Tip Calculator
Calculator Use
Calculate a tip or gratuity and add it to your check or bill. Enter the check amount and percent tip you want to leave. If you are splitting the check at a restaurant or bar input how many people and see the total amount each person pays.
This calculator also allows you to calculate tip if you don't want to tip on tax. Check the box "Do not tip on tax" and enter the amount of tax listed on the total bill.
Given the tip percentage you choose, the calculator finds the tip on the amount before tax. The answer shows the pre-tax subtotal, tax amount, tip amount, total bill, and total amount you should pay including tip.
How to Calculate Tip
It is customary to leave a tip or gratuity for waitstaff and bartenders to recognize the quality of service a customer receives. In the United States people generally tip 15-20% of the bill.
To calculate tip multiply the total check by 1 plus the decimal percentage tip you'd like to leave. If you wanted to leave a 20% tip, you would add 1 to 0.20 to get 1.20. Multiply the bill by 1.20 to get the total amount you'd leave including tip.
- Decide on tip percentage
- Add the decimal form of tip percentage to 1 to get your rate
- Multiply the bill by your rate
Alternatively you can calculate the percentage tip and then add it to the bill. You will get the same end result as using the tip calculation method above.
- Decide on tip percentage
- Multiply the bill by tip percentage as a decimal. This is the amount of tip you're leaving.
- Add this amount to the bill
Increasingly, restaurants and other establishments include gratuity in the bill for larger parties. You can use the Tip Calculator to double-check the accuracy of those tip charges, or to leave a different gratuity amount if permitted.
How to Calculate Tip on Your Phone's Calculator
Calculating gratuity or tip on a calculator is a simple multiplication. Since the tip is figured as the bill times a percentage you can do one calculation to find the total amount you'll leave including tip. Use the rate 1 + tip percentage as a decimal and multiply that by your check amount.
If you want to leave 18% for your server, multiply your bill amount by 1.18. The result is the total amount you'll pay.
If you need to know exactly how much your gratuity is, multiply the bill amount by 0.18. This is your tip amount. Add this to the bill to get the total amount you'll pay.
Example Tip Calculation
Say you and a friend had dinner and the check came to $26.50. You had good service and want to leave an 18% gratuity. Put the percentage in decimal form as 0.18 then multiply the check amount by this number.
26.50 * 0.18 = 4.77. So your tip is $4.77.
An easy way to get the total amount of the dinner plus tip is to multiply the total check by 1.18.
26.50 * 1.18 = 31.27
How to Calculate Tip in Your Head
You can get a good approximation of tip amount by doing it in your head.
Find 10% of your bill by moving the decimal one place to the left. If 26.50 is 100% then 2.65 is 10%. Since 20% is 2 times 10%, 20% of the bill is 2.65 + 2.65 = 5.30.
Now you know the tip you could leave ranging from poor to good, 10% to 20% is $2.65 to $5.30. To find 15% which is halfway in between take the 10% and add half of that which would be another 5%. 2.65 plus about 1.30 is 3.95.
Now you have
10% is 2.65 - by moving decimal 1 place to the left
15% is 3.95 - 10% + half of 10%
20% is 5.30 - 10% * 2
This is plenty of information to make a good guess at the tip amount you should leave. If you decide on about 18%, 4.50 to 5.00 would be a safe guess.
When leaving a tip for a service you might want to tip an amount that is not calculated based on the amount of the bill or expense. In this case you would want to come up with a gratuity amount that you're comfortable with, one that would demonstrate your gratitude for the service you have received by the service provider.
How Much to Tip
In the United States tipping in restaurants and bars is typically calculated as 15 - 20% of the bill. Of course the quality of service can affect the amount of tip you actually leave. In other countries tipping expectations vary widely.
In some countries leaving a tip is considered insulting, and in other countries leaving a minimal tip where you round the bill up to the next whole number is satisfactory. Here is a list of countries and general tip expectations for restaurants and bars.
- Argentina - Tips are not expected but are appreciated. It is polite to leave a 10% cash tip in restaurant settings. Tipping in bars is optional, but still appreciated.
- Australia - Tips are not expected. In restaurants you could leave a few dollars but at bars tipping is uncommon. Restaurants generally include a 10% goods and services tax, so you could consider that the tip.
- Belgium - In much of Europe tipping tends to be minimal although you may want to show gratitude for good service. If paying with cash, letting the server keep the change is the typical gesture.
- Brazil - Tips are expected and 10% gratuity is often included in the check. If the tip is not in the bill it is polite to leave a 10% tip. Also, note that tax is typically built into the menu pricing.
- The Caribbean - You should expect to leave a tip of 10-20% depending on level of service. Note though that a service charge might be added to your bill. If so, no additional tip is necessary but it's always appreciated.
- Chile - Tipping is expected, around 10%, unless you're in an area with a lot of tourism where 15-20% might be more appropriate.
- China - Tips are not expected in China. There are two possible exceptions however. If you dine at a high-end restaurant you may want to leave some cash for the staff. And if you go on a group tour it may be appropriate to tip the tour guide and bus driver.
- Croatia - A 10% minimum tip is standard, more is better, and cash is the best. At bars and cafes it's acceptable to leave a couple of extra Euro with the payment.
- Denmark - Tipping is not expected, and if there is a service charge included in the bill it generally goes to the establishment rather than the staff. You can always tip 10% for great service. Generally tips collected for the shift are split among the employees.
