How to Calculate a Tip and Split the Bill

To calculate a tip, multiply the bill by the tip rate. For a bill of 84 and an 18 percent tip, the tip is 84 × 0.18 = 15.12. To split the bill, add the tip to the bill, then divide the total by the number of people: (84 + 15.12) ÷ 3 = 33.04 each. Tipping customs and expected rates vary by country and by type of service, so check the local custom before you choose a rate.

Tip formula

Use these two formulas:

Tip = Bill × (Tip percent ÷ 100)

Total = Bill + Tip

The bill is the amount before the tip. Do not include the tip in the base. If the bill includes tax, check whether your local custom tips on the total or on the amount before tax. Customs differ, so pick the method that matches the place you are in.

Worked example: a bill for three

A group of three eats a meal. The bill is 84, and the group chooses an 18 percent tip.

1. Tip: 84 × 0.18 = 15.12.
2. Total: 84 + 15.12 = 99.12.
3. Per person: 99.12 ÷ 3 = 33.04.

Each person pays 33.04. Check it: 33.04 × 3 = 99.12, which matches the total. The tip is also correct: 15.12 is 18 percent of 84.

Common tip rates

The table below shows three rates for the same bill of 84. The per person column divides the total by three.

Check the 20 percent row: 84 + 16.80 = 100.80. Divide by 3: 100.80 ÷ 3 = 33.60. The rate changes the total by a few units, but the same rule applies to every row.

Use the table as a reference. The right rate depends on the place, the service and your own choice. You can also work out any other rate with the formula above.

Split the bill evenly

An even split works when everyone eats the same amount or the group agrees to share the cost. Use this method:

1. Add the tip to the bill to get the total.
2. Divide the total by the number of people.
3. Round the result as the group agrees.

Example: a total of 99.12 for four people is 99.12 ÷ 4 = 24.78. Check it: 24.78 × 4 = 99.12. The split is exact.

Split by item

When people order different things, an even split is unfair. The better method is to split each item, then add a tip share to each person's food.

Take a bill of 84 for two people. Alex has items worth 30. Sam has items worth 54. The total of the two shares is 84, which matches the bill.

Check the totals: 35.40 + 63.72 = 99.12. The tip shares add up too: 5.40 + 9.72 = 15.12. The method works because the tip rate is the same for each share.

If a shared dish is in the bill, split its cost first, then add it to each person's share. Split the shared dish by the number of people who ate it.

Rounding

Money has two decimal places, but a bill split can produce a longer number. Round each person's share to the nearest cent, then check the total. Small differences can appear. Here is one way to handle them:

• Round each share to two decimal places.
• Add the rounded shares and compare them with the total.
• If the sum differs by a cent, let one person pay the difference.

Example: 100 ÷ 3 = 33.333. Round each share to 33.33. Three shares give 99.99, which is one cent short. One person pays 33.34.

Common mistakes

• Tipping the wrong base. Use the bill before the tip. A tip on a tip is not part of the rule.
• Forgetting to add the tip before the split. Divide the total, not only the bill.
• Dividing by the wrong count. Count everyone who shares the bill, including people who ate little.
• Rounding every step. Keep the full decimal until the last step, then round.

How Percent & Finance Calc Pro helps

Percent & Finance Calc Pro includes a tip and bill split tool in its Business group. You enter the bill, choose the tip percent and the number of people, and the app shows the tip, the total and the amount per person. Each result shows the formula with lettered inputs, so you can check the arithmetic.

The app runs on your device. Calculations stay on the phone, and the app has no account and no ads. The tip and bill split tools need the Pro plan. The free version includes the basic percentage calculators. For the full list, see the app page.

For the underlying math, read how to calculate a percentage of a number. For a price change, read how to calculate percentage increase.

To check your next bill, open Percent & Finance Calc Pro. You can find more tools on the apps page.

Frequently asked questions

Should I tip on the bill before or after tax?

It depends on local custom. Some places expect a tip on the amount before tax, and others use the total. Check the custom where you are, then use the same base each time.

How do I split a bill when one person pays by card?

Split the total first, then decide how the group settles the amounts. The math is the same, but the payment method does not change the shares.

What if the split is one cent short?

Rounding can leave a small gap. Let one person pay the difference, or agree on a rule before you start, such as the person who ordered the most pays the extra cent.

Is a 20 percent tip always the right choice?

No. The right rate depends on the place, the service and the group's choice. Use the table as a reference, and choose the rate that fits the situation.