How to Calculate a Tip
Calculating a tip is simple once you know the formula:
Tip amount = Bill total × (Tip percentage ÷ 100)For a $80 meal with a 20% tip:
Tip = $80 × 0.20 = $16
Total = $80 + $16 = $96Quick Tip Chart
| Bill | 10% | 15% | 18% | 20% | 25% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $20 | $2 | $3 | $3.60 | $4 | $5 |
| $40 | $4 | $6 | $7.20 | $8 | $10 |
| $60 | $6 | $9 | $10.80 | $12 | $15 |
| $80 | $8 | $12 | $14.40 | $16 | $20 |
| $100 | $10 | $15 | $18 | $20 | $25 |
| $150 | $15 | $22.50 | $27 | $30 | $37.50 |
Tipping Etiquette by Service
- Full-service restaurant: 15–20% pre-tax (20–25% for exceptional service)
- Buffet: 10% (staff still clears your table)
- Coffee shop / counter service: Optional, $1–2 per order
- Food delivery: 10–15% ($3–5 minimum)
- Rideshare (Uber, Lyft): 10–20%
- Taxi: 15–20%
- Hotel bellhop: $1–2 per bag
- Hotel housekeeping: $2–5 per night
- Hairdresser / barber: 15–20%
- Spa / massage: 15–20%
Tipping Customs by Country
| Country | Restaurant tip | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States | 18–20% | Expected — servers often paid below minimum wage |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | 15–20% | Similar to US |
| 🇬🇧 UK | 10–12.5% | Sometimes included as "service charge" |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | 0–10% | Optional — minimum wage is higher |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | 0% | Tipping can be considered rude |
| 🇫🇷 France | 0–5% | Service included by law |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 5–10% | Round up the bill |
| 🇮🇳 India | 5–10% | If no service charge added |
Splitting the Bill
When splitting with friends:
Per person = (Bill + Tip) ÷ Number of peopleFor $120 bill + $24 tip split between 4 people:
Per person = ($120 + $24) ÷ 4 = $144 ÷ 4 = $36Should You Tip on Tax?
Etiquette experts disagree, but the standard practice in the US is to tip on the pre-tax total. However, many tip prompts on payment terminals calculate the tip percentage on the post-tax total. Tip on whatever feels comfortable to you.
Use our free Tip Calculator to calculate the exact tip and per-person split in seconds — just enter the bill, tip %, and number of people.