How to Calculate a Tip
Enter the bill total, select a tip percentage, and the calculator instantly shows you the tip amount, total including tip, and per-person amounts for your party size. If you’re in the US, select your state to automatically apply the correct sales tax before calculating the tip (you typically tip on pre-tax totals, but the tool shows both).
Standard Tipping Percentages
Tipping customs vary significantly by country and service type. In the US:
- 15% — historically the standard for adequate service. Now considered the minimum in most contexts.
- 18% — acceptable for good service, especially at table-service restaurants.
- 20% — common for good to excellent service at restaurants.
- 22–25% — for exceptional service, or when you want to express genuine appreciation.
- 30%+ — rare, reserved for outstanding experiences or servers who clearly went above and beyond.
For counter service, coffee shops, and takeout: 10–15% is typical where a tip prompt appears, though tipping is genuinely optional in those contexts.
Bill Splitting
The calculator handles two splitting scenarios:
Even split — divide the total (including tip) equally among the number of people.
Itemized split — each person pays for their own items plus a proportional share of the tip. This is useful when people ordered very different amounts and an even split feels unfair.
Shared dishes (like starters or desserts ordered for the table) can be allocated across multiple people’s totals.
US State Tax Lookup
Sales tax rates vary significantly by state — from 0% in Oregon and Montana to over 9% in Tennessee and Louisiana when combined with local taxes. The state tax lookup uses current rates to show you the pre-tax and post-tax subtotals alongside your tip calculation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you tip before or after tax?
Technically, you’re supposed to tip on the pre-tax total — you’re tipping for the service, not the government’s cut. In practice, the difference at 20% tip is small (a few pence or cents on a typical bill), and many people tip on the total anyway to keep the mental math simple. This calculator shows both options.
How much do you tip for takeout or delivery?
For takeout pickup: 10% is generous, 0% is defensible. For delivery: 15–20% of the order total is appropriate, since the driver bears fuel and time costs. On large delivery orders, a flat minimum (like $5) ensures the tip is meaningful regardless of percentage.
Is it rude to use a tip calculator?
No. Using a calculator to get to the right number is a sign of care, not cheapness. The social awkwardness around tipping comes from the absence of consensus on amounts, not from doing the math accurately.
What if the service was genuinely bad?
A tip is discretionary. For genuinely poor service that was the server’s fault (not the kitchen’s), tipping below the standard is reasonable. Leaving a very small but non-zero tip (5%) is sometimes used to signal intentionality rather than forgetfulness.
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