How much should I tip at a restaurant?

In the United States, 15-20% is standard for sit-down restaurants. 15% is considered acceptable, 18% is average, and 20%+ is for great service. For takeout, 10% is common. Buffets typically warrant 10-15%. For bars, $1-2 per drink or 15-20% of the tab.

How do I calculate a 20% tip?

Multiply the bill by 0.20. For example, 20% of a $50 bill is $50 × 0.20 = $10 tip, making the total $60. A quick mental trick: find 10% by moving the decimal, then double it.

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

Traditionally, tips are calculated on the pre-tax subtotal. However, many people tip on the total including tax for simplicity. Either approach is acceptable — the difference is usually small.

How do I split a bill evenly?

Add the tip to the bill total, then divide by the number of people. This calculator does it automatically — just enter the bill, tip percentage, and number of people to get the per-person amount.

Do I need to tip on top of a service charge?

If a restaurant includes a mandatory service charge or gratuity (common for large parties), you typically do not need to add an additional tip unless the service was exceptional. Check your bill carefully — the service charge is not always the same as a tip to your server.

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Tip Calculator

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How to Calculate a Tip

Calculating a tip is straightforward: multiply the bill by the tip percentage (as a decimal), then add it to the bill. If splitting, divide the total by the number of people.

Tip = Bill × (Tip % ÷ 100)
Total = Bill + Tip
Per Person = Total ÷ Number of People

Example: $85 bill, 20% tip, 3 people
Tip = $85 × 0.20 = $17.00
Total = $85 + $17 = $102.00
Per person = $102 ÷ 3 = $34.00 each

Quick Mental Math Tricks

Don't have your phone handy? Here are shortcuts. For 10%, just move the decimal point one place left ($85 → $8.50). For 20%, find 10% and double it ($8.50 × 2 = $17). For 15%, find 10% and add half of it ($8.50 + $4.25 = $12.75). For 25%, find 10%, double it, then add the 10% value once more, or simply divide the bill by 4.

Tipping Guide by Situation

Situation	Typical Tip
Sit-down restaurant	15–20%
Buffet	10–15%
Takeout / pickup	0–10%
Food delivery	15–20% (min $3–5)
Coffee shop / barista	$1–2 or 15–20%
Bar / bartender	$1–2 per drink or 15–20%
Taxi / rideshare	15–20%
Hair salon / barber	15–20%
Hotel housekeeping	$2–5 per night
Valet parking	$2–5

Pre-Tax vs. Post-Tax Tipping

Etiquette traditionally says tip on the pre-tax subtotal. In practice, most people tip on the full amount including tax because it's simpler. The difference is usually minor — on a $100 bill with 8% tax, a 20% tip would be $20 pre-tax vs $21.60 post-tax. Either approach is perfectly acceptable.

Tipping Outside the US

Tipping customs vary widely by country. In many European countries, service is included in the price and small tips (rounding up or 5–10%) are appreciated but not expected. In Japan and South Korea, tipping can actually be considered rude. In Canada and Mexico, tipping norms are similar to the US. Always check local customs when traveling.

Frequently Asked Questions

In the US, 15–20% is standard for sit-down restaurants. 15% is acceptable, 18% is average, and 20%+ is for great service. For takeout, 10% is common.
Multiply the bill by 0.20. Quick trick: find 10% by moving the decimal left, then double it. $50 → 10% is $5 → 20% is $10.
Traditionally on pre-tax, but tipping on the full amount is common and perfectly fine. The difference is usually small.
Add the tip to the total, then divide by the number of people. This calculator does it for you — just enter the bill, tip, and number of people.
If a restaurant includes a mandatory service charge, you generally don't need to tip extra unless service was exceptional. Check your bill — service charges aren't always tips for your server.
In most European countries, service is included in prices. Small tips (rounding up or 5–10%) are appreciated but not expected. The US-style 15–20% tipping culture doesn't apply in most of Europe.