Should I tip before or after tax?

In the US, it is customary to tip on the pre-tax subtotal, though tipping on the full total including tax is also common. The difference on a $100 bill with 8.5% tax is $1.70 at 20% tip. This tool offers both options. In the UK and most of Europe, tipping norms differ and are less formalized.

How does the itemized split work?

In itemized mode, assign each menu item to one or more people. Each person's share of the subtotal is calculated. Tax and tip are then distributed proportionally based on each person's subtotal share, so someone who ordered more expensive items pays a proportionally larger share of the tax and tip.

Why does the last person sometimes pay slightly less?

When rounding each person's share up to the nearest dollar or 50 cents, the totals no longer add up exactly to the bill. The last person on the list absorbs the rounding adjustment, paying slightly less, so the sum of all shares matches the grand total exactly. The difference is always less than the rounding increment.

What is the custom percentage split mode?

Custom percentage lets you assign a manual split percentage to each person. For example, if one person is treating another and wants to cover 60% of the bill, enter 60% for the host and 40% for the guest. Tax and tip are distributed at those same percentages.

Can I split a bill more than two ways?

Yes. Add as many people as you need in the \\\"People\\\" section. The itemized mode lets you assign each menu item to any combination of people at the table, including items shared among a subset.

What does \\\"round up to nearest\\\" mean?

This sets how each person's share is rounded. Options are $0.01 (exact cents), $0.25 (quarter), $0.50 (50 cents), or $1.00 (nearest dollar). Rounding up is the standard convention so the host is never short-changed. The last person's amount is adjusted to cover the rounding delta.

Bill Splitter

Split checks fairly with tax, tip, itemized dishes, and copy-ready payment amounts.

Bill details

Split modeSubtotal ($)Tax (%)TipTip basisRound up to

People

Subtotal

$100.00

Tax

$8.50

Tip

$20.00

Grand total

$128.50

Each person pays: $32.13

Per-person breakdown

Name	Items	Tax	Tip	Total
Person 1	$25.00	$2.13	$5.00	$32.13
Person 2	$25.00	$2.13	$5.00	$32.13
Person 3	$25.00	$2.13	$5.00	$32.13
Person 4	$25.00	$2.13	$5.00	$32.11

Copy payment lines

@Person1 $32.13
@Person2 $32.13
@Person3 $32.13
@Person4 $32.11

Amounts are estimates for settling up with friends. Confirm tax and tip rules with your venue.

How this tool works

Choose your split mode (Equal, Itemized, or Custom %), enter the subtotal, tax rate, and tip percentage. The calculator computes the total and distributes it to each person.

Worked example

Equal split: $100 subtotal, 4 people, 20% tip (pre-tax), 8.5% tax. Tax: $8.50. Tip: $20.00. Total: $128.50. Per person: $32.13. Itemized: Alex ordered steak ($45) and half a shared appetizer ($10) for a subtotal of $55; Jamie ordered salad ($18) and half the appetizer ($10) for $28. Each pays their own subtotal plus a proportional share of tax and tip.

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Frequently asked questions

Should I tip before or after tax?
In the US, it is customary to tip on the pre-tax subtotal, though tipping on the full total including tax is also common. The difference on a $100 bill with 8.5% tax is $1.70 at 20% tip. This tool offers both options. In the UK and most of Europe, tipping norms differ and are less formalized.
How does the itemized split work?
In itemized mode, assign each menu item to one or more people. Each person's share of the subtotal is calculated. Tax and tip are then distributed proportionally based on each person's subtotal share, so someone who ordered more expensive items pays a proportionally larger share of the tax and tip.
Why does the last person sometimes pay slightly less?
When rounding each person's share up to the nearest dollar or 50 cents, the totals no longer add up exactly to the bill. The last person on the list absorbs the rounding adjustment, paying slightly less, so the sum of all shares matches the grand total exactly. The difference is always less than the rounding increment.
What is the custom percentage split mode?
Custom percentage lets you assign a manual split percentage to each person. For example, if one person is treating another and wants to cover 60% of the bill, enter 60% for the host and 40% for the guest. Tax and tip are distributed at those same percentages.
Can I split a bill more than two ways?
Yes. Add as many people as you need in the \\\"People\\\" section. The itemized mode lets you assign each menu item to any combination of people at the table, including items shared among a subset.
What does \\\"round up to nearest\\\" mean?
This sets how each person's share is rounded. Options are $0.01 (exact cents), $0.25 (quarter), $0.50 (50 cents), or $1.00 (nearest dollar). Rounding up is the standard convention so the host is never short-changed. The last person's amount is adjusted to cover the rounding delta.