How much should you tip at a restaurant?

In the US, 15-20% of the pre-tax bill is standard for sit-down restaurants. 20% is the most common for good service. For exceptional service, some leave 25% or more.

Do you tip on tax or before tax?

Tip on the pre-tax amount. The tax goes to the government, not to your server. If your food bill is $50 and tax is $4, tip on the $50.

How much to tip for delivery?

$3-5 for orders under $20, or 15-20% for larger orders. In bad weather or for long distances, tip more. Many delivery apps suggest 15%, 20%, or 25%.

Is it rude to tip 10%?

In the US, 10% signals dissatisfaction with service. If the service was genuinely poor, speak to a manager instead. In many other countries, 10% is generous or tips are not expected at all.

How do you split a bill unevenly?

Calculate each person's share of the food, then add the tip percentage to each share. Or use the simple method: total the bill with tip, then divide by the number of people for an even split.

Tip Calculator — Split Bills & Calculate Tips

How Tip Calculation Works

Tip Amount = Bill × (Tip % ÷ 100)

Total = Bill + Tip Amount

Per Person = Total ÷ Number of People

How Much to Tip by Service Type

Service	Suggested Tip	Notes
Sit-down Restaurant	15–20%	20% is the norm in most US cities
Buffet	10%	Someone still refills drinks and clears plates
Takeout / Counter Service	0–10%	Optional; consider tipping during busy hours
Food Delivery	$3–5 or 15–20%	More for bad weather or long distance
Bar	$1–2/drink or 15–20%	$1 for beer, $2 for cocktails as a baseline
Coffee Shop	$0.50–1	Not required; tip more for complex drinks
Hair Salon	15–20%	Cash tips preferred by stylists
Rideshare / Taxi	15–20%	Minimum $2 for short rides
Hotel Housekeeping	$2–5/night	Leave on the pillow with a thank-you note

Mental Math: Quick Tip Shortcuts

10%: Move the decimal left one place. $85 → $8.50
15%: Find 10%, then add half. $8.50 + $4.25 = $12.75
20%: Double the 10% figure. $8.50 × 2 = $17.00
25%: Divide the bill by 4. $85 ÷ 4 = $21.25

Tip on Pre-Tax or Post-Tax?

Tip on the pre-tax amount. The tax goes to the government, not your server. On a $50 food bill with $4 tax and a 20% tip, the difference is only $0.80. Tipping on the post-tax total is also fine — most servers won’t notice the difference.

International Tipping Norms

Country	Custom	Amount
🇺🇸 United States	Expected (cultural obligation)	18–20% at restaurants
🇨🇦 Canada	Expected	15–20%
🇬🇧 UK	Common	10–12.5%; check for service charge
🇦🇺 Australia	Not expected	Round up or 10% for great service
🇯🇵 Japan	Not done	Tipping may be seen as rude
🇹🇼 Taiwan	Rare	Fine dining adds 10% service charge automatically

Special Situations

Bad service: Tip at least 10%. Bad food is the kitchen’s fault, not your server’s. Speak to the manager instead.
Comped meals / gift cards: Tip on the original price, not what you paid.
Happy hour discounts: Tip on the full price — the bartender worked just as hard.
Large groups (6+): Many restaurants auto-add 18–20% gratuity. Check your bill first.
Movers: $20–50 per mover, or 15–20% of the total.

Tip Calculator

Tip Summary