US Bill Splitter & Tip Calculator: Pre or Post-Tax
Work out a US restaurant tip (10 to 25%) before or after sales tax, split the bill evenly or dish by dish, then round each share, the tip or the total up to the dollar.
Tipping in the US: sales tax, tip and splitting by dish
In the United States, menu prices exclude tax: the local sales tax is added, then a customary tip of 15 to 25%, usually calculated on the pre-tax amount. For $84.50 in New York City (8.875%) with a 20% tip, the total comes to $108.90, or $36.30 each for three people.
Calculation
- Tax = subtotal × sales tax rate.
- Tip = subtotal × tip % (default, "pre-tax"), or (subtotal + tax) × tip % if you choose to tip on the tax-included amount.
- Total = subtotal + tax + tip, then divided by the number of diners. Four roundings are offered: to the cent, tip rounded up to the next dollar, total rounded up to the next dollar, or each person's share rounded up to the next dollar; the difference goes to the tip. Example for three with a $84.50 subtotal, 8.25% tax and an 18% tip on the pre-tax amount: $106.68 to the cent, $107.47 with the tip rounded, $107 with the total rounded, $108 with each share rounded ($36 each). In itemized mode, a rounded tip or total is applied before the pro-rata split, and per-person rounding applies to each diner's total.
- "Itemized bill" mode: each dish is assigned to Alice, Bob, Charlie or shared by all three; tax and tip are split in proportion to what each person ordered.
Example in New York City
Subtotal $84.50, sales tax 8.875% = $7.50, 20% pre-tax tip = $16.90. Total $108.90, i.e. $36.30 each for three. Tipping on the tax-included amount would raise the tip to $18.40. In itemized mode, with the sample dishes ($106.50 including a shared $12 cheesecake), Alice pays $44 of food + $3.90 tax + $8.80 tip = $56.70.
Customs and limits
The tip rate (15, 18, 20 or 25%) is a custom, not a legal requirement; some restaurants automatically add a service charge for large groups, so check the receipt. Sales tax varies by state and city: enter the rate printed on your bill. Itemized mode handles three diners.
Sources and dates: New York State, Publication 718 (combined rate of 8 7/8% for New York City, effective 01/03/2025); CDTFA, Sales and Use Tax Rates (California statewide base rate: 7.25%) (checked 14/10/2026)
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you tip before or after tax in the US?
The most common practice is to tip on the subtotal before sales tax, which is the tool's default. On $84.50 in New York City, 20% gives $16.90 before tax versus $18.40 after tax.
How much should I tip at a US restaurant?
The custom is 15 to 25% of the subtotal, with 18 to 20% common for table service. The amount is not set by law, unless the restaurant applies a service charge shown on the bill.
What is the sales tax rate in New York City?
In New York City, the combined state, city and transit district rate is 8.875% according to the state's Publication 718, effective 1 March 2025. Elsewhere rates vary: California starts from a 7.25% base rate plus local district taxes.
How do I split a bill when everyone ordered different things?
Use itemized mode: assign each dish to a person or to the group, and the tool splits tax and tip in proportion. On a $106.50 bill, the person who ordered $44 of food pays $56.70 with tax and tip.
How do I split a bill and tip between friends?
Add any tax, then the tip, and divide the total by the number of diners. For $84.50 + 8.25% tax + 18% tip, the $106.68 total comes to $35.56 each for three.
Which rounding method costs the least?
Rounding the total up adds at most $1 for the whole table, while rounding each share can add almost $1 per person. For $84.50 with 8.25% tax and an 18% tip split three ways, the rounded total is $107 and the rounded shares come to $108 (3 × $36).
Do you need to tip in France?
No, it is not required: the French order of 27 March 1987 states that restaurant prices are displayed with taxes and service included. A tip remains a voluntary gesture, left according to satisfaction.
Is this tool really free?
Yes, all tools on Kristools are 100% free and accessible without registration.
Is my data protected?
Yes. All processing is performed directly and securely inside your browser. No personal data is sent to our servers.