The Bill
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About this tip calculator
Tipping in the United States is a social system with real math behind it: restaurant servers in most states earn a base wage of just $2.13 an hour, and tips make up the difference. This calculator does the arithmetic for you — enter the bill, pick a percentage (or tap one of the quick buttons), and you get the tip amount and the total, split cleanly between however many people are at the table.
The quick presets cover the standard bands: 15% for adequate service, 18% for good, 20%+ for great. Adjust up for large parties (many restaurants already add an 18–20% gratuity for six or more guests — check your receipt first), and tip on the pre-tax subtotal if you want to follow the strict etiquette rule.
If you are visiting the U.S. from abroad, the short version is: 18–20% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 per drink at bars, 15–20% for food delivery, and about 15% for taxi and rideshare rides.
How the tip math works
Tip = bill × (tip% ÷ 100). Total = bill + tip. When splitting, divide the total by the number of people.
Example: an $86.40 dinner with a 20% tip → $86.40 × 0.20 = $17.28 tip, $103.68 total. Split between 4 people: $25.92 each.
A handy mental shortcut for 20%: move the decimal point one place left (10%) and double it. For $86.40 that is $8.64 × 2 = $17.28.
Typical U.S. tipping guidelines
| Service | Usual tip |
|---|---|
| Sit-down restaurant | 18–20% of pre-tax bill |
| Bar (per drink) | $1–2 |
| Food delivery | 15–20% (min $3–5) |
| Taxi / rideshare | 15% |
| Hair salon / barber | 15–20% |
| Hotel housekeeping | $2–5 per night |
| Hotel bellhop | $1–2 per bag |
How to calculate a tip
- Enter the bill: Type the total from the receipt (before or after tax is your choice — pre-tax is the etiquette purist option).
- Choose the percentage: Use a quick button (15/18/20/25%) or type any custom percentage.
- Split if needed: Set how many people are sharing — the calculator shows what each person pays, tip included.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I tip at a restaurant in the U.S.?
The current standard is 18–20% of the pre-tax bill for good service at a sit-down restaurant. Fifteen percent is the old baseline and still acceptable for merely adequate service; 25% and up is a generous thank-you. For large parties, check whether the restaurant already added an automatic gratuity.
Do I tip on the subtotal or the total with tax?
Etiquette experts say tip on the pre-tax subtotal, since tax is not part of the service. In practice many people tip on the final total because it is easier — the difference on a typical bill is under a dollar. Either way, use this calculator to get the exact numbers.
Should I tip for takeout or coffee?
Takeout tipping is optional; 10% or a couple of dollars is a kind gesture for an order that took effort to prepare. At coffee shops, a dollar or the amount suggested by the card terminal is common but never mandatory. For food delivery, 15–20% with a $3–5 minimum is the norm.
How do I split the tip fairly between friends?
The simplest fair split: divide both the bill and the tip by the number of people — that is what the Split option here does. If people ordered very differently, some groups pay their own subtotal and split the tip proportionally; for most casual dinners, an even split is faster and socially smoother.