Should I tip on the pre-tax or post-tax total?

Traditionally tips are calculated on the pre-tax subtotal, though many people simply tip on the total for convenience. On a $60 bill the difference is usually just a dollar or two.

Tip Calculator

Q: How much should I tip?

In the U.S., 15%-20% of the pre-tax bill is standard for restaurant service — 18%-20% for good service, 15% for adequate. On a $60 bill, that's $9-$12.

Q: How do I split a bill with a tip?

Add the tip to the bill, then divide by the number of people. A $60 bill with a 20% tip is $72 total; split four ways that's $18 each.

Q: What if some people at the table ordered much more than others?

An even split can feel unfair when order sizes differ significantly. Calculating each person's tip on their own item total, rather than splitting the group total evenly, is a fairer approach in that situation.

Q: Do app-based delivery tips work differently than restaurant tips?

Yes. Delivery apps often show a tip screen before the order is even placed, sometimes defaulting to a flat dollar amount rather than a percentage, and separate from any built-in service fee the app itself charges. That service fee goes to the platform, not the driver, so it shouldn't be confused with the tip.

Q: Is it ever acceptable to leave no tip in the U.S.?

It's legal and sometimes done for genuinely poor service, but most etiquette guides recommend tipping at least 10% even for a disappointing meal and addressing the issue with management directly, since U.S. servers are typically paid a sub-minimum base wage that assumes tips make up the difference.

Work out the tip and total in a tap — and split the bill evenly across your whole table.

Written by the Calculator Index team · Last reviewed September 2026

Each person pays

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Tip amount

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Total with tip

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Tip per person

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The tip formula

Tip = Bill × (tip % ÷ 100) · Total = Bill + Tip · Per person = Total ÷ People

Worked example — even split

$60 bill, 20% tip, split 4 ways:

Tip $12 → total $72 → $18 each.

Worked example — large group, flat-rate tip

Many restaurants automatically add an 18%–20% "large party" gratuity for tables of 6 or more, printed directly on the check rather than left to the diner's judgment.

$210 bill for a table of 8, with an automatic 18% gratuity already added: tip = $37.80 → total = $247.80 → $30.98 each if split evenly. Check your bill for this line before adding a second tip on top of it — double-tipping on large parties is a common mistake.

U.S. tipping quick reference

Service	Customary tip
Restaurant (sit-down)	15%–20%
Bartender	$1–$2/drink or 15%–20%
Food delivery	15%–20% (min $3–$5)
Taxi / rideshare	10%–15%
Hairdresser	15%–20%

Tipping norms vary widely by country — in much of Europe and Asia a service charge is included and extra tipping is modest or unexpected. For splitting bills that include tax, this calculator tips on the full bill as entered; drop the tax out first if you prefer to tip pre-tax (see the sales tax calculator).

Splitting unevenly

This calculator splits evenly, which works for most groups, but sometimes an even split isn't fair — one person ordered a $40 entrée and a bottle of wine while another had a salad. In that case, add the tip percentage to each person's individual item total rather than the group total, or use the group total split as a starting point and adjust manually for large discrepancies. For quick per-item math on an itemized check, the percentage calculator handles the "20% of $40" step directly.

Tipping norms outside the U.S.

Region	Typical practice
United Kingdom	10%–12.5%, often already added as a "service charge"
Continental Europe	Service usually included; round up or leave 5%–10% for good service
Japan	No tipping expected; can be seen as awkward or refused
Australia	Not customary; hospitality staff earn a full minimum wage
Mexico & Latin America	10%–15%, similar to U.S. norms in tourist areas

The reason U.S. tipping runs so much higher than most of the world comes down to labor law: many U.S. states allow a "tipped minimum wage" as low as $2.13/hour for servers, with tips expected to make up the rest. Countries where hospitality staff earn a full standard wage rarely have the same tipping culture, since the gratuity isn't subsidizing base pay.

Common tipping mistakes

Double-tipping on large parties. Many restaurants auto-add an 18%–20% gratuity for groups of 6+, printed on the check — tipping again on top of it is one of the most common overpayment mistakes (see the worked example above).
Confusing a delivery app's service fee with the tip. The platform fee goes to the company; only the amount explicitly labeled "tip" or "driver tip" goes to the person delivering.
Tipping on the wrong subtotal after a coupon or discount. If you used a discount code, etiquette generally favors tipping on what the meal would have cost before the discount, not the reduced price — see the discount calculator to work out the pre-discount total.

Frequently asked questions

How much should I tip?

15–20% of the bill for U.S. restaurant service. On $60, that's $9–$12.

Pre-tax or post-tax?

Traditionally pre-tax subtotal, but many tip on the total for simplicity — usually a dollar or two difference.

How do I split a bill with a tip?

Add the tip, then divide by people. $60 + 20% = $72 ÷ 4 = $18 each.

What if some people at the table ordered much more than others?

An even split can feel unfair in that case — calculate each person's tip on their own item total instead of splitting the group total evenly, especially for large discrepancies in what was ordered.

Do app-based delivery tips work differently than restaurant tips?

Yes — the app's service fee goes to the platform, not the driver. Only the amount explicitly labeled as a tip goes to the person delivering, and some apps default to a flat dollar amount rather than a percentage.

Is it ever acceptable to leave no tip in the U.S.?

It's legal, but most etiquette guides recommend at least 10% even for poor service and raising the issue with management instead, since U.S. servers are typically paid a sub-minimum wage that assumes tips fill the gap.

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Note: Tipping customs are cultural guidelines, not rules, and vary by region, establishment, and local labor law. Last reviewed: September 2026.