Calculate tip, split the check, and figure out what everyone owes. No more awkward math at the table.
This calculator divides a restaurant bill or shared expense among a group with options for equal splitting, proportional splitting by what each person ordered, or custom amounts. It handles tip calculation on the pre-tax subtotal (the standard tipping convention), adds tax, and shows each person's total share. The result accounts for rounding so the final amounts always add up exactly to the total bill.
Tips in the United States are customarily calculated on the pre-tax subtotal, not on the total after tax. A 20% tip on a $80 pre-tax meal is $16, regardless of the tax amount. Common tip percentages are 15% for adequate service, 18 to 20% for good service, and 22 to 25% for exceptional service. For large parties (typically 6 or more), many restaurants add an automatic gratuity of 18 to 20%. The calculator applies the tip to the subtotal by default.
When splitting a bill with tip, each person's share of the tip should be proportional to what they ordered, not split equally. If one person ordered a $50 entree and another ordered a $15 salad, equal tip splitting penalizes the lighter order. The proportional split mode handles this automatically by distributing tip and tax based on each person's percentage of the subtotal.
Equal splits work well when everyone ordered similarly priced items or when the group prefers simplicity over precision. Proportional splits are fairer when orders vary significantly in price, like when some people ordered only appetizers while others had full entrees and drinks. For shared items like appetizers, bottles of wine, or desserts, add those to the common pool and split that portion equally while keeping individual entree costs separate.
For recurring group dinners, some friend groups maintain a running tab where the person who underpaid last time picks up a slightly larger share next time. Payment apps have made exact splitting easier, but the social dynamics of bill splitting often matter more than the math. When in doubt, rounding up your share slightly is a low-cost way to avoid awkwardness.
Splitting the bill is one of the most socially fraught aspects of dining out. Cultural norms vary widely: in many European and Asian countries, the host traditionally pays. In the US, splitting evenly is common among friends, though income differences and order sizes can create tension. For groups with significant income disparity, proportional splitting (everyone pays for what they ordered) is generally considered more equitable. Tip should be calculated on the pre-tax subtotal and is typically split the same way as the bill itself. The standard tipping range in the US is 18 to 22% for table service, 15 to 18% for counter service, and 10% for takeout (if tipping at all). Tax is approximately 5 to 10% depending on your state and local rates.