How to Use the Bill Split Calculator
- Split evenly, or by what each person ordered.
- Enter the subtotal before tax and tip, and the number of people.
- Enter the tax as a percentage or the amount on the receipt.
- Set the tip, choose its base and tick rounding if you want it.
- Read each share, then copy the summary for the group chat.
Choose Evenly when everyone shares the bill equally. Enter the subtotal from the receipt before tax and tip, and the number of people. Choose By what each person ordered when some people had a salad and others had steak: type each name and the total of their own items, then add any shared items, such as appetizers, that everyone splits equally.
Enter the tax as a percentage of the subtotal or as the dollar amount printed on the receipt, set the tip percentage with the quick buttons or your own number, and choose whether the tip is based on the pre-tax subtotal or the total after tax. Tick the rounding box to round each share up to a whole dollar. Copy for chat sends a ready-to-paste summary to your clipboard.
How the Split Is Calculated
tip = subtotal × tip % (or (subtotal + tax) × tip %)
bill total = subtotal + tax + tip
even split: each share = bill total ÷ people
itemized: each share = (own items + shared items ÷ people) × bill total ÷ subtotal
In the itemized mode, tax and tip are shared in proportion to what each person ordered. Someone who ordered a third of the food pays a third of the tax and tip, which is the fairest common method. Works in any currency: the dollar sign is only a label.
Entering tax as a dollar amount helps when a receipt shows several tax lines, such as different rates on food and alcohol. Copy the total tax from the receipt and the calculator shares it in proportion. Drinks belong with each person's food in the itemized mode, since they can be a large part of the bill.
Worked Examples
Four friends have a $120 subtotal with 13% tax and an 18% tip on the pre-tax amount. Tax is $15.60, the tip is $21.60 and the bill comes to $157.20, so each person pays $39.30. Rounded up, each pays $40.00 and the group leaves $2.80 extra. Tipping 18% on the after-tax total instead makes the tip $24.41 and each share $40.00.
Split by items, Alex ordered $32, Sam $28.50, Priya $41 and Jordan $18.50. The same tax and tip add 31% to each person's food, so Alex pays $41.92, Sam $37.34, Priya $53.71 and Jordan $24.23, which adds up to the $157.20 bill. Light eaters no longer subsidize the big orders.
Tip Amounts at a Glance
| Subtotal | 15% | 18% | 20% | 25% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40 | $6.00 | $7.20 | $8.00 | $10.00 |
| $60 | $9.00 | $10.80 | $12.00 | $15.00 |
| $80 | $12.00 | $14.40 | $16.00 | $20.00 |
| $120 | $18.00 | $21.60 | $24.00 | $30.00 |
| $200 | $30.00 | $36.00 | $40.00 | $50.00 |
Tipping customs vary by country and by service. In Canada and the US a tip on table service is usual, while in many other countries service is included or tips are smaller. Check the receipt for an automatic gratuity before adding another tip.
Tips for Splitting Fairly
- Use the itemized mode when orders differ a lot, especially when some people do not drink alcohol.
- Put shared plates, a bottle of wine or a birthday guest's meal in the shared box so everyone covers it.
- Many card terminals calculate the tip on the after-tax total. Choose the base you actually intend to tip on.
- Rounding up makes payments quicker by e-transfer or cash. The extra line shows how much the group adds to the tip.
- Paste the copied summary into the group chat so everyone sees the same numbers.
Assumptions and Limits
Shares are rounded to the cent and any leftover cent goes to the share with the largest rounding remainder, so the shares add up to the bill exactly. When you round up, the difference is shown as extra. The tax rate is whatever you enter; the calculator does not know local tax rules, which vary by province, state and type of purchase.
Frequently asked questions
How do I split a bill with tax and tip?
Add the tax and tip to the subtotal to get the bill total, then divide by the number of people. A $120 subtotal with 13% tax and an 18% tip is $157.20, or $39.30 each for four.
How do I split a bill unevenly?
Total each person's own items, then share tax and tip in proportion to what they ordered. Someone with $41 of food pays more tax and tip than someone with $18.50.
Should I tip on the total before or after tax?
Many etiquette guides suggest tipping on the pre-tax subtotal, but card machines often calculate on the after-tax total. The difference is small, and the calculator handles both.
How do I split shared appetizers?
Enter shared items in the shared box. The calculator divides them equally among everyone, then adds each person's share of tax and tip to their total.
What if the bill does not divide evenly?
The calculator rounds each share to the cent and gives any leftover cent to one person, so the shares add up to the bill exactly. If you round up to whole dollars, the extra is shown.
Does the bill split calculator work in other currencies?
Yes. Enter amounts in any currency. The dollar sign is only a label, and the math for tax, tip and shares is the same everywhere.