How the tip calculator works
Enter the bill, the sales tax it includes, the tip rate and the number of people. The calculator works out the tip on the pre-tax amount, adds it to the full bill, and splits the total. If you choose to round each share up to the dollar, it also shows the effective tip you end up leaving, which is always a little higher than the rate you picked.
The formulas
- Tip = (bill − tax) × tip rate
- Total = bill + tip
- Each person pays = total ÷ number of people
- Effective tip = (what everyone pays − bill) ÷ (bill − tax)
Enter 0 for the tax if you prefer to tip on the whole bill.
Worked example
A dinner for two comes to $86.40, including $6.40 of sales tax.
- Pre-tax amount: $86.40 − $6.40 = $80.00.
- Tip at 18%: $80 × 0.18 = $14.40.
- Total: $86.40 + $14.40 = $100.80.
- Each person pays $100.80 ÷ 2 = $50.40, of which $7.20 is tip.
Rounded up to the dollar, each pays $51, and the effective tip becomes 19.5%.
How much to tip in the US
| Service | Usual tip |
|---|---|
| Restaurant, table service | 15 to 20%, often 20% in cities |
| Bar | $1 to $2 per drink, or 15 to 20% of the tab |
| Food delivery | 15 to 20%, at least a few dollars |
| Taxi or rideshare | 15 to 20% |
| Hair salon, barber | 15 to 20% |
| Hotel housekeeping | $2 to $5 per night |
| Counter service, coffee | Optional, often $1 or 10% |
In most US states, servers earn a lower base wage and rely on tips for a large part of their income, which is why the norms are much higher than in Europe, where service is generally included in the price.
Quick mental math
To find 10%, move the decimal point one place to the left: $64.00 becomes $6.40. Double it for 20% ($12.80), or add half of it for 15% ($9.60). For 18%, take 20% and subtract a tenth of that 20%.
Before or after tax?
Etiquette guides agree that tipping on the pre-tax total is perfectly acceptable, since the tax is not part of the service. The difference is small: on an $80 meal with 8% tax, tipping 18% on the full bill instead adds about $1.15. When a restaurant adds an automatic service charge for large groups, check the bill so you don’t tip twice.