How to Calculate a Tip
The formula is simple: Tip = Bill Amount × (Tip Percentage ÷ 100).
For a $65 restaurant bill with a 20% tip: $65 × 0.20 = $13 tip. Total: $65 + $13 = $78.
When splitting between multiple people: $78 ÷ 4 people = $19.50 per person.
Mental Maths Shortcut for Tipping
You do not need a calculator for common tip percentages:
- To find 10%: Move the decimal one place left. $85 → $8.50
- To find 5%: Find 10% then halve it. $8.50 ÷ 2 = $4.25
- To find 15%: Add 10% + 5%. $8.50 + $4.25 = $12.75
- To find 20%: Find 10% then double it. $8.50 × 2 = $17
- To find 25%: Find 10% × 2.5, or find $20% and add half of it again.
Standard Tipping Guide by Service Type (USA)
| Service | Standard Tip | Excellent Service |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant (sit-down) | 15–18% | 20–25% |
| Bar service | $1–2 per drink or 15% | 20% |
| Food delivery | 10–15% ($3 minimum) | 20%+ |
| Pizza delivery | $3–5 | $5–8 |
| Hair salon / barber | 15–20% | 25% |
| Nail salon | 15–20% | 25% |
| Spa treatment | 15–20% | 20% |
| Taxi / rideshare | 10–15% | 20% |
| Hotel housekeeping | $2–5 per night | $5/night |
| Hotel valet | $2–5 | $5–10 |
| Tour guide (half day) | $5–10/person | $15+/person |
| Moving crew | $20–40/person | $50+/person |
| Tattoo artist | 15–20% | 25%+ |
| Coffee shop / fast casual | Optional $0.50–$1 | $1–2 |
When Is a Tip Not Expected?
Not every service transaction involves a tip expectation in the US:
- Self-checkout and fully automated services
- Fast food counter orders (though digital screens increasingly prompt for tips)
- Retail purchases
- Professional services billed at full rate (doctor, lawyer, accountant)
- Contractors and tradespeople who set their own rates
The growing pressure to tip for counter service ("tip creep") is driven by point-of-sale systems showing tip prompts by default. Whether you tip for counter service is a personal choice — there is no firm social norm for it the way there is for sit-down restaurants.
Tipping Internationally: What You Need to Know
Tipping customs vary enormously between countries. What is considered polite in the US can be confusing or even offensive elsewhere:
- Japan and South Korea: Tipping is not customary and can be seen as rude — service quality is considered a professional obligation, not something extra that warrants extra payment.
- Australia and New Zealand: Tipping is not expected but is appreciated for excellent service. 10% for great restaurant service is generous; nothing is completely normal.
- UK and Europe: 10–15% for restaurant service in the UK and tourist areas. In France, service charges are included by law (service compris). In Germany, rounding up is common; 10% for good service.
- Canada: Similar to the US — 15–20% standard at restaurants.
- Mexico: 10–15% expected in tourist restaurants; this is often not included in the bill.
Should You Tip on the Pre-Tax or Post-Tax Amount?
There is no universal rule. Most common practices:
- Tip on the pre-tax subtotal (technically more correct; the server did not provide the government's services)
- Tip on the total including tax (simpler; most people do this in practice)
The difference on a $100 meal in a 10% tax state is about $1.50–2.00 — within the server's acceptable range either way. Choose whichever approach is easier for you.
Use the CalcDash Tip Calculator
Our free Tip Calculator handles any bill amount, tip percentage, and number of people. Enter your bill, choose your tip percentage (or enter a custom amount), set the party size, and see the tip amount, total, and per-person share instantly. The round-up option makes cash splitting clean and easy.