How to use the tip calculator
- Enter the bill amount from your check or receipt.
- Pick a tip percentage from the list, or choose “Custom %” and type any rate.
- Enter the number of people to see what each person owes.
- Optional: under “Tax & rounding,” tip on the pre-tax amount or round the tip or each share up to a whole dollar. The table under the results shows the same bill at other common tip rates.
How to calculate a tip
tip = bill × tip% / 100; per person = (bill + tip) / people
- bill
- the amount on the check (or the pre-tax subtotal if you tip before tax)
- tip %
- the tip percentage, e.g. 20
- people
- the number of people sharing the bill
Worked example: a 20% tip on $80 is $80 × 0.2 = $16.00, so the total is $80 + $16.00 = $96.00. Shared by 4 people, each pays $96.00 ÷ 4 = $24.00, of which $4.00 is tip.
Tip chart: 15%, 18%, 20%, 22% and 25%
Tip amounts for common bills, rounded to the cent:
| Bill | 15% tip | 18% tip | 20% tip | 22% tip | 25% tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10 | $1.50 | $1.80 | $2.00 | $2.20 | $2.50 |
| $15 | $2.25 | $2.70 | $3.00 | $3.30 | $3.75 |
| $20 | $3.00 | $3.60 | $4.00 | $4.40 | $5.00 |
| $25 | $3.75 | $4.50 | $5.00 | $5.50 | $6.25 |
| $30 | $4.50 | $5.40 | $6.00 | $6.60 | $7.50 |
| $40 | $6.00 | $7.20 | $8.00 | $8.80 | $10.00 |
| $50 | $7.50 | $9.00 | $10.00 | $11.00 | $12.50 |
| $60 | $9.00 | $10.80 | $12.00 | $13.20 | $15.00 |
| $75 | $11.25 | $13.50 | $15.00 | $16.50 | $18.75 |
| $80 | $12.00 | $14.40 | $16.00 | $17.60 | $20.00 |
| $100 | $15.00 | $18.00 | $20.00 | $22.00 | $25.00 |
| $125 | $18.75 | $22.50 | $25.00 | $27.50 | $31.25 |
| $150 | $22.50 | $27.00 | $30.00 | $33.00 | $37.50 |
| $175 | $26.25 | $31.50 | $35.00 | $38.50 | $43.75 |
| $200 | $30.00 | $36.00 | $40.00 | $44.00 | $50.00 |
How much to tip in the US
Tipping in the United States is a custom, not a law, and expectations vary by region and by how much service you receive. The ranges below are the guidelines published by the Emily Post Institute, an etiquette authority; treat them as a starting point, not a rule.
| Service | Common tip |
|---|---|
| Sit-down restaurant | 15%–20% of the pre-tax bill |
| Buffet | 10% of the pre-tax bill |
| Takeout | Optional; about 10% for curbside or a large order |
| Food delivery | 10%–15% of the bill; $2–$5 for pizza |
| Bartender | $1–$2 per drink, or 15%–20% of the tab |
| Hair salon | 15%–20%, split among those who served you |
| Taxi driver | 15%–20% of the fare (at least $1) |
| Hotel housekeeping | $2–$5 per day, left daily with a note |
Rideshare apps let you add a tip in the app after the ride; the taxi range above is a reasonable reference. For hotel housekeeping, leaving the tip each day rather than at checkout means it reaches the person who cleaned your room that day.
Why tips matter to workers
Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, a tipped employee is one who regularly receives more than $30 a month in tips. Employers may pay these workers a cash wage as low as $2.13 an hour and count tips toward the $7.25 federal minimum wage, a “tip credit” of up to $5.12 an hour; if tips fall short, the employer must make up the difference. Many states set a higher cash wage, and some, including California, Minnesota and Washington, require the full state minimum wage before tips.
