Tip Calculator

How it works

The tip is a percentage of the bill. Multiply the bill by the percent you want to leave, and add it to the bill to get what you will pay in all.

If you prefer to tip on the food and drink only, choose "The bill before tax" and enter the sales tax printed on the check. The tip is then taken on the bill minus the tax, but the total still includes the tax because you still have to pay it.

Splitting divides the tip and the total evenly by the number of people, rounding each share up to the next cent. Rounding up means the shares always add up to at least the bill; rounding to the nearest cent could leave the table a few cents short.

Formula

base = bill                 (tip on the full bill)
base = bill − tax           (tip on the bill before tax)
tip = base × percent ÷ 100
total = bill + tip
per person = ⌈(total ÷ people) × 100⌉ ÷ 100    (rounded up to the cent)

Example

An $85.00 bill at 18%: the tip is 85 × 0.18 = $15.30 and the total is $100.30. For one person that is the whole $100.30.

A $100.00 bill at 15% split three ways: the tip is $15.00 and the total is $115.00. Divided by 3 that is $38.333…, which rounds up to $38.34 each; the three shares come to $115.02, two cents over rather than a cent short.

A $108.00 check that includes $8.00 tax, tipping 20% on the pre-tax amount: the base is $100.00, the tip $20.00, and the total $128.00.

Assumptions and limitations

• The tip percent is entered as a plain number: type 18 for 18%.
• Shares are rounded up to the next cent independently for the tip and for the total, so the per-person figures times the number of people can exceed the exact amounts by up to a cent per person.
• Any service charge or gratuity already added to the bill is not detected; check the receipt before adding a tip on top.
• Customary percentages vary by country and type of service; the default of 18% is only a starting point.

Frequently asked questions