How to Split a Bill and Tip Fairly

Add the tip to the total bill, then divide by the number of people.

Example: a $120 bill for four people with 20% tip. Tip = $24. Total = $144. Each person pays $144 ÷ 4 = $36.

Pros: dead simple. Cons: unfair if one person ordered significantly more or less than others.

Each person calculates their share of the subtotal, then applies the same tip percentage.

Example: Person A's items totalled $45, Person B's $30, Person C's $25, Person D's $20 (subtotal $120). Tip is 20%. Person A: $45 × 1.20 = $54. Person B: $30 × 1.20 = $36. Person C: $25 × 1.20 = $30. Person D: $20 × 1.20 = $24. Total: $144. ✓

This is the fairest method for groups where orders vary significantly.

When the table shares appetisers or a bottle of wine, divide those items equally among everyone, then add each person's individual items.

Example: a shared appetiser ($18 ÷ 4 = $4.50 each) plus Person A's $35 entrée. Person A's subtotal: $39.50. Apply tip: $39.50 × 1.20 = $47.40.

This is the most accurate but most tedious. Use it when the difference between items is large (e.g., one person ordered lobster).

In practice, most friend groups use a hybrid: split roughly evenly, and the person who ordered the most expensive item rounds up while others round down.

Example: $144 total for 4. Instead of $36 each: the person who had the steak pays $40, the salad-orderer pays $32, and the other two pay $36 each. Total: $144. Everyone is happy, no spreadsheet needed.

Forgetting tax. In many US states, tax is added after the subtotal. Make sure the "total" you split includes tax.

Tipping on the pre-tax amount. Technically either is acceptable, but tipping on the post-tax amount is more common and more generous.

Splitting the tip separately. This leads to confusion and almost always results in under-tipping. Tip first, then split.