Tip Calculator
Standard tip: 15% (adequate) · 18–20% (good) · 22–25% (excellent). Enter your bill and this calculator shows the exact tip amount, total, and per-person split for any party size — plus a quick reference table for every common tip percentage.
Standard US Tip Guide for 2026
Tipping norms in the US have shifted significantly since 2020. Here are the 2026 standards by service type — informed by industry surveys and current economic conditions.
| Service Type | Minimum | Standard | Excellent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sit-down restaurant | 15% | 18–20% | 22–25% |
| Food delivery | $3 or 15% | 18–20% | 25%+ |
| Bar / drinks | $1/drink | $2/drink or 18% | 20–25% |
| Takeout / counter | 0–10% | 10–15% | 15–20% |
| Hair / salon | 15% | 18–20% | 20–25% |
| Taxi / rideshare | 10–15% | 18–20% | 20%+ |
| Hotel housekeeping | $2–3/night | $3–5/night | $5+/night |
| Grocery delivery | $5 or 15% | 15–20% | 20–25% |
💡 The 20% Mental Math Trick
Move the decimal, double it: On a $85 bill — move the decimal → $8.50. Double it → $17.00 (that's your 20% tip). Total: $85 + $17 = $102. This works for any amount and is faster than any calculator. For 15%, move the decimal ($8.50) and multiply by 1.5 → $12.75. For 25%, move the decimal and multiply by 2.5 → $21.25.
Tip Calculator
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Quick Tip Reference
| % | Tip | Total | Per Person |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15% | $12.75 | $97.75 | $48.88 |
| 18% | $15.30 | $100.30 | $50.15 |
| 20% | $17.00 | $102.00 | $51.00 |
| 22% | $18.70 | $103.70 | $51.85 |
| 25% | $21.25 | $106.25 | $53.13 |
Based on your results — what to do next:
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Tip Calculator FAQ
What is the standard tip percentage in 2026?
20% has become the de facto standard at US restaurants as of 2026, up from 15% a generation ago. Credit card terminals defaulting to 18–20–25% options have shifted expectations upward. For excellent service, 22–25% is increasingly common. For basic counter service or takeout, 10–15% is appropriate if tipping at all. Survey data from the National Restaurant Association indicates 20% is now the median tip at full-service restaurants.
Should you tip before or after tax?
The traditional answer is pre-tax — the server didn't serve you the sales tax. Practically, the difference is small: on a $80 pre-tax bill with 8% tax ($86.40 total), tipping 20% on pre-tax = $16.00 vs. $17.28 on post-tax — a $1.28 difference. Most people tip on the post-tax total for simplicity. This calculator lets you specify whether tax is included so you can tip on exactly the right base.
How do you split a bill unevenly?
This calculator splits evenly. For unequal splits, calculate your own portion: if Person A had $35 in food and Person B had $50, calculate tip separately on each person's subtotal, then add. For large groups, it's easier to calculate the tip on the full bill, divide the tip evenly (since everyone benefits from the service), and split the food costs separately.
Do you tip on a coupon or discounted amount?
Yes — tip on the original pre-discount price, not the discounted amount. The server did the same work regardless of your coupon. If you paid $40 with a 50% coupon on an $80 meal, tip on $80. Tipping on the discounted price is considered poor etiquette and penalizes the server for the restaurant's promotional decisions.
Is it rude not to tip?
At full-service restaurants in the US, yes — servers earn a tipped minimum wage (as low as $2.13/hour federally) and depend on tips to reach normal minimum wage. Not tipping costs the server money out of pocket in many states where restaurants withhold part of the tipped minimum. For counter service, delivery, and other non-traditional service contexts, tipping is appreciated but not an economic necessity in the same way.