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Quick answer: How to split a restaurant bill with tip? First look at the pre-tax subtotal (the amount before sales tax), multiply it by your tip rate, then add tax to get the final total. Tipping on the taxed total overpays, because you'd be tipping on the tax itself. Use the free calculator above — it does all three steps and splits the bill fairly.
How to split a restaurant bill with tip
Three steps: (1) find the pre-tax subtotal on the receipt — that's the food and drinks before sales tax or service charges; (2) calculate the gratuity on that subtotal — for example 18% = subtotal × 0.18; (3) add the sales tax and the tip to the subtotal for the final amount each person owes.
Worked example: a $80 bill with 8% tax. Tax = $80 × 0.08 = $6.40, so the taxed total is $86.40. A fair 18% gratuity goes on the pre-tax $80: $80 × 0.18 = $14.40. Final total = $80 + $6.40 + $14.40 = $100.80. Split 3 ways, that’s $33.60 each. If you mistakenly tipped 18% on $86.40, you'd pay $15.55 — an extra $1.15 in tip on the tax itself.
Honest note: tipping customs vary — in some places a service charge is already included in the bill, and in a few countries tipping is not expected at all. When in doubt, tip on the pre-tax subtotal; that's the standard the calculator above uses.
Three numbers. One fair split.
Use the amount before adding a gratuity.
Pick a common percentage or type your own.
Set the group size to see each person’s share.
Tip calculator FAQ
How do I calculate a tip?
Multiply the bill by the tip percentage written as a decimal. A 20% tip on a $50 bill is $50 × 0.20 = $10.
How do I split a bill with a tip?
Add the tip to the bill, then divide that total by the number of people. The calculator handles both steps instantly.
What percentage should I tip?
Tipping customs vary by country, service, and situation. Choose a percentage that matches local practice and the service you received.
How are money values rounded?
Displayed amounts are rounded to two decimal places. Calculations keep full precision before the result is shown.
How much should I tip a food delivery driver?
A common guideline is 10–20% of the order total for food delivery drivers, more in bad weather or for large orders. This tip calculator with bill splitter works out the tip and each person's share instantly.
Should I tip on the pre-tax or post-tax amount?
Tipping on the pre-tax subtotal is the standard practice in most places. Enter the bill amount before tax above so the tip and the split stay fair for everyone.
Tip questions
How to split a restaurant bill with tip?
How to split a restaurant bill with tip? Enter the bill total in the free calculator above, choose your tip percentage, and add the number of people — it shows each person’s fair share including tip and tax. Example: a $60 bill with a 15% tip is $9 gratuity ($69 total), split 3 ways = $23 each.
How do I calculate a tip with tax included in the bill?
How do I calculate a tip with tax included in the bill? Calculate the gratuity on the pre-tax subtotal (subtotal × tip rate), then add sales tax on top. Tipping on the taxed total means tipping on the tax too. The free calculator above computes the tip, tax, and each person's fair share in one go.
How much should I tip when the bill is split between friends?
Split the pre-tax subtotal and the tax equally first, then each person adds the same tip percentage on their share of the subtotal. Or just enter the number of people in the free tip calculator above — it divides the bill, tax, and gratuity fairly for everyone.
What is auto-gratuity?
Many restaurants automatically add an 18–20% service charge for parties of 6–8 or more — it appears as “gratuity” or “service charge” on the bill. Always check for it before adding your own tip, or you will tip twice. You can still add extra for exceptional service.
Should I tip the same percentage on alcohol as on food?
Yes — standard practice is to tip the same percentage on the entire pre-tax bill, drinks included. The common exception is an expensive bottle of wine, where some diners tip a flat amount, but the default remains the full percentage.
How do we split the bill fairly when one person ordered much more?
Split proportionally: each person pays for what they ordered, plus an equal share of the tax and tip. For example, on a $100 pre-tax bill where one diner ordered $40 of it, they cover 40% of the tax and tip too. The calculator's even-split mode suits groups whose orders were roughly equal.