Calculate tips instantly, split bills by person, and see exactly what everyone owes, with a tipping guide for any situation.
Tipping norms have shifted significantly in recent years. The standard restaurant tip has moved from 15% to 18-20% as the baseline, with 20-25% now considered the norm for good service. Many restaurants now suggest tip amounts on the receipt, these are calculated on the pre-tax total. For takeout, 10-15% is now standard. Counter service and coffee shops: tip at your discretion, typically $1-2 per order. Delivery: 15-20% of the order total or minimum $5.
Tipping customs in the United States have evolved significantly over the past two decades. What was once a straightforward 15% for restaurant service has expanded into a complex set of expectations that varies by city, establishment type, service quality, and even the payment terminal you're staring at. Understanding the current tipping landscape helps you tip appropriately without feeling pressured into overtipping, or inadvertently undertipping someone who depends on gratuity for their income.
Calculating a tip is simple arithmetic: multiply the bill amount by the tip percentage expressed as a decimal. A 20% tip on a $65 bill is $65 × 0.20 = $13.00, making the total $78.00. When splitting among multiple people, divide the grand total (bill + tip) by the number of guests: $78.00 ÷ 4 = $19.50 per person. The mental math shortcut for 20%: move the decimal one place left to get 10% ($6.50), then double it ($13.00). For 15%: find 10% ($6.50), take half of that ($3.25), and add them together ($9.75).
| Service | Standard Range | Exceptional | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sit-down restaurant | 18 to 20% | 22 to 25%+ | Pre-tax bill is traditional; most people tip on full amount |
| Bar / bartender | $1 to 2 per drink | 20% on tab | $1 for beer/wine, $2 for cocktails, or 20% on a tab |
| Coffee shop | 0 to 15% | Up to you | Not expected; 10 to 15% for regulars or custom orders |
| Food delivery | 15 to 20% | 25%+ | Tip in cash if possible; app tips may be pooled |
| Pizza delivery | $3 to 5 flat | $5 to 8 | More in bad weather or long distances |
| Taxi / rideshare | 15 to 20% | 20 to 25% | Tip for luggage help, long wait in traffic, or great service |
| Hotel housekeeping | $3 to 5/night | $5 to 10/night | Tip daily; different staff each day |
| Hotel valet | $2 to 5 | $5 to 10 | Tip when car is returned, not when dropped off |
| Hair salon | 15 to 20% | 20 to 25% | Tip stylist directly, separately from shampoo person |
| Spa / massage | 15 to 20% | 25% | Skip if service was packaged or included |
| Movers | $20 to 40/person | $50+/person | Higher for stairs, long distance, difficult items |
| Tour guide | $5 to 10/person | $15 to 20/person | For multi-day tours, tip on the last day |
This is one of the most common tip calculator questions. Traditionally, tipping etiquette in the United States calls for tipping on the pre-tax subtotal, since tax is a government fee rather than a reflection of the service received. In practice, the difference is small, on a $50 pre-tax meal with 8% sales tax ($4), tipping 20% on the pre-tax amount gives $10.00, versus $10.80 on the post-tax total. Most people tip on the total amount shown on the check because it's easier, and most servers won't notice the difference. Either approach is acceptable; tipping on the pre-tax amount is technically correct.
Bill splitting falls into three approaches. Equal split is the simplest: divide the total (including tip and tax) evenly. This is appropriate when everyone ordered similarly priced items. Itemized split is more precise: each person pays for their own items plus a proportional share of shared items, tax, and tip. This is fairest when orders vary widely in price. One pays, others Venmo is the most common modern approach: one person charges the card, and others transfer their share via payment app. The itemized split tab in this calculator generates a precise breakdown for this scenario.
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View on Amazon →Know exactly what to tip in every situation, domestic and international
View on Amazon →Tipping customs vary dramatically by country, and getting it wrong can be rude in either direction. In Japan and South Korea, tipping is generally considered offensive or insulting, suggesting the server needs charity. In Australia and New Zealand, service staff earn living wages and tipping is optional. In much of Europe, a small tip rounding up the bill is appreciated but 20% American-style tipping is not expected. In the United States and Canada, tipping is an economic necessity for most service workers, who often earn below minimum wage with the legal expectation that tips will supplement their income to at least the minimum. Understanding these differences before traveling prevents both awkward over-tipping and the embarrassment of inadvertently stiffing someone who expected it.
