Defaults follow standard US etiquette: 20% on the pre-tax subtotal. If your group prefers tipping on the post-tax total, toggle the Pre-tax / Post-tax control. The math takes about a second either way.
Pre-tax vs. post-tax tipping: what's actually standard?
Pre-tax tipping is the etiquette norm in the United States. Sources like the Emily Post Institute and AAA recommend calculating the tip on the food and drink subtotal because sales tax is a government charge, not part of the service. Toast POS, which processes a large share of restaurant checks, notes that pre-tax is the standard guidance, while post-tax is widely accepted in practice.
How big is the difference? On a $100 subtotal with 8% sales tax and a 20% tip:
- Pre-tax tip: $100 × 20% = $20.00 tip, $128.00 grand total
- Post-tax tip: $108 × 20% = $21.60 tip, $129.60 grand total
The gap is $1.60. Pick the method you prefer; both are socially fine.
Even split vs. itemized split: when each makes sense
An even split is easy and usually fair. It works well when everyone ordered similarly, when the group is just splitting drinks, or when you trade off who pays across multiple outings.
Itemized splits make more sense when orders are uneven: one person had a $12 salad and water, another had steak, two cocktails, and dessert. A middle-ground approach that avoids opening separate tabs: split the food evenly, then each drinker covers their own bar charges. Tip and tax still divide evenly so the server is not penalized for your group's math.
Group dining etiquette: auto-gratuity, cash buffers, and the awkward math
Many restaurants add 18-20% automatic gratuity to checks for parties of 6 or 8 and up. Look at the bottom of the receipt before tipping again; the line is often labeled "service charge," "gratuity," or "auto-grat." If it is already there, you owe nothing extra unless service was exceptional. Our service charge vs tip calculator can help you see how a service charge compares to a normal tip.
If you are the server on the other side of that check, the calculator above shows what your table will leave, but it is not what hits your paycheck. After the shift, tip-outs to bartenders, bussers, and food runners come off the top. Our tip out calculator and tip pool share calculator handle that side of the math. For ongoing shift tracking, the Server44 app logs every tip and tip-out so you can see what you actually take home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about bill tip & split calculator
Should you tip on the pre-tax subtotal or the post-tax total?
Standard US etiquette (Emily Post, AAA) says tip on the pre-tax subtotal because sales tax goes to the state, not your server. In practice, many diners just tip on the post-tax total because it is faster, and the dollar difference is usually small. This calculator lets you toggle either way. For service-type ranges, see our tip percentage calculator.
How do you split a restaurant bill evenly with tip and tax?
Add the tax to the bill, calculate the tip on the subtotal (or the total, depending on your preference), add the tip to that grand total, then divide by the number of people. Example: $80 bill + $6.40 tax + $16 tip (20% pre-tax) = $102.40 total, split 4 ways = $25.60 per person.
Is 20% a good tip in 2026?
Yes. 20% of the pre-tax bill is the standard tip for sit-down restaurant service in 2026. 18% is the floor for adequate service, and 22-25% is the range for excellent service or fine dining. Counter-service and takeout sit lower, around 10-15%.
How do you handle uneven splits when one person ordered more?
An even split is fine when everyone ordered similarly. If one person had only a salad and another had steak and three drinks, an itemized split is fairer. A common middle ground: split the food evenly but have each person cover their own drinks. Tip and tax still divide evenly across the party.
Do you tip on sales tax?
Tipping on tax is optional. The traditional rule is no, because tax is not part of the service. Tipping on the post-tax total adds a small amount (usually under $2 on a $100 check at 8% tax). Either approach is socially acceptable in the US.
What's the standard tip for sit-down restaurant service?
18-22% of the pre-tax subtotal for typical sit-down service, with 20% as the median. Fine dining and tasting menus often run 20-25%. Counter service, fast-casual, and takeout are lower (10-15% is common, $1-2 per drink at a bar).
How should a large party handle automatic gratuity (auto-grat) on the check?
Many restaurants automatically add 18-20% gratuity for parties of 6 or 8 and up. Check the bill before tipping again so you do not double-tip. If the auto-grat is already included, you owe nothing extra unless service was exceptional. Our service charge vs tip calculator can help you tell the two apart.
Is it rude to round down to make the per-person amount even?
Rounding up is kinder than rounding down. If $25.60 per person feels awkward, round to $26 each instead of $25. Use the round-up toggle here to see the small over-tip buffer that creates. Servers split tips with bussers and bartenders through tip pools, so the small extra helps the whole team (see our tip pool share calculator).