Tipping customs differ widely, and the maths is the easy bit. This calculator takes care of it, including splitting the bill between a group.
It gives you the tip, the total and each person’s share, rounded up if you like.
How to use the Tip Calculator#
- Enter the bill. Use the amount before the tip.
- Choose a tip. Type the percentage you want to leave.
- Split it. Enter how many people are sharing the bill.
The formula#
On a bill of 85 with a 15 percent tip, the tip is 12.75 and the total is 97.75. Split between two people, each pays 48.88.
A quick mental shortcut#
To find 10 percent, move the decimal point one place to the left. Double it for 20 percent, or add half of it for 15 percent. On a bill of 85, 10 percent is 8.50, 15 percent is 12.75 and 20 percent is 17.
Splitting a bill, with an example#
Four friends eat a meal that comes to ₦18,500. They agree on a 10 percent tip. The tip is ₦1,850 and the total is ₦20,350. Each person pays ₦5,087.50, and ₦462.50 of that is tip. If they round up to the nearest naira, each pays ₦5,088, so the group pays ₦20,352 in all, a touch more than the exact total.
| Tip % | Tip on ₦18,500 | Total | Each of 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5% | ₦925 | ₦19,425 | ₦4,856.25 |
| 10% | ₦1,850 | ₦20,350 | ₦5,087.50 |
| 15% | ₦2,775 | ₦21,275 | ₦5,318.75 |
| 20% | ₦3,700 | ₦22,200 | ₦5,550.00 |
Tipping customs by country#
Tipping rules vary a lot, so check the local custom if you travel. In the United States, 15 to 20 percent is expected in restaurants and 18 to 20 percent is common now, since servers rely on tips for much of their pay. In the UK, 10 to 12.5 percent is usual if a service charge has not already been added. In France, service is normally included in the price by law, and a small extra is optional. In Japan and much of Asia, tipping is not customary and can cause confusion.
In Nigeria, tipping is informal. Some restaurants add a service charge to the bill, in which case an additional tip is a matter of choice. Check the bill before you add anything.
Before or after tax#
Most etiquette guides say to tip on the amount before tax, though many people tip on the total for convenience and the difference is small. If a service charge has already been added, you do not need to tip on top of it, but it is worth asking whether the staff receive it. For taxi rides, deliveries, hairdressers and hotel staff, the customary amounts differ from restaurants. If you are splitting costs for a group, add the tip first and then divide, so nobody pays less than their share. For the maths behind percentages, see the percentage increase calculator.
Tipping other services#
Customs differ for services outside restaurants. In the US, taxi drivers and hairdressers are commonly tipped 15 to 20 percent, delivery drivers a few dollars or 10 to 15 percent, hotel porters a dollar or two per bag. In the UK, rounding up a taxi fare is normal, and hairdressers get a few pounds. In Nigeria, a tip of 5 to 10 percent for a driver or a salon is generous, and small amounts for porters and guides are appreciated. These are guides, not rules, so adjust for the quality of service and local custom.
Frequently asked questions#
Multiply the bill by the tip percentage as a decimal. For 15 percent, multiply by 0.15.
Practice varies. Many people tip on the pre-tax amount, and others use the total. The calculator uses whatever bill you enter.
Add the tip to the bill and divide the total by the number of people.
No. It depends on the country and the type of place.
Multiply the bill by 0.15. For a bill of 8,000, the tip is 1,200 and the total is 9,200. A quick way is to work out 10 percent by moving the decimal point one place, then add half of that: 800 + 400 = 1,200.