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Calculate your tip in seconds. Enter your bill, choose your percentage, split between friends — done.
Our free tip calculator makes it simple to figure out exactly how much to tip and how to split a bill fairly between friends. Here is how it works in three easy steps:
The results show you three numbers: the tip amount, the total bill including tip, and how much each person owes if splitting. All calculations happen instantly as you type — no need to press a button.
To calculate 20% without a calculator: move the decimal point one place to the left to get 10%, then double it. For a $68 bill: $6.80 is 10%, so $13.60 is 20%. Our calculator does this for you instantly, but it's a handy trick to know.
Tipping customs in the United States have evolved significantly over the past decade. What was once considered generous (15%) is now the baseline, and most Americans tip between 18% and 20% for good service at sit-down restaurants. Understanding when and how much to tip helps you navigate any service situation with confidence.
At sit-down restaurants, the widely accepted standard tip is 18–20% of the total bill for good service. For exceptional service — attentive, friendly, and accurate — 25% or more is a meaningful way to show appreciation. At buffets where servers primarily bring drinks and clear plates, 10% is appropriate. For counter service and fast-casual restaurants where there is no table service, tipping is optional but 10% is appreciated.
| Service Type | Standard Tip | Exceptional Service |
|---|---|---|
| Fine dining | 20% | 25–30% |
| Casual sit-down restaurant | 18–20% | 22–25% |
| Buffet restaurant | 10% | 15% |
| Counter / fast casual | Optional 10% | 15% |
| Bar / cocktail service | $1–2 per drink | 20% of tab |
| Food delivery | 10–15% | 20% |
Hairstylists, barbers, nail technicians, massage therapists, and estheticians all rely on tips as a significant portion of their income. The standard tip for personal care services is 15–20% of the service cost. If your stylist performed a complex color treatment or went above and beyond to achieve a difficult result, 20–25% is a generous acknowledgment of their skill. For a simple haircut or basic service, 15% is acceptable, but 18–20% is the most common amount clients leave.
Hotel tipping is often overlooked but important. Housekeeping staff who clean your room daily deserve a tip of $2–5 per night, left on the pillow with a note saying "for housekeeping." Bellhops who carry luggage should receive $1–2 per bag. Valet attendants who retrieve your car deserve $2–5. Room service orders already include a service charge in most hotels, but an additional $2–5 for the delivery person is appreciated.
Taxi drivers and rideshare drivers (Uber, Lyft) typically receive 15–20% tips. Most rideshare apps prompt you to add a tip after your ride. Airport shuttle drivers who handle luggage deserve $2–3 per bag. Car service and limousine drivers typically receive 15–20% of the fare as a standard tip.
The US tipping system is fundamentally different from most other countries. Under federal law, employers can pay tipped workers as little as $2.13 per hour — far below the standard minimum wage — with the expectation that tips will make up the difference. This means that for many servers, bartenders, and service workers, tips are not a bonus but their primary income. When you tip 18–20% at a restaurant, you are paying the actual wage of your server rather than leaving a thank-you note on top of a living wage.
Understanding this context helps explain why not tipping or leaving very small tips in the US is considered significantly rude — it is effectively refusing to pay someone for their work rather than simply choosing not to reward them for a good experience.
Splitting a restaurant bill fairly among a group can quickly become complicated, especially when different people ordered different amounts. There are several common approaches to handling group bills:
Our tip calculator handles the equal split automatically. Enter the full bill amount, select your tip percentage, and use the people counter to see exactly how much each person owes including their share of the tip.
Many people feel uncertain about tipping in specific situations. Here are answers to the most frequently asked questions about American tipping culture and etiquette.
The standard tip at a US sit-down restaurant is 18–20% for good service. For exceptional service, 20–25% is appropriate. At buffets, 10% is standard. For counter service, tipping is optional but 10% is appreciated when there is some service involved.
A 20% tip on a $50 bill is exactly $10.00. Your total including tip would be $60.00. If splitting between 2 people, each person pays $30.00.
A 20% tip on a $100 bill is $20.00. Total to pay: $120.00. If splitting between 4 people, each person pays $30.00.
Tipping on the pre-tax amount is technically the traditional approach since you are rewarding the service rather than contributing to government tax revenue. However, most Americans tip on the full post-tax total shown on the bill. The difference is usually small — on a $50 pre-tax meal with 8% tax, the difference between tipping on pre-tax vs post-tax is less than $1.
Enter the full bill amount in the calculator, select your tip percentage, then use the + button to add the number of people splitting. The calculator automatically divides the total including tip equally between everyone and shows exactly what each person owes.
For food delivery, 10–15% is standard with a minimum of $3–5 for small orders regardless of percentage. If the weather is bad, the delivery is to a difficult location, or the order is large and heavy, consider tipping 20% or adding extra to the base amount.
Yes, in the US context not tipping at a sit-down restaurant is generally considered rude because servers depend on tips as their primary income. Employers are legally permitted to pay tipped workers below minimum wage. If service was genuinely poor, 10% is an acceptable way to signal dissatisfaction while still acknowledging the work done.
The standard tip for a hairstylist is 15–20% of the service cost. For a simple haircut, 15–18% is typical. For complex color work, balayage, or a particularly skilled cut, 20–25% shows meaningful appreciation. Most stylists consider 20% the standard and anything above that exceptional.
Yes — and this is one of the most commonly forgotten tips. Hotel housekeeping staff work hard cleaning rooms that guests often leave in poor condition. A tip of $2–5 per night is appropriate, with $5 being generous and appreciated at standard hotels. At luxury hotels, $5–10 per night is more appropriate. Leave the tip each morning rather than at the end of your stay since different staff may clean your room each day.
Deep guides for every tipping situation — read before your next night out