Restaurant Tip Calculator

Etiquette guides like Emily Post recommend tipping on the pre-tax subtotal. Most people tip on the post-tax total since that's the last number they see on the bill. Either is acceptable.

The practical difference is small. On a $100 bill with 8% tax, tipping 20% pre-tax is $20.00 vs. $21.60 post-tax. Over a year of weekly dinners, that's about $83. This calculator lets you toggle between pre-tax and post-tax tipping so you can see both amounts.

In the US, 20% is the standard tip for sit-down restaurant service. The full breakdown:

Full-service sit-down: 20% is the baseline. 15% for bare-minimum service, 25%+ for exceptional or fine dining.
Counter service/fast casual: 10-15%, or nothing — it's optional.
Buffet: 10-15%, since servers still clear plates and refill drinks.
Takeout: 10% is appreciated but not expected.
Delivery: 15-20%, with a $3-5 minimum regardless of order size.
Bar drinks: $1-2 per drink, or 15-20% on a tab.

If you run a restaurant, see our tip out calculator to set up fair tip distribution for your staff, and read our breakdown of restaurant profit margins to see how tipping policies affect your bottom line.

When the total doesn't divide evenly, round each person's share down to the nearest cent and add the remaining pennies to the first few shares. Example: $100 split 3 ways = two people pay $33.34 and one pays $33.33.

This calculator handles that rounding automatically. You can also round up each share to the nearest dollar for easier Venmo or cash payments — useful when splitting among 4+ people and nobody wants to deal with coins.

Auto-gratuity is a tip (usually 18-20%) that restaurants automatically add to the bill for large parties, typically 6 or more people. The IRS classifies auto-gratuity as a service charge, not a voluntary tip — which affects how it's taxed for employees.

Always check your bill before adding an extra tip. Double-tipping on a large party tab is one of the most common restaurant billing mistakes. If the service was great and you want to leave more, add a few dollars on top — but know that the 18-20% is already included.

For takeout, 10-15% is common. Some people skip the tip for simple pickup orders, but 10% is appreciated — staff still package your food, check order accuracy, and handle condiments and utensils.

When to tip more on takeout:

• Large orders (10+ items) — these take real effort to assemble
• Special requests or modifications
• Holiday or peak hours — staff are under pressure
• Regular spot — tipping builds goodwill and often gets you better treatment

Multiply the subtotal by your local sales tax rate. The formula is: Tax = Subtotal × Tax Rate. On a $75 subtotal with an 8.5% tax rate, tax is $6.38, making the pre-tip total $81.38.

Rates differ more than you might expect. Some cities add local taxes on top of state rates — New York City charges 8.875%, while Portland, Oregon charges 0% (no sales tax). A few states also exempt certain food items from sales tax. Check your receipt or look up your local rate if you're unsure.

Yes. Enter the food subtotal, set your tax rate, and choose a tip percentage. For delivery, 15-20% tip is standard, with a $3-5 minimum regardless of order size. Small orders ($10-15) should still get at least $3-5 since the driver spends the same time and gas regardless of your order total.

Note: delivery fees charged by apps like DoorDash or Uber Eats do not go to the driver. The tip is their primary compensation.

Tip on the original pre-discount amount, not the discounted total. If your meal would have been $100 but you had a 20% off coupon, tip 20% on $100 ($20), not on $80 ($16). The server did the same amount of work regardless of your discount.

This applies to gift cards, Groupons, restaurant week deals, happy hour pricing, and loyalty rewards. The only exception is if the restaurant comped something due to a mistake — in that case, tipping on the adjusted total is fine, though tipping on the original is a kind gesture.

Tipping customs vary wildly by country. A 20% tip that is expected in the US can be confusing or even rude elsewhere.

United Kingdom: 10-12.5%. Many restaurants add a service charge automatically — check the bill before leaving extra.
France/Italy/Spain: Service is included in the price. Rounding up or leaving 1-2 euros for good service is common but not expected.
Germany/Austria: Round up to the nearest euro or add 5-10%. Tell the server the total you want to pay when they bring the bill.
Japan/South Korea: Do not tip. It can be seen as insulting — the expectation is that good service is part of the job.
Australia/New Zealand: Not expected. 10% for exceptional service at a nice restaurant is generous.
Mexico: 10-15% at sit-down restaurants. Check if propina is already included.
Canada: Same as the US — 15-20%.