Tip Calculator guide
Enter the bill, tap a tip percentage, and set how many people are paying. You get the tip, the total, what each person owes, and how much of that is tip, before the check folder comes back.
How much to tip in the US
At a sit-down restaurant, 15 percent is the floor for adequate service, 18 to 20 percent is standard, and 22 percent or more is for great service. Servers in many states earn a tipped minimum wage as low as $2.13 an hour, so tips are most of their income.
Bartenders: $1 to $2 per drink or 15 to 20 percent of the tab. Delivery drivers: 15 to 20 percent with a $3 to $5 minimum, more in bad weather. Hair stylists and barbers: 15 to 20 percent. Taxi and rideshare: 15 to 20 percent. Hotel housekeeping: $2 to $5 per night, left daily because staff rotate.
Counter service and tablet prompts are genuinely optional. A tip jar at a coffee shop is a nice gesture, not an obligation.
Tip on the pre-tax total
Etiquette guides agree that tips are calculated on the food and drink subtotal before sales tax. The difference is small, but it adds up. On a $86.40 pre-tax bill, 18 percent is $15.55 and 20 percent is $17.28. Enter the pre-tax subtotal in the bill field for the traditional amount.
If you used a coupon or a comp, tip on the original price. The server did the same work.
Worked example: splitting a group dinner
Four friends, $184 subtotal, 20 percent tip. Tip = $184 × 0.20 = $36.80. Total = $220.80. Per person = $55.20. If you want to round up to $56 each, the table leaves $224, a tip of $40, or about 21.7 percent.
Many restaurants add an automatic gratuity of 18 to 20 percent for parties of six or more. Check the receipt before adding a tip on top; you are not expected to tip twice.
Mental math shortcuts
For 20 percent, move the decimal one place left and double it: on $64, 10 percent is $6.40, so 20 percent is $12.80. For 15 percent, take 10 percent and add half again: $6.40 + $3.20 = $9.60. For 18 percent, take 20 percent and subtract a tenth of it: $12.80 − $1.28 = $11.52.
Another quick trick in states with sales tax near 8 to 10 percent: double the tax line on the receipt for a tip close to 18 percent.
Tipping when service goes wrong
Separate the server's performance from things they do not control. If the kitchen was slow or a dish was wrong, most servers are not at fault, and cutting the tip punishes the wrong person. Tell the server or ask for a manager instead; many will comp the item. If the server was genuinely rude or neglectful, 10 to 15 percent sends a message without zeroing out someone who is often paid $2.13 an hour.
If service was outstanding, like a server who handled a difficult group, a birthday, or a complicated allergy, 25 percent or a little cash on top of a card tip is a good way to say so.
Tipping outside restaurants
Movers: $20 to $50 per person for a half day, more for heavy or long moves. Tour guides: 10 to 20 percent of the tour price. Valet: $3 to $5 when your car is returned. Grocery and meal delivery: at least $5 or 15 to 20 percent, whichever is higher. Holiday tips for regular service providers, like a house cleaner or dog walker, are commonly the cost of one visit.
Tipping customs differ abroad. In much of Europe, service is included and rounding up is enough. In Japan, tipping can be seen as awkward. The US is one of the few places where tips make up the majority of a server's income.
Service charges versus tips
A "service charge" or "kitchen appreciation fee" is not always a tip. Legally, a service charge may be kept by the business rather than paid to staff. If you want the money to reach your server, ask, or tip separately. This calculator runs in your browser with no sign-up, so it is quick to pull up at the table.
Frequently asked questions
How does the tip calculator work?
Tip = bill x tip percentage. Total = bill + tip. Per person = total / number of people. On a $75 bill at 18%, the tip is $13.50 and the total is $88.50.
How much is a 20% tip on $100?
$20, for a total of $120. At 18% it is $18, and at 15% it is $15.
How much should I tip on a $200 bill?
At the standard 18-20%, $36 to $40. Split four ways at 20%, each person pays $60, including $10 of tip.
What tip percentages do the preset buttons use?
15%, 18%, 20%, 22%, and 25%. Tap one to fill the rate, or type any custom percentage, like 17.5%.
Can I see how much tip each person is paying?
Yes. Set the number of people and the calculator shows each person's share of the total and, separately, each person's share of the tip.
Do you tip on alcohol?
Yes. Standard etiquette is to tip on the full food and drink subtotal, including wine and cocktails. On an expensive bottle, some diners tip a lower percentage on the wine alone.
Is my data kept private?
Everything runs in your browser. Nothing you enter is uploaded to a server or stored by us.
Should I tip on the total with tax?
Traditional etiquette says to tip on the pre-tax subtotal. Tipping on the total is more generous and perfectly fine.
What is 20 percent of $50?
$10. Move the decimal one place to get 10 percent ($5), then double it.