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Tip Calculator

Work out a tip, split the bill across any number of people, and see quick-pick percentages side by side. Use any currency.

Tip inputs

What is a tip and why do we leave one?

A tip (sometimes called a gratuity) is an additional voluntary payment given to a service worker on top of the stated price for the service. Historically tips were small tokens of appreciation for good service; in some modern economies — particularly the United States — they have evolved into a structural part of the compensation system, where servers earn a lower base wage on the expectation that tips will bring their income up to a living level. Because of this history, tipping customs vary enormously around the world, and what is generous in one country can be confusing or even offensive in another.

The math of tipping itself is trivial. Multiply the bill by the percentage, add it on, and split if necessary. What makes this calculator useful is the combination of quick-pick percentages (so you can see what 15%, 18%, and 20% look like side by side), clean bill splitting, and a no-assumptions currency field that works anywhere in the world.

How this calculator works

The formula is the standard tip formula:

  • tip = bill × (percent / 100)
  • total = bill + tip
  • per person = total / number_of_people

You enter the bill, pick a tip percentage with the slider (or type an exact number), and set how many people will split the total. The results section shows the tip amount, the total, the per-person share, and a quick-pick table comparing 10%, 15%, 18%, and 20% for the same bill. For etiquette guidance across countries, see the Emily Post Institute's general tipping guide or a recent travel guide for your destination.

Worked example

You and three friends have dinner. The bill comes to 120. You want to leave an 18% tip and split the total evenly.

  • Tip = 120 × 0.18 = 21.60
  • Total = 120 + 21.60 = 141.60
  • Per person = 141.60 ÷ 4 = 35.40

If you wanted the quick-pick comparison at 15%: tip 18.00, total 138.00, per person 34.50. At 20%: tip 24.00, total 144.00, per person 36.00. The per-person difference between 15% and 20% on a 120 bill split four ways is only 1.50 per person — a handy reality check whenever you find yourself agonising over the exact percentage.

Tipping etiquette by region

Tipping norms are the most variable part of this whole topic. A rough global guide:

  • United States and Canada: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants; 15% is the minimum, 20% is increasingly the social default, 25%+ for exceptional service. Bartenders typically 1–2 per drink or 15–20%. Delivery 10–20%. Taxis 10–15%.
  • United Kingdom: 10–12.5% at restaurants, often already added as a "service charge". In pubs, tipping is unusual. Taxis: round up.
  • France, Germany, Italy, Spain: A service charge ("service compris", "Bedienung") is often already included. An extra 5–10% for good service is generous. Rounding up is common.
  • Scandinavia: Tipping is not expected; rounding up is appreciated but optional.
  • Japan, South Korea: Tipping is not part of the culture and can cause confusion or be politely refused. Excellent service is considered the default.
  • China, Taiwan, Hong Kong: Tipping is uncommon at most restaurants; upscale international venues may add a service charge.
  • Middle East and North Africa: 10% or rounding up is common; some restaurants add a service charge.
  • Latin America: Varies widely. Brazil commonly adds a 10% service charge. Mexico typically expects 10–15%.

When travelling, the safest rule is to check a guide before you go and to observe locals. Over-tipping is rarely offensive but can distort norms; under-tipping in places where servers depend on tips is genuinely a problem for them.

Common mistakes

  • Tipping on the tax. Strict etiquette says tip on the pre-tax amount. Most people tip on the total for convenience.
  • Double-tipping a service charge. If the bill already includes a service charge, an additional tip is usually not expected.
  • Splitting unevenly with a single tip amount. Either calculate each person's share or agree to round up generously.
  • Forgetting the minimum tip on small bills. On a 5 coffee, 18% is only 0.90 — some people round up to 1 or 2 for very small bills to avoid trivially small tips.
  • Assuming US norms abroad. Tipping 22% in Tokyo or Paris will not impress anyone; it may actively confuse the server.

When to consult a guide or local

For travel, always check a recent, reputable guide for current tipping norms in your destination. They change over time and vary by venue type. For business dinners or formal occasions in an unfamiliar country, ask your host or a local colleague. Tipping is one of those small social conventions that feels minor until you get it wrong, so a thirty-second check beforehand is always worth it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I calculate a tip?
Multiply the bill by the tip percentage expressed as a decimal: tip = bill × (pct / 100). For a 50 bill at 18%, that is 50 × 0.18 = 9. Add the tip to the bill to get the total: 59. Divide by the number of people to get the per-person share.
What is a fair tip?
That depends entirely on where you are. In the United States, 18–22% is the norm for table service in restaurants; 15% is considered bare minimum and some places increasingly expect 20%+. In much of continental Europe, 5–10% or simply rounding up is typical. In the UK, 10–12.5% is common and is often already added to the bill as a "service charge". In Japan and South Korea, tipping is generally not expected and can even cause confusion.
Should I tip on the pre-tax or post-tax amount?
In the US, the traditional rule is to tip on the pre-tax amount, because tax is not service. In practice many people tip on the post-tax total for convenience. The difference is small (usually 1–2% of the total). Our calculator lets you toggle whether the bill already includes tax so you can be explicit about what you're tipping on.
Is the service charge the same as a tip?
Not always. In many countries (particularly in Europe and parts of Asia), a "service charge" of 10–15% is added automatically to the bill and often goes to the restaurant rather than directly to the server. If a service charge is already on the bill, an additional tip is typically not expected — though you may still leave a small extra amount for exceptional service.
How should I split a bill unevenly?
This calculator does even splits. For uneven splits, calculate each person's share of the pre-tip subtotal, then add the same percentage tip to each share. For example if three people ordered 20, 30, and 50 worth of food, and you're tipping 18%, they owe 23.60, 35.40, and 59.00 respectively. Some groups simply round everyone up and contribute the difference to the tip.
Do I tip on delivery or takeout?
Conventions vary. In the US, delivery is commonly tipped 10–20% (often with a minimum of a few dollars regardless of order size) and takeout tipping is increasingly expected, usually 10%. In most of the world, tipping on delivery and takeout is not customary. When in doubt, ask locals or check a recent travel guide.
Can I enter any currency?
Yes — the currency symbol field is free text. Enter $, €, £, ¥, ₹, R$, zł, or anything else. The calculator does not assume any particular currency; it just formats the numbers.
Why do some countries tip and others don't?
It comes down to how servers are paid. In the United States, many restaurant workers earn a lower base wage on the assumption that tips will make up most of their income — so tipping is effectively part of the compensation system. In countries where servers earn a full living wage regardless of tips, tipping is treated as a small bonus for exceptional service rather than an obligation.