A bill split calculator divides a restaurant or group bill among multiple people. Enter the total, add a tip percentage, and choose equal or custom split. For equal splits, divide the grand total by the number of people. For custom splits, each person pays for what they ordered plus their proportional share of tip and tax.
- Equal split formula: each person pays = (subtotal + tip + tax) / number of people.
- Standard US restaurant tip is 18-20% of the pre-tax subtotal.
- For custom splits, divide tip and tax proportionally - not equally - based on what each person ordered.
- Americans spend over $1 trillion dining out each year (National Restaurant Association, 2023), making bill splitting one of the most common everyday math tasks.
How to use our bill splitter
Enter the bill total, select a tip percentage using the preset buttons, and add a tax percentage if tax is not already included. For equal splits, set the number of people and read the per-person amount. For custom splits, switch to Custom mode, add each person's name, and type what they ordered - the calculator splits tip and tax proportionally.
The tax field is optional. If your bill already includes tax (common outside the US), leave it at 0 and enter the full post-tax total as the bill amount. The tip presets cover the most common US rates - type any percentage directly into the tip field for other rates.
How to split a restaurant bill equally
Equal splitting is the most common approach for groups dining together. Add tip and tax to the subtotal first to get the grand total, then divide by the number of people.
For a $120 dinner with 4 people and a 20% tip: tip = $24, grand total = $144, each person pays $36 - a unit rate of total divided by people. Many groups skip adding tip before dividing and end up under-paying the server.
Equal splits work best when everyone ordered roughly the same amount. If one person had a $12 salad and another had a $45 steak, equal splitting creates obvious unfairness. That's when the custom split mode becomes the right tool.
How much should you tip?
The standard tip at a US sit-down restaurant is 18-20% of the pre-tax subtotal (Bankrate, 2024). Tip percentages vary by service type and country. In many European countries, tipping is optional or rounded up to the nearest whole amount.
In the US and Canada, tipping is expected at table-service restaurants because the federal tipped minimum wage is $2.13/hour (DOL, 2024) - tips make up the difference to minimum wage.
Disclaimer: Tipping obviously varies by country. In some countries, it is normal not to tip at all. Throughout Scandinavia for example, it is very normal to see customers not leaving any tip. This is because the minimum wage is higher here than the global average.
| Service type | Suggested tip | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sit-down restaurant (excellent) | 20-25% | Standard for attentive service |
| Sit-down restaurant (average) | 15-18% | Minimum considered acceptable in US |
| Food delivery | 15-20% | Minimum $3-5 for small orders |
| Bar service | 15-20% | Or $1-2 per drink |
| Buffet | 10% | Lower as full service is not provided |
| Takeout (counter service) | 0-10% | Optional; not expected |
| Coffee shop | 10-15% | Optional for simple orders |
| Fast food | 0% | Not expected |
When I work through bill splits with groups, I often see people tip on the post-tax total rather than the pre-tax subtotal. Both approaches are acceptable - tipping on the full post-tax amount is more generous by roughly the tax rate (8-10% in most US states). The etiquette guides say pre-tax, but most servers don't distinguish.
How do you split a bill unequally?
For an unequal split, each person pays for what they ordered plus a proportional share of the tip and tax. If Alice ordered $40 of food and Bob ordered $20 on a $60 subtotal, Alice is responsible for 67% of the bill. With a 20% tip ($12), Alice pays $40 + 67% × $12 = $48. Bob pays $20 + 33% × $12 = $24.
The key rule: tip and tax should follow the food amounts, not be divided equally. Splitting tip equally when orders vary significantly means the person who ordered more effectively gets a discounted tip rate while the lighter eater subsidizes them. This calculator uses proportional allocation in custom mode automatically.
In my experience, the custom split works best when each person enters their own amount rather than one person trying to remember what everyone had. Pass the phone around the table - it takes 20 seconds and avoids arguments.
What is "going Dutch" and when should you use it?
Going Dutch means each person pays an equal share of the total, regardless of what they individually ordered.
The term originated in the 17th century from Dutch cultural practices around individual financial responsibility. It is the simplest approach for groups of close friends where minor differences in what people ordered are not worth calculating out.
Going Dutch works well for recurring group dinners where the balance evens out over time. It becomes unfair when there are large price differences - for example, when some people drink alcohol and others don't, or when one person orders a significantly more expensive entree. For those situations, use the custom split mode.
Common bill-splitting mistakes
The most common error is forgetting to add tip before dividing. If four people split a $100 bill as $25 each and then leave a 20% tip separately, they're calculating correctly. But if they split $25 each and assume that includes the tip, the server receives nothing. Always calculate the final amount including tip, then divide.
A second common mistake: using an equal split when drinks are involved. One person who ordered three glasses of wine and a person who drank water will have very different bills. For mixed groups, the custom split removes the awkwardness of someone suggesting they should pay less - the numbers speak for themselves.
Third: forgetting that some restaurants add a service charge automatically for large parties (usually 6+ people). The IRS distinguishes mandatory service charges from voluntary tips - they are taxed differently (IRS). Check the bill before adding a tip - you may already be paying 18% built in. Adding 20% on top of a mandatory 18% service charge means tipping nearly 40%.
FAQs about splitting a bill
How do you calculate splitting a bill?
Add any tip and tax to the subtotal first to get the grand total. Then divide by the number of people for an equal split. Example: an $80 bill with 20% tip is $96 total; divided by 4 people equals $24 each. Use the percentage calculator if you need to work out the tip amount separately.
Should you tip before or after splitting the bill?
Always add tip to the full bill before splitting, not after. If each person calculates their own tip on their share, rounding differences and varying percentages can leave the server with an inconsistent amount. Agree on the tip percentage as a group, calculate it on the full subtotal, then split the total amount equally or by proportion.
How do you split a bill when someone doesn't drink alcohol?
Use the custom split mode. Each person enters the total cost of what they ordered, including their drinks. The non-drinker enters only their food amount. Tip and tax are then split proportionally. This is fairer than equal splitting when one person's alcohol significantly inflates the total.
What is the formula for splitting a bill with tax and tip?
Grand total = subtotal + (subtotal × tip%) + (subtotal × tax%). Per person (equal) = grand total / N. Per person (custom) = their food amount + (their food / subtotal) × (tip amount + tax amount). The custom formula ensures the person who ordered more also pays more of the shared charges.
Does a large party tip get split equally?
In equal split mode, yes - tip is divided equally among all people. In custom split mode, each person's tip contribution is proportional to what they ordered. For large parties where the restaurant adds a mandatory service charge, verify the bill first to avoid double-tipping on top of the automatic gratuity.
Quiz: how well do you know bill splitting?
1. 4 people share a $96 restaurant bill with an 18% tip. How much does each person pay?
2. Alice had $40 of food, Bob had $20, on a $60 subtotal with a 20% tip. What is Alice's share including her proportional tip?
3. What percentage tip is considered standard at a sit-down restaurant in the US?
4. What does "going Dutch" mean when splitting a bill?
5. A dinner bill is $150. You want to leave a 20% tip. The restaurant already added 8% tax. What is the correct tip amount?