Finance
Work out the tip, the total, and each person's share in one step.
In the U.S., 15-20% is the commonly expected range for sit-down restaurant service, with 18-20% increasingly standard in many cities. For delivery, takeout, or counter service, 10-15% (or a flat few dollars) is often considered generous but not obligatory. Tipping norms vary significantly by country — many places outside North America have little to no tipping culture, or a small fixed amount is more typical instead of a percentage.
Common questions about tipping and splitting a bill.
Etiquette guides generally suggest tipping on the pre-tax subtotal, since tax isn't part of the service being rewarded. In practice, many people simply tip on the total receipt amount for simplicity, and the difference is usually small. This calculator uses whatever bill amount you enter, so enter the pre-tax subtotal if you want to follow the stricter convention.
Most etiquette experts consider it acceptable to reduce a tip for genuinely poor service, though many still recommend tipping at least something (10% or so) rather than nothing, since kitchen and management issues aren't always the server's fault. If service was exceptional, tipping above your usual percentage is a common way to show it.
Splitting evenly (total ÷ number of people) is simplest and works well when everyone ordered similarly. When orders vary a lot in price, some groups prefer each person paying for their own item plus an even share of the tip and any shared items (appetizers, drinks) — that takes more math but feels fairer when there's a big gap between the cheapest and most expensive order.
Significantly. Tipping is deeply embedded in U.S. restaurant culture partly because servers' base wages can be lower with the expectation that tips make up the difference. Many countries in Europe, Asia, and elsewhere either build service into the price, add a fixed service charge, or have little tipping expectation at all — tipping heavily in some cultures can even feel awkward or unnecessary to locals, so it's worth checking local norms when traveling.
Delivery tipping (typically 10-20% or a minimum flat amount like $3-5) has become widely expected, especially for food delivery apps where the tip often supplements a low base pay for the driver. Takeout/counter service tipping is more optional and varies a lot by region and venue — some people tip a small amount for counter service, others don't, and both are broadly considered acceptable.
