How does the Tip Calculator work?
Tip = bill × percent ÷ 100. The total divided by the number of people gives each person's share.
Background & details
The tip calculator returns three figures: the total tip, the total amount (bill plus tip) and the amount per person. In a group that last number is the important one – it removes the maths at the table and stops anyone chipping in too little or too much.
What counts as a fair tip
Tipping is heavily cultural. A rough guide:
- US & Canada: 15–20 % is the standard, more for excellent service. Servers there often rely on tips to make a living.
- Germany, Austria, Switzerland: usually 5–10 % or rounding up to a round figure. A little more for good service is welcome.
- Southern Europe & many Asian countries: often already included or simply not expected – a small round-up is enough.
Always check whether a “service charge” already appears on the bill. If a service fee is included, an extra tip is optional and can be smaller.
Common mistakes
- Paying twice: larger groups often have an automatic 18 % gratuity added. Miss it and you tip twice without meaning to.
- Tipping on the gross when only service matters: some people prefer to base the tip on the pre-tax amount – both are fine, just be consistent.
- Ignoring uneven shares: if one person ate far more, a flat per-head split is unfair. Split by what each person actually ordered instead.
Practical tips
For a quick estimate: 10 % is the decimal moved one place left (€40 → €4), 20 % is simply double that, and 15 % sits right in between. When splitting a large group, round the per-person amount up to a clean figure – the small surplus just becomes part of the tip and nobody has to hunt for coins.
If you pay by card, hand the tip to the server in cash where you can: in many venues it reaches them more reliably than through the card terminal.