| Country / Region | Restaurant Tip | Culture |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 18 to 22% expected | Servers earn sub-minimum "tipped minimum wage", tips are essential income |
| Canada | 15 to 20% expected | Similar to U.S.; slightly lower minimum standard |
| Mexico | 10 to 15% | Appreciated but not always expected; 10 to 15% is considerate |
| UK / Ireland | 10 to 12.5% | Optional; some restaurants add a service charge automatically |
| France | 5 to 10% | Service compris is often included; extra tip for good service appreciated |
| Germany / Austria | 5 to 10% | Round up and leave small amount; large tips are unusual |
| Italy | 5 to 10% | Coperto (cover charge) is standard; small tip for good service |
| Spain / Portugal | 5 to 10% | Rounding up appreciated; 10% considered generous |
| Japan | 0%, do not tip | Considered rude; exceptional service is standard expectation |
| South Korea | 0%, do not tip | Can be considered insulting; counter-cultural |
| China | 0 to 10% | Not traditional but increasingly accepted in tourist areas |
| Australia / NZ | 0 to 10% optional | Living wage for servers; tipping is optional appreciation |
| Middle East | 10 to 15% | Appreciated; some countries include service charge |
| India | 5 to 10% | Expected in tourist restaurants; rounding up acceptable in casual settings |
| Brazil | 10% (often added) | Gorjeta of 10% often added automatically; extra optional |
Every tip calculation comes down to three simple operations. First, the tip itself is the bill multiplied by the tip rate as a decimal: a 20% tip on a $73.40 bill is 73.40 x 0.20, which is $14.68. Second, the grand total is the bill plus the tip, or $88.08. Third, when you split the check evenly, you divide that total by the number of people. Across four diners, $88.08 becomes $22.02 each. Knowing the mechanics matters because it tells you exactly where a few extra dollars go and lets you sanity check what a payment terminal suggests before you tap.
One decision changes the result more than people expect: whether you tip on the pre-tax or post-tax amount. On that same $73.40 check, if $6.10 of it was sales tax, tipping 20% on the pre-tax subtotal of $67.30 gives $13.46 rather than $14.68. Both are perfectly acceptable, and the gap is only about a dollar here, but on a large group bill the difference compounds quickly. Tipping on the pre-tax subtotal is the technically correct convention because tax is not part of the service, though many people simply tip on the total for speed.
An even split is fine when everyone ordered roughly the same, but it quietly overcharges the person who had a salad and a water. When orders differ a lot, split by what each person actually consumed, then apply the same tip percentage and tax proportionally to each share. If one diner's food came to $18 of a $67.30 subtotal, their portion of a 20% tip is $3.60 rather than an even $3.67, and their share of tax scales the same way. The fairest quick method is to have each person calculate 20% of their own order and add it to their own items, which also removes the awkward moment when the even split leaves the table a few dollars short.
Tipping norms in the United States shifted upward over the past decade, and expectations now vary sharply by the type of service. The ranges below reflect current customary practice in most American cities. Treat the low end as the baseline for adequate service and the high end for service that genuinely stood out.
| Situation | Customary tip | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sit down restaurant | 18% to 22% | 20% is the modern baseline for good service |
| Counter or quick service | 0% to 10% | Optional; a dollar or two is generous for a coffee or takeout |
| Bartender | $1 to $2 per drink | Or 18% to 20% on the full tab |
| Food delivery | 15% to 20% | Minimum $5; more in bad weather or for a long distance |
| Taxi or rideshare | 10% to 20% | Round up for help with bags |
| Hair or barber | 15% to 20% | Tip on the pre discount price if a coupon was used |
| Hotel housekeeping | $3 to $5 per night | Leave daily, since staff rotate |
| Movers | $20 to $40 per mover | More for stairs, heat, or a long day |
American tipping habits do not travel well, and over tipping can be as awkward as under tipping in some countries. In most of Europe a service charge is often already included, and rounding up or leaving 5% to 10% is plenty. In Japan and South Korea tipping is not customary and can cause confusion or even offense, since good service is considered standard. In much of Latin America a 10% service charge is common and an extra 5% for strong service is appreciated. When in doubt, check whether the bill already lists a service or cover charge before adding anything, because paying twice is the most common traveler mistake.
The tablet payment screens that spin around at the counter changed tipping more than any etiquette shift did. A decade ago the standard presets were 15, 18, and 20 percent. Today many terminals open at 20, 25, and 30 percent, and some quietly calculate those figures on the post tax total rather than the subtotal, which nudges the amount higher still. None of this obligates you to accept the default. Every compliant terminal includes a custom or no tip option, sometimes tucked behind a smaller button, and choosing it is completely normal. The suggested numbers are set by the merchant and the software vendor, not by any rule about what you owe.
A useful mental split is to match the tip to the service. Full table service still earns 18 to 22 percent, and the top preset is a fair choice there. For a quick counter transaction where someone handed you a muffin, there is no expectation of a percentage tip at all, and selecting no tip or rounding up a dollar is reasonable. The screen cannot tell the difference between those situations, so the judgment is yours. If the preset math looks off, tap custom and enter your own amount calculated on the pre tax subtotal.