Tip calculator

Calculate gratuity, total bill and each person's share. Compare tip percentages, account for tax, and learn how tipping customs differ around the world.

⚑ Report error
Total to pay
—
Bill plus tip
Tip amount
—
Based on selected percentage
Each person
—
Split equally

Tip sensitivity

How the tip amount changes with the selected bill
Live
5%–30% gratuity rangeUpdates with every input

Bill composition

Subtotal, tax and gratuity in the final total
Live
Final amount = subtotal + tax + tipLive breakdown
LIVE TIP INTELLIGENCE

See what the percentage means in money

Updates live
Tip rate—selected gratuity
Tip per person—tip ÷ people
Total tip share—of final bill
Rounded total—next whole unit
Enter your bill and choose a tip percentage to see the live breakdown.

Tip percentage comparison

6 rates
Tip %Tip amountTotalPer personTip / person

Your bill

$
Enter the amount before tax, or leave tax at zero.
$
%
people
Some restaurants calculate gratuity on the pre-tax subtotal; others use the tax-inclusive amount. Check the bill before deciding.
THE CONCEPT

What is a tip?

A tip, gratuity, or service tip is an additional amount paid to recognize service. The calculation itself is a percentage problem: convert the chosen percentage to a decimal, multiply it by the appropriate bill base, and then add the tip to the amount you pay.

The important detail is what the percentage is applied to. If the bill has a separate tax line, some tipping customs use the pre-tax subtotal while others use the tax-inclusive amount. A service charge may also already be included, so reading the receipt is part of the calculation.

BILL SUBTOTAL $86.40 × 15% TIP $12.96 86.40 × 0.15 TOTAL $99.36 bill + tip If tax is $8 and you do not tip on tax, the tip base remains $86.40.
The basic flow is bill base → percentage → tip amount → final total.

Why percentages matter

Ten percent is a useful mental benchmark because it is one tenth of the bill. Twenty percent is twice that amount. Fifteen percent is halfway between 10% and 20%. This makes quick estimates possible even without a calculator.

10%10 / 100
15%15 / 100
20%20 / 100
25%25 / 100
Important: a tip calculator tells you the arithmetic. It does not decide what percentage is appropriate in a particular country, venue, or service situation. Local customs and any service charge on the bill matter.

Tip formulas

Tip amount
Tip = base × (tip % / 100)
Total
Total = subtotal + tax + tip
Each person
Each = total ÷ people
Tip per person
Tip/person = tip ÷ people

When Include tax when calculating tip is off, the base is the subtotal. When it is on, the base is subtotal + tax. This distinction is why the calculator asks for tax separately instead of hiding it inside the bill.

Worked examples

Example 1 — $86.40, 15%, 2 people

Tip = $86.40 × 0.15 = $12.96.
Total = $86.40 + $12.96 = $99.36.
Each person = $99.36 ÷ 2 = $49.68.

Example 2 — tax-aware tipping

Subtotal $86.40 + tax $8.64, with a 15% tip on the subtotal: tip = $12.96; final total = $108.00. If the same 15% is applied to the tax-inclusive base, the tip becomes $14.26.

Photograph of a restaurant bill showing the kind of receipt on which tax, subtotal and service amounts may appear
A real restaurant bill illustrates why it is useful to identify the subtotal, tax and any service charge before calculating an additional tip.

Tipping customs around the world

Tipping is a local convention rather than a universal percentage. Use the map as a quick orientation, then read the bill itself: a service charge, automatic gratuity or included service can change what an additional tip means.

ST TRAVELER'S ATLASWhere does tipping fit into the bill?
Read the pattern, not just the color
World map illustrating different restaurant tipping customs
Usually no tipTipping can be unusual or unnecessary in everyday service.
Round upA small amount or rounded bill may be the customary gesture.
Modest percentageA smaller gratuity can be customary depending on venue and service.
Percentage expectedA percentage-based tip is more established in restaurant culture.
The map is a starting point, not a payment rule. Customs can vary by country, city, venue, service level and whether a charge is already included.
ST MAP DECODER

Three questions before you tip

A better way to read the map
01

Is service already included?

Look for wording such as service charge, gratuity or service included before adding another amount.

02

What kind of place is it?

A hotel, café, casual restaurant and fine-dining venue can follow different local conventions even in the same country.

03

What does the local custom suggest?

Use the map for context, then choose a percentage or rounded amount that matches the actual bill and setting.

United States — 15–20% is a common restaurant range in the cited guidance.
Canada — percentage tipping is commonly used in restaurant settings.
Turkey — CalculatorSoup describes around 5–10% for casual restaurants and 10–15% for nicer restaurants.
Japan — tipping may be viewed as inappropriate in many ordinary service settings.
Australia — tipping is generally not expected, although small amounts may be left in some settings.
France — small additional gratuities can be appreciated; check the bill for included service.
Germany — tipping varies with service and context; cash gratuity is commonly discussed.
United Kingdom — check whether a service charge has already been added before tipping extra.
Italy — tipping is not uniformly expected; a modest gratuity may be appreciated.
Spain — tipping is generally less formalized; rounding up or leaving a small amount is common in some settings.
Greece — check whether service charge is included; customs vary by venue.
Mexico — 10–15% is commonly cited for restaurant tipping.

How to read the bill before tipping

1READ
Receipt
Subtotal$86.40

Find the base

Locate the subtotal or service amount before deciding which number the percentage should use.

2CHECK
Tax / service
Tax$8.64

Look for extras

Check tax and any included service or gratuity so you do not accidentally double-tip.

3CHOOSE
Tip rate
10%15%20%

Choose a percentage

Use the calculator to see exactly what each percentage means in money.

4SPLIT
Two people
Each$49.68

Divide fairly

For an equal split, divide the final total by the number of people sharing the bill.

Tip calculator FAQ

Should I tip on tax?

There is no universal rule. Some people calculate the tip on the pre-tax subtotal, while others use the tax-inclusive amount. Check local practice and the bill. The calculator lets you choose either method.

How do I calculate a 20% tip quickly?

Move the decimal point one place to get 10%, then double it. For $50, 10% is $5 and 20% is $10.

How do I split a tip between four people?

Calculate the total bill including tip, then divide by 4. You can also divide the tip amount by 4 to see each person's share of the gratuity.

What if a service charge is already included?

Read the wording carefully. A service charge or automatic gratuity can already be part of the final bill. Whether to add anything more depends on the local custom, venue and service.

Does rounding the total change the tip percentage?

Yes. Rounding is a payment convenience rather than the exact percentage calculation. The calculator shows the exact tip first, so you can see the difference before rounding.