How the tip and split are calculated
The tip is a percentage of the bill; the total adds that tip back on; splitting divides the total evenly across everyone at the table.
- Bill — the pre-tip amount you enter
- Tip% — the tip percentage you enter
- People — how many people are splitting the bill
More detail
Tip on pre-tax or post-tax?
This calculator applies the tip percentage to whatever bill amount you enter. If your receipt separates tax from the subtotal, entering the pre-tax subtotal (rather than the tax-included total) gives the more conventional tip base.
Splitting evenly vs. by item
Dividing the total evenly is simplest, but it means everyone pays the same share of tip and tax regardless of what they ordered. For very uneven bills, some groups split each person's own items first and only share extras like appetizers.
Quick check. 10% of a bill is easy to find by moving the decimal point one place left — double that for 20%, and halve it for 5%. Useful for a fast sanity check on the number this calculator gives you.
Frequently asked questions
Should I tip on the pre-tax or post-tax amount?
Enter the pre-tax subtotal from your receipt for the more conventional tip base — this calculator applies your tip % to whatever amount you enter, so tax gets tipped on too if you include it.
How much is a 15% tip on $50?
15% of $50 is $7.50, for a $57.50 total. Enter your own bill and tip % above to get the exact split across any number of people.
What's a normal tip percentage?
15–20% is typical at U.S. sit-down restaurants; some round to 18% or 20% for good service. Delivery and counter service often run 10–15%. Check local norms — tipping culture varies a lot by country.
Does splitting evenly mean everyone pays the same tip?
Yes — dividing the total by People here splits tip and bill equally regardless of what each person ordered. For very uneven orders, some groups calculate each person's items separately and only split shared extras.
Why do the results show as —?
That happens when People is less than 1 or the field is left blank. Per person is the total divided by the headcount, so with no one to split across the amount can't be worked out — every result shows as —. Enter 1 or more and the numbers come back.