Tipping before or after tax
The Emily Post Institute says it is acceptable to tip on the pre-tax amount of the bill. On a $64.80 check that includes 8% sales tax, the pre-tax subtotal is $64.80 ÷ 1.08 = $60.00. A 20% tip on that is $12.00, compared with $12.96 on the full bill, a difference of $0.96. The gap is small on an everyday meal and grows with large parties and high-tax cities. Tipping on the full amount is simpler. To check the tax on your bill, use the sales tax calculator.
How to figure 15% and 20% in your head
- 10%: move the decimal point one place left. On $64, 10% is $6.40.
- 20%: double the 10% amount: $6.40 × 2 = $12.80.
- 15%: add half of 10% to 10%: $6.40 + $3.20 = $9.60.
- 25%: divide the bill by 4: $64 ÷ 4 = $16.00.
Another shortcut for sales-tax areas: doubling the tax on the receipt gives a quick estimate when the tax rate is close to 10%. Round the bill to a whole dollar first to make any of these easier. For other percentage problems, try the percentage calculator.
How to split a bill fairly
The simplest method is an even split: add the tip to the full bill, then divide by the number of people. A check of $137.50 with a 20% tip comes to $165.00, or $41.25 each for 4 people. Rounding each share up to $42 is easier to pay and raises the tip to $30.50 (22.2% of the bill).
When orders differ a lot, split by what each person ordered: take each person’s items, add their share of tax, and apply the same tip percentage to each. Run the calculator once per person with “Number of people” set to 1.
How tips are taxed
For the people who receive them, tips are taxable income, including cash tips. A temporary federal deduction for qualified tips, available for tax years 2025 through 2028, can reduce the federal income tax on them for many workers in tipped occupations, although Social Security and Medicare tax still apply. The no tax on tips calculator estimates the deduction and the tax saved.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I tip at a restaurant?
For sit-down table service in the US, 15% to 20% of the bill is the common custom, and the Emily Post Institute suggests calculating it on the pre-tax amount. On a bill of $80, that is $12.00 to $16.00. Tipping is voluntary, and you can leave more for excellent service; keep in mind that federal law lets employers pay tipped servers a lower cash wage.
How do I calculate a 20% tip quickly?
Move the decimal point one place to the left to get 10%, then double it. On a bill of $64, 10% is $6.40, so 20% is $12.80. For 15%, add half of the 10% amount: $6.40 + $3.20 = $9.60. Rounding the bill to the nearest dollar first makes the math even easier.
Should I tip on the total before or after tax?
Either is acceptable; the Emily Post Institute says it is fine to tip on the pre-tax amount. The difference is usually small: on a bill of $64.80 that includes 8% sales tax, a 20% tip is $12.00 before tax and $12.96 after tax. Turn on “Tip on the pre-tax amount” under Tax & rounding to see both.
How do I split a bill with a tip?
Add the tip to the whole bill first, then divide the total by the number of people. A bill of $137.50 with a 20% tip comes to $165.00, or $41.25 each for 4 people. If everyone rounds up to $42, the group leaves $168.00 and the tip becomes $30.50. If people ordered very different amounts, split by what each person ordered instead.
Why do tipped workers depend on tips?
Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, an employer can pay a tipped employee a cash wage as low as $2.13 an hour and count tips toward the $7.25 federal minimum wage, a tip credit of up to $5.12 an hour. The employer must make up any shortfall if tips don’t reach the minimum. Many states require a higher cash wage, and some require the full state minimum wage before tips.
Do I need to tip on takeout?
Tipping on takeout is optional. The Emily Post Institute’s guide lists no obligation for takeout, and suggests about 10% when there is extra service, such as curbside delivery to your car, or for a large, complicated order. Delivery is different: the guide suggests 10% to 15% of the bill, or $2 to $5 for pizza depending on the size of the order and the difficulty of the delivery.
Are tips taxed?
Yes, tips are taxable income for the worker, including cash tips, and they remain subject to Social Security and Medicare tax. For tax years 2025 through 2028, a temporary federal deduction lets many workers in tipped occupations deduct qualified tips when figuring federal income tax, up to an annual limit and subject to an income phase-out. Use the no tax on tips calculator to estimate what it is worth to you.