US Restaurant Tip & Bill Splitter

Standard Tipping Etiquette in the USA & Western Countries

Tipping expectations depend on the country, venue, service type, and whether a service charge is already included. In the United States, a tip of around 15–20% is a common reference for sit-down restaurant service, with the amount adjusted for service quality and local circumstances. It is not a universal legal requirement, and customs elsewhere in North America and Europe can be different: some bills include a service charge, while some places treat tipping as optional or less customary.

Before adding a tip, read the receipt for “service charge,” “gratuity,” or an automatic group gratuity. These may already cover some or all of the expected extra amount. Do not assume that a suggested terminal prompt is mandatory. For delivery, counter service, bars, taxis, and hotels, conventions vary by location and service, so local guidance is more useful than a single worldwide percentage.

Pre-tax versus post-tax tipping

A pre-tax tip applies the chosen percentage to the food-and-drink subtotal only. A post-tax tip applies it to the subtotal plus sales tax. This calculator currently uses the post-tax method: tax = bill × tax rate; tip = (bill + tax) × tip rate; total = bill + tax + tip. For a $100 subtotal, 8.25% tax is $8.25. A 20% post-tax tip is $21.65, producing a $129.90 total before any other fees.

To compare fairly, choose the method you intend to use before calculating. Enter the restaurant subtotal, the applicable tax rate, your selected tip percentage, and the party size. The result divides the combined total evenly, so it does not handle unequal orders, separate cash tips, discounts, alcohol-specific rules, or shared fees automatically. Adjust the inputs to match the receipt and verify any service charges before paying.