How Much to Tip and How to Split a Bill Fairly
In the US, 15–20% of the pre-tax bill is customary at sit-down restaurants; in much of Europe rounding up or about 5–10% is enough, and in Japan tipping isn't practised. Check the bill for a service charge first, then use the Tip Calculator to work out each person's share.
How much to tip: it depends on the country
Tipping is a custom, not a rule, and customs vary widely. In the United States a tip is part of how restaurant staff are paid; in Japan it can cause confusion. The table summarizes typical restaurant practice with table service in some common destinations, based on published tipping guides. Customs change and differ between cities and venues, so treat it as a starting point.
| Country | Restaurant custom |
|---|---|
| United States | 15–20% of the pre-tax bill for good service is customary |
| Canada | Similar to the US; about 15% is common |
| Mexico | Usually 10–15% in larger restaurants |
| United Kingdom | Often a service charge (commonly 12.5%) is added; otherwise rounding up or about 10% is optional |
| Germany | Optional; rounding up or about 5–10% is polite |
| France | Service is included; rounding up, or up to about 5% for larger bills |
| Italy, Spain | Not expected; small change for good service |
| Australia | Not expected; optional for exceptional service |
| Japan | Not practised; a tip may cause confusion |
Always check the bill first. If it already shows a service charge, gratuity or "service included", an extra tip is optional.
Tip on the amount before or after tax?
Where tax is added at the register, the custom is usually to tip on the pre-tax amount, since tax isn't part of the service. The difference is small but real. On a meal of 84.60 with 8.75% sales tax:
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Food and drinks (subtotal) | 84.60 |
| Sales tax 8.75% | 7.40 |
| Total before tip | 92.00 |
| 18% tip on subtotal | 15.23 |
| 18% tip on total with tax | 16.56 |
Either is acceptable; tipping on the total is simply a little more generous. The Tip Calculator uses exactly the amount you enter, so enter the subtotal if you want to tip before tax, and add the tax back afterwards.
How to use the Tip Calculator
- Enter the bill amount you want to tip on.
- Choose a tip percentage: 10%, 15%, 18%, 20% or 25%, or type your own.
- Enter the number of people sharing the bill.
- Read the tip, the total, and each person's share of both.
The calculator doesn't detect taxes, discounts or service charges on the bill; adjust the amount you enter for those first.
Splitting a bill fairly
Equal split
Simplest when everyone ordered similar things. Using the example above, the total is 92.00 + 15.23 tip = 107.23. Split three ways, that's 35.743…, which rounds to 35.74 each. But 3 × 35.74 = 107.22, one cent short. Rounding always leaves a few cents over or under; the fair fix is for one person to pay the extra cent, or for everyone to round up to 35.75 and leave the difference as part of the tip.
Itemised split
When orders differ a lot, each person pays for their own items plus their share of tax and tip. The easy way: work out each person's share of the subtotal as a percentage, and apply that percentage to the full total. Someone whose items came to 21.15 of an 84.60 subtotal ordered 25%, so they pay 25% of 107.23, which is 26.81.
Shared dishes
Split shared starters, bottles and desserts equally among the people who had them, then add each person's own items.
Other tipping situations
- Counter service and takeaway: tip jars and screen prompts are optional in most countries.
- Delivery: in the US a delivery tip is common; elsewhere it's often optional.
- Large groups: many restaurants add an automatic gratuity for groups of six or more. Check before adding more.
- Bad service: where tipping is customary, reducing the tip is accepted, but speaking to a manager is usually more useful than leaving nothing.
Mental math for tips
- 10%: move the decimal one place left. 10% of 84.60 = 8.46.
- 20%: double 10%: 16.92.
- 15%: 10% plus half of it: 8.46 + 4.23 = 12.69.
- 18%: 20% minus 2%: 16.92 − 1.69 = 15.23.
More shortcuts are in Percentage Formulas.
Frequently asked questions
What is a standard tip in the US?
15–20% of the pre-tax bill at a sit-down restaurant is customary for good service.
Should I tip if a service charge is included?
It's optional. A service charge generally replaces the tip, though you can add a little extra for exceptional service.
Why doesn't the per-person amount add up exactly?
Amounts are rounded to two decimals, so splitting can leave a cent or two over or under. One person can cover the difference.
Is tipping rude in Japan?
It isn't expected and may cause confusion; staff may try to return the money. Good manners and thanks are appreciated instead.
Related
- Tip Calculator
- Percentage Calculator
- Percentage Formulas: Increase, Decrease, Discounts and Percentage Points