How to Calculate a Restaurant Tip (and When to Tip More)

Tip Amount = Bill x (Tip Percentage / 100). If your bill is $85 and you want to leave 20%, the tip is $85 x 0.20 = $17.00. The total you pay is $85 + $17 = $102.

Always calculate the tip on the pre-tax subtotal. Sales tax is money that goes to the government, not the server. On a $100 bill with 8% tax, your tip base is $100, not $108. Our Tip Calculator handles this automatically when you enter the bill amount.

Finding 10% of any number is trivial: just move the decimal point one place to the left. $67 becomes $6.70. For 20%, double it: $13.40. For 15%, take the 10% number and add half of it: $6.70 + $3.35 = $10.05.

If you want a rounder number, just round the bill first. On a $67 tab, round to $70. 20% of $70 is $14. Close enough and much faster than pulling out a calculator.

Four friends dine out. The subtotal (before tax) is $124. They agree on 18%. Tip = $124 x 0.18 = $22.32. Total = $124 + $22.32 = $146.32. Per person = $146.32 / 4 = $36.58.

If the restaurant adds 8.5% tax, the after-tax total is $134.54, but the tip is still calculated on the $124 subtotal. The final bill per person including tax and tip is ($134.54 + $22.32) / 4 = $39.22. Use the Tip Calculator to split bills like this instantly.

Large parties (6+): Many restaurants auto-add 18-20%, but if they do not, tip at least 20% because large tables require more coordination. Exceptional service: If a server goes above and beyond, 25% or higher is a meaningful way to show appreciation.

Small tabs: If your bill is under $10 (a single coffee or drink), a flat $2-3 is more appropriate than a strict percentage. A $0.60 tip on a $3 latte is technically 20%, but it does not reflect the work involved. Delivery and takeout: 10-15% for takeout, 15-20% for delivery depending on distance and weather.

Tipping on the after-tax total is the most widespread error. On a high-tax-rate bill, this can inflate your tip by several dollars — or make your tip look smaller to the server than you intended. Another common mistake is using the discounted total when you have a coupon or gift card. Tip on the original amount, not the reduced price.

Forgetting to adjust for table service vs. counter service can also cause confusion. At a sit-down restaurant, 15-20% is standard. At a counter-service cafe where you are handed your order, tipping is appreciated but not mandatory — $1-2 or 10% is perfectly fine.