Use our Tip Calculator to instantly calculate tips, split bills, and find the total amount. Fast, simple, and accurate results.
Calculate restaurant tips and split bills among friends.
The Tip Calculator is your essential tool for calculating gratuity at restaurants, for delivery drivers, at salons, and for any service industry professional. Instantly determine the correct tip amount based on service quality, and easily split the bill among your group—no mental math required.
Tipping is a deeply rooted custom in the United States, where service workers often rely on gratuities as a significant portion of their income. Understanding proper tipping etiquette ensures you fairly compensate those who serve you while staying within your budget. This calculator eliminates the guesswork, letting you focus on enjoying your meal or service.
Total Bill = Pre-tax Amount + Tax + Tip
Per Person = Total Bill ÷ Number of People
Example: $75 bill × 20% = $15 tip. With $6 tax split 3 ways: ($75 + $6 + $15) ÷ 3 = $32 per person.
Standard US tipping percentages and amounts for different service industries:
| Service Type | Standard Tip | Good/Excellent | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurant (sit-down) | 18-20% | 20-25% | Tip on pre-tax bill; check for auto-gratuity on large parties |
| Buffet | 10-15% | 15-18% | Less than sit-down since you serve yourself |
| Takeout/Counter Service | 0-10% | 10-15% | Optional; tip more for complex/large orders |
| Food Delivery (DoorDash, etc.) | 15-20% or $3-5 min | $5+ or 20%+ | Tip more in bad weather or for distant deliveries |
| Pizza Delivery | $3-5 or 15-20% | $5+ or 20%+ | $5 minimum for large orders or long distances |
| Bartender | $1-2 per drink or 15-20% | $2+ or 20%+ | More for complex cocktails; tip per round or on total tab |
| Hair Salon/Barber | 15-20% | 20-25% | Tip on total service cost including color, treatments |
| Spa Services (massage, facial) | 18-20% | 20-25% | Check if gratuity is included; tip each provider |
| Nail Salon | 15-20% | 20%+ | Tip each technician who worked on you |
| Taxi/Uber/Lyft | 15-20% | 20%+ | $2-3 minimum for short trips; more for luggage help |
| Hotel Housekeeping | $2-5 per night | $5-10 per night | Leave daily (different cleaners); more for luxury hotels |
| Hotel Bellhop/Porter | $1-2 per bag | $2-5 per bag | $5 minimum for exceptional service |
| Valet Parking | $2-5 | $5-10 | Tip when car is returned, not when dropped off |
| Movers | $20-40 per mover | $50+ per mover | Based on difficulty, stairs, distance, and hours worked |
| Bill Amount | 15% Tip | 18% Tip | 20% Tip | 25% Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25 | $3.75 | $4.50 | $5.00 | $6.25 |
| $50 | $7.50 | $9.00 | $10.00 | $12.50 |
| $75 | $11.25 | $13.50 | $15.00 | $18.75 |
| $100 | $15.00 | $18.00 | $20.00 | $25.00 |
| $150 | $22.50 | $27.00 | $30.00 | $37.50 |
| $200 | $30.00 | $36.00 | $40.00 | $50.00 |
Mistake: Tipping on a discounted or comped meal. Fix: Always tip on what the bill would have been without the discount. If your $100 meal is discounted to $50, tip on $100 to fairly compensate your server for full service.
Mistake: Not tipping on alcohol. Fix: Include alcohol in your tip calculation—your server still provides full service for drinks. Bartenders especially rely on tips from drink orders.
Mistake: Forgetting to check for auto-gratuity. Fix: Parties of 6-8+ often have 18-20% gratuity automatically added. Check your bill before adding another tip on top, which would result in double-tipping.
Mistake: Penalizing servers for kitchen issues. Fix: If food is undercooked, late, or wrong, that's typically a kitchen problem. Adjust your tip based on service quality (attentiveness, friendliness, problem resolution), not food preparation issues.
Mistake: Not carrying small bills for cash tips. Fix: Some service workers prefer or benefit more from cash tips. Keep small bills ($1s, $5s) on hand for valets, bellhops, housekeeping, and coffee shops.
Should I tip on takeout? Takeout tipping is optional but increasingly common—10-15% is appropriate, especially for complex orders or curbside service. During COVID, takeout tipping became more expected as restaurants adapted.
Is it rude to tip less than 15%? In the US, 15% is the floor for acceptable service. Tipping under 15% signals dissatisfaction. If service is truly poor, speak with a manager rather than leaving no tip, as servers may share tips with bussers and hosts.
Do I tip the restaurant owner? Traditionally, you don't tip the owner of an establishment. However, in small owner-operated businesses where the owner provides personal service, a tip is appreciated but not expected.
How do I tip on gift cards or comped meals? Calculate tip based on the full menu price, not what you paid. If you use a $50 gift card on a $75 meal, tip on $75. For fully comped meals, tip 20%+ of what the bill would have been.
Sources & Methodology: Tipping guidelines based on recommendations from the Emily Post Institute, National Restaurant Association, and US Bureau of Labor Statistics data on tipped worker wages. Calculations use standard percentage formulas. Tipping norms may vary by region and evolve over time. This information is for general guidance—when in doubt, tip generously as service workers often depend on gratuities for their livelihood. Calculator updated January 2026.
Standard tipping percentages in 2026 vary by service type: Restaurants require 18-20% for good service, 15% for average, and 20-25% for exceptional experiences—always calculated on the pre-tax bill. Food delivery (DoorDash, Uber Eats, pizza) expects 15-20% or a $3-5 minimum, with higher tips for bad weather or long distances. Hair salons and spas follow 18-20% on the full service cost. Bartenders receive $1-2 per drink or 15-20% on your tab. Taxi, Uber, and Lyft drivers typically receive 15-20%. For buffets, 10-15% is appropriate since you serve yourself. Takeout is optional at 0-10%, though 10-15% is increasingly common for complex orders. These guidelines are based on recommendations from the Emily Post Institute and National Restaurant Association.
You SHOULD tip for: sit-down restaurant meals (always), food delivery and rideshare services, bartender drink service, hair/nail salons and spas, hotel housekeeping ($2-5/day), bellhops ($1-2/bag), and valet parking ($2-5). Tipping is OPTIONAL for: takeout/counter service, coffee shop counter orders, fast food, and buffet (though 10% is courteous). You do NOT tip: business owners providing direct service, fast-food workers, retail store employees, medical professionals, government employees, or when service charges/gratuity are already included. Always check your bill for automatic gratuity (common for parties of 6+). When traveling internationally, research local customs—many countries don't have US-style tipping culture and may find tips offensive or unnecessary.
To split a bill with tip fairly, use this formula: (Pre-tax Subtotal + Tax + Tip) ÷ Number of People = Amount Per Person. For example, on an $80 pre-tax bill with $6.40 tax and 20% tip ($16): ($80 + $6.40 + $16) ÷ 4 people = $25.60 each. For unequal ordering, calculate each person's share of the subtotal, then add their proportional tax and tip. Apps like Venmo, Splitwise, and Apple Pay make splitting easier. Common splitting etiquette: agree on splitting method before ordering, round up slightly to cover any shortfall, let one person pay the full bill then collect shares to simplify the transaction, and always include the full tip in your calculations—servers should never lose tip money due to bill-splitting confusion.