- Egypt - Tips are expected and are a welcome sign that you appreciate good service. If there is a nominal service charge in the bill it is polite to tip an additional 10%.
- Estonia - Tipping is optional, but a 10% gratuity would be welcome.
- France - As everywhere, tipping is a sign of gratitude for good service. Don't feel obligated to tip in France, but your server will appreciate an extra 5-10%.
- French Polynesia - Tips are not expected but usually the server will accept a nominal amount so that you can show your gratitude for their service.
- Germany - Tipping is highly dependent on the quality of service. Leaving 5-10% is typical, less if the service was not good, and up to 15% shows gratitude for particularly good service. Cash is especially appreciated, to be sure it goes directly to your server.
- Greece - Check whether the service charge is included in the restaurant bill. If it is, tipping an additional 5-10% is courteous. If a service charge is not included plan to tip 15-20% depending on level of service, or round up a few Euros in a cafes or bars.
- Hong Kong - Leaving a tip is not expected and might be considered offensive. You will probably see a 10% gratuity added to most restaurant bills.
- Iceland - Tips are not expected but are appreciated, even if a modest gratuity is included in the bill.
- India - As in the US, a service charge included in the bill would cover the tip. If a restaurant does not list a service charge it is polite to leave a 10-15% tip given the quality of service.
- Italy - As everywhere, tipping is a sign of gratitude for good service. Although tips are not expected your server will appreciate a 5-10% gratuity.
- Japan - Tipping in Japan may be perceived as a rude gesture because the Japanese believe good service is a necessary part of the job. Outside of restaurants and bars, service workers in the tourism industry would accept tips, but you should present them discretely, and in a small envelope to honor the presentation.
- Mexico - Generally tipping 10-15% is expected, and possibly more for excellent service. As with street vendors in other countries it is not necessary to tip, but if you see a tip jar you could toss in some change.
- Morocco - In casual restaurants and cafes it is customary to round up your bill and leave the extra as tip. In more refined restaurants expect to leave a 10% tip.
- Netherlands - Generally tipping is not expected but you can tell the server to keep the change and provide an amount you're comfortable with. Watch for included service charges and tip extra only if you're inclined.
- New Zealand - Tipping is not expected but you can thank your server with a couple of extra dollars or around 10% of the bill.
- Norway - Tip as you would in the US, from 10-20% depending on the style of restaurant and quality of service. As a tourist you would want to show gratitude to your server by tipping at least 5%, but more would be customary.
- Peru - As in Morocco it's fine to round up your bill and leave the change in cafes and casual venues. In nicer restaurants leaving a 10-15% tip is expected.
- Philippines - Tipping was not part of Filipino culture historically, but with the increase in American tourists the practice is spreading. You don't have to leave a tip, but if you do 10% would be very generous.
- Poland - Tipping tends to be minimal although it is polite to show gratitude for good service. Leaving the tip in cash helps the server receive the tip directly.
- Russia - There is no pressure to tip in Russia, although it is kind to leave a small gratuity. Anywhere from 5-15% given level of service is appropriate.
- South Africa - As in the US it is customary to tip 10-20% at restaurants. Be sure to notice whether there is a service charge on the bill, and if so leave enough gratuity to get the total tip to that 10-20% mark, depending on quality.
- South Korea - As in Japan, tipping is not expected and may be perceived as rude. You may see a service charge on bills in nicer hotels, and drivers generally welcome your offer to keep the change.
- Spain - Tipping is not particularly common in Spain because full-service restaurants usually include a service fee on the bill. In cafes and bars it is typical to leave a small tip, like the change after rounding up to the next dollar, or the next $5 if the bill is larger.
- Sweden - The general tipping vibe in Sweden is "anything is fine." So you can tip but you don't have to. Definitely check whether a service charge is included in the bill, which is typical. If it's not there you should consider leaving 10-15% to show gratitude for your service.
- Switzerland - People typically round up and let the servers keep the change. If it's a nicer restaurant with great service leaving a 10% tip is courteous.
- Thailand - As in many other countries tipping in Thailand is generally reserved for nicer restaurants where leaving 10-15% is polite. At more casual cafes and bars it's acceptable to leave the change for the server. Generally street vendors do not expect tips.
- Turkey - Leaving your tip in cash is the way to go in Turkey. For casual restaurants tipping around 5-10% is fine, nicer restaurants would be 10-15% of the bill. At bars feel free to leave the change, or add a little extra for the bartenders.
- United Kingdom - Restaurants might add a service fee of 10-12% to your bill, so an additional tip is not necessary. If there is no service fee consider leaving a 10-15% gratuity. At pubs, leaving your change or a few extra pounds would be a nice gesture.
- United States - Tipping is generally expected across all types of establishments. At restaurants the expectation is 15-20% of the bill, and at bars it's a dollar a drink or 20% if it's a cocktail bar. Everywhere else you'll probably see a tip jar or the option to leave a tip with your electronic transaction on tablets and other technology. Tipping is basically compulsory, but of course it's up to you to evaluate the quality of service you receive.
- Vietnam - Like Thailand it's best not to tip street vendors, but you should consider leaving a 10-15% cash tip for your server. Even when a service charge is included on the bill, only the additional cash you leave will go to the server.
It would be important to check on local tipping customs in the area you are visiting. The list above provides general tipping customs and is not specific to any particular international locale.