Quick answer
A standard restaurant tip in the US is 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax bill. On an $80 check, that works out to $12 to $16. Enter your bill above, pick a percentage, and the calculator shows the tip, the total with tip, and the amount per person if you're splitting.
How to use this calculator
- Pick your currency. It defaults to US dollars.
- Enter the bill amount. Use the pre-tax subtotal if you prefer to tip before tax (there's a toggle for that).
- Choose a tip percentage. The presets cover 10, 15, 18, and 20 percent, or type your own.
- Set how many people are splitting. Leave it at 1 if it's just you.
- Read off the tip, the total, and the per-person amount. Nothing to submit, the numbers update as you type.
The formula, with worked examples
The math behind tipping is one line: tip = bill x (percentage / 100). The total is the bill plus the tip, and the per-person amount is that total divided by the number of people.
Example 1: dinner for three. The bill is $64.50 and you settle on 18 percent. The tip is 64.50 x 0.18, which is $11.61. The total comes to $76.11. Split three ways, each person pays $25.37.
Example 2: tipping on the pre-tax amount. Your check shows $92.75, which includes $6.75 in sales tax. Flip on the pre-tax option and enter the tax. The calculator tips on $86.00, so a 20 percent tip is $17.20 and your total is $109.95 instead of $111.30. Over a year of eating out, that habit adds up.
One quirk worth knowing: some restaurants add an automatic gratuity of 18 to 20 percent for parties of six or more. Check the bottom of your check before you tip twice. We've done it. It stings.
How much to tip in the US (2026)
| Service | Typical tip | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sit-down restaurant | 15 to 20% | 20% is the norm in most big cities |
| Counter service or takeout | 0 to 10% | Optional; a dollar or two for a big order is kind |
| Food delivery | 10 to 15%, minimum $3 to $5 | More in bad weather |
| Bartender | $1 to $2 per drink, or 15 to 20% of the tab | Whichever is higher |
| Hair stylist or barber | 15 to 20% | Tip the assistant separately if they washed your hair |
| Nail salon | 15 to 20% | Cash is often preferred |
| Taxi or rideshare | 10 to 20% | In-app tipping counts |
| Hotel housekeeping | $2 to $5 per night | Leave it daily, staff rotates |
| Movers | $20 to $40 per mover | For a full day; more for stairs |
| Valet | $2 to $5 | When the car is returned |
| Tattoo artist | 15 to 20% | On the total session price |
These are common US norms, not rules. Service quality moves the number, and no one is obligated to tip on bad service.
Frequently asked questions
Do you tip on the pre-tax or post-tax total?
Either is accepted, but etiquette guides and most servers use the pre-tax subtotal as the base. On a $100 bill with $8 tax, an 18 percent tip is $18 pre-tax versus $19.44 post-tax. This calculator supports both: enter the tax amount and switch the toggle to tip on the pre-tax figure.
Is 15 percent still an acceptable tip in 2026?
Yes, 15 percent remains the floor for acceptable sit-down service in the US, though 18 to 20 percent has become the norm in most cities. For genuinely poor service, tipping below 15 percent and mentioning the issue to a manager is reasonable. For counter service, any tip at all is a courtesy.
How much should I tip for takeout?
Takeout doesn't carry the same expectation as table service. Zero is acceptable, and around 10 percent (or a couple of dollars on a large order) is a kind gesture, since someone still packed and checked your food. If curbside staff bring it to your car in the rain, tip like you mean it.
Why do US servers rely on tips so much?
Federal law allows a tipped minimum wage of just $2.13 per hour as long as tips bring the worker up to the standard minimum wage. Some states require more, but in much of the country tips are the majority of a server's income, which is why the 15 to 20 percent norm is taken seriously.
How do I split a bill when one person ordered much more?
Use the per-person figure as a baseline, then adjust by hand. A fair shortcut: the person who ordered the $30 extra item adds that $30 plus its share of tip (about $5.50 at 18 percent) to their portion, and everyone else splits the rest evenly.
Should I tip on a discounted bill or when using a gift card?
Tip on what the meal would have cost before the discount. If a $60 dinner was comped down to $30, the server did $60 worth of work, so an 18 percent tip is about $10.80, not $5.40. The same logic applies to coupons, happy hour pricing, and gift cards.
Is it better to tip in cash or on the card?
Servers usually receive card tips through payroll, sometimes pooled and sometimes delayed to payday. Cash goes into their pocket that night and is generally preferred. Both count, so don't skip the tip just because you're out of cash.
Formula and sources
Formula: tip = bill x (tip % / 100). Total = bill + tip. Per person = total / people.
Sources:
Written by Raja Jahangir. Reviewed by Armghana Zeeshan. Last updated: June 30, 2026.
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