A fast, no-fuss way to work out the tip
The check arrives, everyone reaches for a phone, and somebody tries to do 18% of $87.40 in their head. TipSlice exists to end that moment. Type the amount, tap a percentage, set how many people are paying, and you get the tip, the grand total, and each person's share at once. There is nothing to install and no account to create, so it works the same on a phone at the table as it does on a laptop at home.
The calculator handles the situations that make tipping awkward: splitting between a group, adding sales tax, and deciding whether to tip on the pre-tax or after-tax amount. Every number updates the instant you change something, so you can compare 15% with 20% without re-entering anything.
How to use this tip calculator
- Enter the bill. Use the subtotal from your receipt. If your receipt already includes tax and you don't want to separate it, just enter the full amount and leave the tax switch off.
- Pick a tip. Tap one of the preset buttons from 10% to 25%, or choose Custom and type any rate, including decimals like 17.5.
- Set the party size. Use the plus and minus buttons or type a number. The per-person figures divide the tip and total evenly.
- Add tax if you want it. Switch on sales tax, enter your local rate, and decide whether the tip should be based on the amount before or after tax.
- Read your split. The large figure is what each person pays. The breakdown below shows the bill, tax, tip, and overall total. Press Reset to start over.
Amounts are rounded to the nearest cent. When a total doesn't divide evenly, the per-person share is rounded up to the next cent so the group never comes up short, and a note shows how many cents the combined shares land over the real total.
Tipping etiquette FAQ
How much should I tip at a sit-down restaurant?
In the United States, 15% to 20% of the pre-tax bill is the common range for table service, with 18% to 20% increasingly treated as the standard for good service. Many people go to 25% for outstanding service, large or complicated orders, or when they stayed at the table a long time. Servers in many states earn a low base wage and rely on tips for most of their income, which is why the expectation is firmer here than in many other countries.
Should I tip on the amount before or after tax?
Traditionally, the tip is calculated on the subtotal before tax, because tax isn't part of the service you received. That said, the difference is usually small, and plenty of people simply tip on the final number for convenience. This calculator defaults to tipping on the pre-tax bill; tick "Tip on the after-tax total" if you prefer the other approach.
What's the fairest way to split the tip in a group?
An even split is the simplest and works well when everyone ordered roughly the same. If orders varied a lot, each person can enter their own portion of the bill and calculate their share separately. Before you split, check the receipt for an automatic gratuity: many restaurants add one for parties of six or more, and adding a second full tip on top is an easy mistake.
Do I need to tip for takeout, coffee, or counter service?
Tipping at a counter or for takeout is optional and varies widely. A small amount or 10% is a kind gesture when staff packed a large order or made something complicated, but it is not expected the way table-service tips are. Tablet screens that suggest 20% or more at checkout don't change the etiquette; choosing a lower amount or "no tip" for a simple purchase is perfectly reasonable.
How much should I tip for food delivery?
A common guideline is 15% to 20% of the order, with a few dollars as a minimum on small orders. Consider tipping more in bad weather, for long distances, or when a driver climbs several flights of stairs. On delivery apps, check whether the fee you're paying actually goes to the driver; service and delivery fees often don't.
Should I tip on discounted or free items?
Yes, it's good form to tip on what the meal would have cost without the coupon, gift card, or comped dish. The server did the same amount of work regardless of the discount, so base the tip on the original price.
What if the service was poor?
Lowering the tip is an option, but it helps to separate the server's performance from problems they can't control, such as a slow kitchen or a short-staffed shift. If something genuinely went wrong, a quiet word with a manager often does more good than leaving nothing.
Is tipping expected in other countries?
Customs differ a lot. In much of Europe, service is often included or wages are higher, so rounding up or leaving 5% to 10% is typical. In Japan and some other places, tipping can be unusual or even awkward. When traveling, check the menu or receipt for a service charge first and follow local practice.
Do I tip on alcohol?
At a sit-down restaurant in the U.S., drinks are usually part of the same tip as the food. Wine, cocktails, and beer take time to serve, so the common approach is one tip of about 18% to 20% on the pre-tax food-and-drink subtotal, not a separate tip for every round. If you are at a bar and tipping the bartender directly, a dollar or two per drink, or 15% to 20% of the bar tab, is the usual habit instead.
Do I still tip if a service charge is already on the bill?
Read that line before you add anything. A service charge, automatic gratuity, or note that gratuity is included often stands in for the tip, especially for larger parties. An extra tip is then optional: a few dollars for standout service, or nothing. Some restaurants use "service charge" for a fee that does not go entirely to the server. If the wording is unclear, ask what the charge covers so you do not pay a second full tip by accident.
How much should I tip at a buffet?
Buffet tipping is lighter than full table service because you plate your own food, but someone still clears dishes, refills drinks, and restocks the line. When a server is looking after your table, about 10% of the pre-tax bill, or a few dollars per person, is a common U.S. practice. If you only walked a cafeteria line and bussed your own tray, a tip is optional. Check the receipt, because some buffets already add a service charge.
How do I calculate a tip without a calculator?
For 10%, move the decimal one place left: $64.00 becomes $6.40. For 20%, double that, which is $12.80. For 15%, take the 10% figure and add half of it: $6.40 plus $3.20 is $9.60. Eighteen percent is a little under 20%, so start from the 20% amount and shave a bit off. Those shortcuts are close enough at the table. When you want the exact cent, or you are splitting the check, use the calculator at the top of this page.
How much should I tip for a large party?
Many U.S. restaurants add an automatic gratuity, often around 18%, once a party reaches about six to eight people. Find that line before you tip again. If nothing is included, the same 18% to 20% range people use for smaller tables is a common choice, because a big party is more work, not less. Agree on the rate before the check arrives so the person holding the card is not deciding alone.
Should I round the tip up?
Rounding up to the next dollar is a common habit and is fine. It makes cash simpler and turns an awkward percentage into a cleaner number. You do not have to round if you are entering a precise tip on a card. When a group is splitting, rounding each person's share up by a cent or two is usually easier than chasing leftover pennies. The calculator on this page already rounds each share up so the table is not short.
More TipSlice tools
Need an even split with tip built in? Try the bill splitter. Comparing rates? See the tip percentage guide. Isolating tax? Use the sales tax calculator.
Your privacy
All of the math runs right here in your browser. The amounts you type are never sent to a server, stored in a database, or shared with anyone. Close the page and they're gone. Full details: privacy policy and terms of use.