Restaurant Tip Calculator
The check lands on the table. You’re laughing, doing the quick math—and then it hits: pre-tax or after-tax? What about that service charge line for large parties? This page gives you a fast, accurate restaurant tip calculator designed for US dining, plus clear guidance for common edge cases so you can tip confidently and split the bill cleanly.
Restaurant Tip Calculator
If your receipt shows suggested tips on the after-tax total, toggle post-tax to match it (uncheck pre-tax).
Note: A service charge is a mandatory fee (often for large parties). Adding extra tip is optional—use the field above to exclude it from the tip base in pre-tax mode.
Use the Restaurant Tip Calculator
Launch the tip calculator for restaurant use cases below and get results instantly. Choose a preset (15/18/20/22%), set a custom %, toggle pre-tax to exclude sales tax (and service charge, if present), split the bill, and apply smart rounding. It’s effectively your tip calculator restaurant toolkit in one place—no downloads, no tracking.
If your receipt shows suggested tips on the after-tax total, switch to post-tax to match them.
How the calculator computes tip & tax
A good restaurant tax and tip calculator should mirror how checks actually work at the table. Ours handles:
- Pre-tax vs after-tax:
- Pre-tax tip calculates on the subtotal (before sales tax), which many diners prefer because tax isn’t part of the service value.
- After-tax tip calculates on the final total—useful when the receipt prints suggested tips on that amount.
- Service charge / automatic gratuity:
When a mandatory service charge appears, the calculator (in pre-tax mode) excludes it from the tip base so you don’t double-tip—though you can add extra for exceptional service. - Split & rounding:
Enter party size and choose Nearest $0.50 or Round up $1 so everyone can pay clean amounts.
Because it joins the math for both tip and tax, you can treat it as a tip tax calculator restaurant users rely on—essentially a compact restaurant calculator tax and tip tool.
NYC example (regional context)
If you’re looking for an NYC restaurant tax and tip calculator, set the sales-tax field to your local rate (NYC’s combined rate is commonly cited around 8.875%). Example:
- Receipt total: $86.40 (NYC)
- Sales tax: 8.875%
- Service charge: $0
- Tip: 18%, pre-tax mode
The calculator backs out tax to find the service base, applies 18%, then shows Tip, Grand Total, and Per-person. If your receipt prints suggested tips on the after-tax total, switch modes to match.
How much should I tip at a restaurant?
There’s no one “right” number, but for sit-down service in the US, 15–22% is common. That’s why our how much to tip restaurant calculator ships with 15/18/20/22% presets and a custom slider up to 35% for fine-tuning. Consider:
- Great service, special effort: toward the higher end (or add a few dollars more).
- Large parties: check for automatic gratuity (service charge) before adding extra.
- Discounts/gift cards: many diners tip on the pre-discount value or the pre-tax subtotal.
Tip pooling (front of house teams)
Managing shared tips? Use (or link to) a free restaurant tip pool calculator to split pooled gratuity among servers, bussers, and hosts based on agreed-upon rules (hours, points, or percentages). You can export a simple record for your shift log. This keeps payouts transparent and fair.
Mobile-first & “app-like” experience
Prefer an on-phone workflow? Our restaurant tip calculator app runs in the browser but feels like native: quick inputs, live results, and large tap targets. Add it to your home screen (iOS/Android) for one-tap access at the table. If you’re a manager or blogger, you can also embed the widget—think of it as a free restaurant tip calculator that your guests and readers can use without installs.
Why this tool beats generic calculators
Macro sites often ignore dining realities: receipt prompts, service-charge nuance, pre-tax preferences, and split etiquette. By combining a tip and tax calculator for restaurant scenarios with US-specific guidance, this page reduces guesswork and speeds checkout. It’s both a tip restaurant calculator and a free tip and tax calculator restaurant users can rely on—fast, private, and tailored to table service.
FAQs – Restaurant Tip Calculator
Is tipping mandatory?
No. Tips are voluntary unless a service charge is added. Use the calculator to handle either case.
What’s a normal restaurant tip?
For sit-down dining, 15–22% depending on service quality. Larger parties may see an automatic gratuity—check your receipt.
Should I tip on pre-tax or after-tax?
Many people prefer pre-tax; follow your preference or match the receipt’s suggested tip lines.
Does this calculator store my data?
No. Everything runs in your browser.
Methodology & updates
This tool uses USD with en-US formatting. In pre-tax mode, it backs out sales tax and subtracts any service charge to find the tip base; in after-tax mode, it tips on the total. Features include one-tap presets, custom %, split, and rounding. We periodically review guidance to reflect current US dining etiquette and real-world POS behavior.