Tip Calculator — Step-by-Step Solutions
The Tip Calculator helps you quickly work out how much to tip at restaurants, cafes, and for other services. It supports three modes: tip calculation with bill splitting, discount calculation, and tax calculation.
Enter your bill amount and tip percentage to see the tip, total, and per-person split. The calculator shows suggestions for common tip percentages (15%, 18%, 20%, 25%) so you can compare options at a glance.
Your calculations will appear here
How to Use the Tip Calculator
- Tip Calculator: enter the bill amount, the tip percentage (15 is pre-filled) and the number of people sharing. You get the tip, the total, and per-person amounts when there is more than one person. A comparison table shows common tip percentages side by side.
- Discount Calculator: enter the original price and the discount percentage to see how much you save and the final price.
- Tax Calculator: enter the pre-tax amount and the tax rate to see the tax and the total.
- Amounts are shown in dollars, rounded to the cent. Tipping customs vary by country and venue, so use the percentage that fits where you are.
Formula and Theory
All three modes use the same idea: a percentage is a fraction out of 100, so x% of an amount is amount x x / 100. The tip is bill x tip% / 100 and the total is the bill plus the tip. A discount is subtracted from the price, and sales tax is added to it.
To split a bill, divide the total (bill plus tip) by the number of people. The tip per person is the tip divided by the same number.
Percentages can be combined by multiplying factors. A 20% discount followed by 8% tax is price x 0.80 x 1.08, not price x (1 - 0.20 + 0.08).
Whether the tip is calculated on the pre-tax or the post-tax amount is a matter of custom. This calculator applies the tip to whatever bill amount you enter, so enter the pre-tax subtotal if you want to tip on that.
Worked Examples
Example 1: Tip and split a bill
Problem: A dinner bill is $85.50. Leave an 18% tip and split it between 3 people.
Solution: Tip = 85.50 x 0.18 = 15.39. Total = 85.50 + 15.39 = 100.89. Per person = 100.89 / 3 = 33.63. Tip per person = 15.39 / 3 = 5.13.
Answer: Tip $15.39, total $100.89, $33.63 each
Example 2: Comparing tip percentages
Problem: For a $40 bill, what are the tip and total at 10%, 15%, 18%, 20% and 25%?
Solution: Multiply 40 by each rate: 10% = 4.00, 15% = 6.00, 18% = 7.20, 20% = 8.00, 25% = 10.00. Add 40 to each for the totals: 44.00, 46.00, 47.20, 48.00, 50.00.
Answer: Tips $4.00, $6.00, $7.20, $8.00, $10.00; totals $44.00 to $50.00
Example 3: Discount
Problem: A jacket costs $99.99 and is 20% off. What do you pay?
Solution: Savings = 99.99 x 0.20 = 19.998, which rounds to $20.00. Final price = 99.99 - 19.998 = 79.992, which rounds to $79.99.
Answer: You save $20.00 and pay $79.99
Example 4: Sales tax
Problem: A $50.00 purchase has 7% sales tax. What is the total?
Solution: Tax = 50.00 x 0.07 = 3.50. Total = 50.00 + 3.50 = 53.50.
Answer: Tax $3.50, total $53.50
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate a tip in my head?
Should I tip on the amount before or after tax?
How do I split the bill unevenly?
How do I work out a price after a discount?
How do I add sales tax?
Why do the numbers differ by a cent?
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