What This Calculator Does
The Restaurant Bill with Tax and Tip Calculator turns the price printed on a menu into the amount you actually pay. It takes your pre-tax subtotal, adds sales tax, adds a tip, and gives you the grand total. It can also split that total evenly across your table so everyone knows exactly what they owe.
How to Use It
Enter the subtotal (the bill before tax). Enter your local tax rate as a percentage and the tip rate you want to leave. If you are dining with others, set the number of people to split the bill. Press calculate to see the total, the tax and tip amounts broken out, and the per-person share.
The Formula Explained
The math is straightforward:
$$\text{Total} = \text{Subtotal} \times \left(1 + \frac{\text{TaxRate}}{100}\right) + \text{Subtotal} \times \frac{\text{TipRate}}{100}$$
Tax is charged on the subtotal, and the tip is conventionally calculated on the pre-tax subtotal as well (you can choose to tip on the after-tax amount by adjusting your tip percentage). Adding all three components gives the total, and dividing by the number of diners gives each person's share.
Worked Example
Suppose your subtotal is $50.00, the sales tax is 8%, and you tip 18%.
$$\text{Tax} = 50 \times 0.08 = \$4.00$$$$\text{Tip} = 50 \times 0.18 = \$9.00$$$$\text{Total} = 50 + 4 + 9 = \mathbf{\$63.00}$$Split between 2 people, each pays \(\$31.50\).
FAQ
Should I tip on the pre-tax or post-tax amount? Etiquette generally suggests tipping on the pre-tax subtotal, which is what this calculator does by default. Tipping on the total is also acceptable and slightly more generous.
What is a standard tip percentage? In the US, 15–20% is typical for table service, with 18% a common default. Exceptional service often warrants 20% or more.
Does the split include uneven shares? No — this tool divides the total evenly. For uneven splits, compute each person's items separately and run the calculator per person.
