Tip Calculator
Tipping customs vary significantly by country and are not universal. In Australia, tipping is entirely optional, hospitality workers receive the industry award wage (among the highest in the world), so a tip is a genuine gesture of appreciation rather than an expected supplement to low base pay as in the US. Typical amounts when Australians do tip: 10% at sit-down restaurants, rounding up for taxis or rideshare, nothing expected at cafes or fast food. In the US and Canada, 18–20% is now standard for table service; in Japan and South Korea, tipping can be considered rude. When splitting a bill, the straightforward method divides the total (including tip) equally; this calculator also supports unequal splits where each person pays only for their own items plus a proportional share of the tip. Enter the bill amount, tip percentage, and number of people to see the tip amount, total per person, and each person's share.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good tip percentage?
Tipping norms vary widely. In the US, 18-20% is customary. In most of Europe, Canada, and Australia, 10-15% is appreciated for good service. In Japan and parts of Asia, tipping is not expected and can even be seen as rude or confusing - service staff may follow you to return the money. In Australia, tipping is appreciated for table service at restaurants but is never obligatory; a 10% tip for good service is considered generous, and many Australians feel uncomfortable with the US culture of expected 18-20% tips that effectively subsidise lower wages.
Should I tip on GST or before tax?
Most people tip on the pre-tax subtotal, as this reflects the actual service value before government taxes are added. In Australia, GST is already included in the displayed price at restaurants, so to find the subtotal you would divide the bill by 1.10 to remove the 10% GST. For example, a $110 bill has $100 pre-GST and $10 GST. Tipping on the $100 service portion is more accurate than tipping on the $110 total, which effectively includes a tip on the government's share. This is particularly relevant in restaurants where the GST amount can be significant on larger bills.
How do I split a tip fairly?
The fairest approach is to calculate the tip as a percentage of each person's share of the bill, rather than dividing a total tip amount equally. For example, if three people split a $120 bill ($40 each) and want to tip 15%, each person adds $6 (15% of $40) for a total tip of $18. However, if one person ordered a $80 steak while the others had $20 salads, everyone tipping equally would under-tip on the expensive meal and over-tip on the cheap ones. In that case, each person should calculate their tip based on their own portion: 15% of $80 is $12 for the steak eater, versus 15% of $20 ($3) each for the salad eaters.
Do I need to tip everywhere?
In many countries, particularly Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and most of Europe outside restaurants, tipping is not a normal expectation and can sometimes be considered rude. Service staff in Australia are paid award wages, so tips are a genuine bonus for exceptional service, not a necessary supplement to minimum wage as in the US. At cafes, bars, fast food, and takeaways, tipping is almost never expected. At fine dining restaurants, 10% for good service is a reasonable and appreciated gesture. When travelling, research local customs: in the US, not tipping 15-20% at restaurants is considered genuinely rude, while in Japan, leaving money at a restaurant can be misinterpreted as you paying for the bill to be cleared away.
What if the service was poor?
There is no obligation to tip for poor service, and leaving a lower tip or no tip is perfectly acceptable when the service was genuinely bad. If the issue was something clearly outside the staff's control (slow kitchen due to a rush, overbooked restaurant causing delays), consider tipping partially, perhaps 5-10% rather than your usual 15-20%. If the problem was serious, such as rude or dismissive service, unhygienic conditions, or the food was inedible, do not feel pressured to tip at all. A brief, polite explanation to the manager after the meal may be more constructive than simply leaving no tip, as it gives the business a chance to address the issue. In Australia, leaving a negative review online is also a common way to give feedback.
Should I tip for takeaway or delivery?
Tipping for takeaway is uncommon in most countries and generally not expected. However, for food delivery, a small tip of $2-5 or 5-10% is a kind gesture, particularly in bad weather, for large orders, or when the delivery driver has waited at the door. In Australia, tipping delivery drivers is appreciated but not expected, as they are often employed directly by the restaurant or a platform with minimum wage guarantees. In the US, delivery drivers often earn most of their income from tips, so $3-5 or 15-20% for good service is standard practice. Regardless of location, if the order was wrong or the food arrived cold, consider contacting the restaurant before assuming the driver is at fault.