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1guest(s)
Tip Amount
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Enter your bill, pick your tip percentage, split between guests. Done in seconds.
Restaurant tipping in the United States follows established customs that most diners follow automatically once they understand the system. The standard tip for good service at a sit-down restaurant is 18–20% of the total bill. This is not a suggestion — it is the widely accepted norm in American dining culture, and servers depend on this income to meet their basic living expenses.
Under US federal law, tipped employees can be paid as little as $2.13 per hour before tips. This means your server's hourly wage from their employer may be less than the cost of a cup of coffee. Tips make up the vast majority of their actual earnings, which is why tipping customs in the US are taken seriously by both servers and diners.
Tipping expectations have shifted upward over the past decade. Here is what is currently considered standard across different types of restaurants:
| Restaurant Type | Standard Tip | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fine dining / upscale | 20–25% | Higher service standards, tip accordingly |
| Casual sit-down | 18–20% | The everyday standard for good service |
| Family restaurant / diner | 15–18% | 15% minimum for average service |
| Brunch restaurant | 18–20% | Brunch servers work hard during busy service |
| Buffet | 10% | Servers do less work but still deserve a tip |
| Counter / fast casual | Optional 10% | Not required but appreciated |
| Bar tab | $1–2 per drink or 20% | Whichever is higher |
The fastest way to calculate a 20% tip in your head is to move the decimal point one place to the left, then double the result. For a $75 bill: $7.50 is 10%, so $15.00 is 20%. For a 15% tip, find 10% then add half: $7.50 + $3.75 = $11.25. Our calculator does all of this instantly — just enter your bill amount and select your percentage.
Tipping on the pre-tax amount is technically traditional. In practice, most Americans tip on the full post-tax total shown on the bill. The difference on a $50 meal with 8% sales tax is less than $1. Either approach is socially acceptable — use whichever is easier to calculate.
When dining with a group, calculating each person's fair share including tip is a common source of confusion. The simplest approach is to add the tip to the total first, then divide equally. Our calculator handles this automatically — enter the full bill, select your tip percentage, and use the guest counter to divide everything equally.
For groups of 6 or more, many restaurants automatically add an 18–20% gratuity to the bill. Always check your receipt before adding an additional tip — you may already have paid it.
The standard tip at a US sit-down restaurant is 18–20% for good service. 15% is acceptable for average service. Most Americans now default to 20% as the easy-to-calculate standard for a satisfactory experience.
Move the decimal point one place left to get 10%, then double it. For a $45 bill: 10% is $4.50, doubled is $9.00. That is your 20% tip. Total to pay: $54.00.
Tipping on the pre-tax amount is technically traditional, but most diners tip on the full post-tax total shown on the bill. Either approach is acceptable — the difference is small on most bills.
Enter the full bill amount above, select your tip percentage, then use the + button to set the number of guests. The calculator shows exactly what each person owes including their share of the tip.
Yes — in the US context, not tipping at a sit-down restaurant is considered poor etiquette because servers rely on tips as their primary income. If service was poor, 10% is an acceptable signal of dissatisfaction rather than leaving nothing.
Many restaurants add automatic gratuity (usually 18–20%) for parties of 6 or more. Some tourist-area restaurants add it for all tables. Always check your bill before calculating an additional tip.
At a buffet where servers primarily bring drinks and clear plates, 10% is the standard. If the server was particularly attentive, 15% is a generous acknowledgment of their work.