Question 1

Should the tip be calculated before or after tax?

Accepted Answer

Etiquette guides differ, but most people in the US tip on the pre-tax subtotal, since that reflects the value of service actually delivered. If your receipt already shows one tax-inclusive total, entering that whole figure here just means the tip is calculated on a slightly larger base — a small difference in most cases.

Question 2

What tip percentage is standard?

Accepted Answer

15–20% is the typical range for table service in the US, with 18–20% common for good service at full-service restaurants. Counter service, takeout, and delivery often use a lower percentage or a flat amount. Outside the US, tipping norms vary widely — some countries build service into the price and see extra tips as unusual.

Question 3

How does splitting work if people ordered different amounts?

Accepted Answer

This calculator splits the bill evenly across the group, which is simplest when everyone ordered roughly the same amount. If costs were very uneven, it is more accurate to divide each person’s own items first, then have each person add their share of tax and tip on top — this tool covers the even-split case.

Question 4

Why round the total up?

Accepted Answer

Rounding the total up to the nearest dollar before splitting is a common convention that avoids awkward coin change and effectively rounds the tip up slightly — useful when paying with cash.

Tip & Bill Split Calculator

How the split is calculated

Common questions