How the split is worked out
Splitting a bill with a tip happens in three small steps. First the tip is calculated as a percentage of the bill. Then the tip is added to the bill to form the grand total. Finally that total is divided equally by the number of people sharing, so everyone pays the same amount including their share of the tip.
Tipping on the pre-tax bill versus the after-tax total is a matter of custom; this calculator applies the tip percentage to the bill amount you enter, so enter the figure you want the tip based on.
Reading the result
The headline is the per-person amount — the single figure each diner owes. The grand total and the total tip are shown alongside so the table can see the full bill and confirm the gratuity before settling up.
The chart breaks the grand total into the original bill and the added tip, a quick way to see how much of the evening's spend is gratuity.
Splitting fairly in the real world
An even split is simplest, but it is not always the fairest. A few situations call for adjustment:
- When orders differ a lot in price, consider splitting by what each person actually ordered, then sharing tax and tip proportionally.
- Rounding each share up to the next dollar makes paying easier and slightly pads the tip.
- If some pay by card and others in cash, total the cash first so the card payer covers the exact remainder.
- Agree on the tip percentage before it is added so no one is surprised by their share.
Formula
totalTip = bill × tipPercent/100; total = bill + totalTip; perPerson = total / peopleFrequently asked questions
- How is the per-person amount calculated?
- The tip is added to the bill to get the grand total, which is then divided equally by the number of people.