How much should I tip at a restaurant?

It depends on the country. In the US and Canada, 15% to 20% of the bill is standard at sit-down restaurants. In the UK and Ireland, around 10% is usual if no service charge has been added. In France, Spain, Italy, Australia and Thailand, tipping isn't expected, though small change or rounding up is appreciated.

How do I calculate a 20% tip quickly?

Move the decimal point one place to the left to get 10%, then double it. On a $64.50 bill, 10% is $6.45, so 20% is $12.90. For 15%, add half of the 10% figure: $6.45 + $3.23 = $9.68.

Should I tip on the amount before or after tax?

Many people tip on the bill before tax, because tax isn't part of the service. It's a matter of choice rather than a rule. Tipping on the after-tax total adds a little more; on an $80 bill in New York it's about $1.23 extra at 18%.

Do I need to tip if there's already a service charge?

Usually not. A service charge is the restaurant's own tip line, so adding another tip on top means paying twice. In the UK the service charge is discretionary, so you can ask for it to be removed if the service was poor. In the US, check for an automatic gratuity on large-group bills.

Is a service charge the same as a tip?

Not quite. A tip is money you choose to leave. A service charge is added by the restaurant. In the UK, since 1 October 2024, the law requires employers to pass both tips and service charges to staff in full. In some US states, a mandatory service charge is taxed like the food, while a voluntary tip is not.

Do you tip at fast food restaurants or coffee shops?

It isn't expected at counters in any of the countries we cover. In the US and Canada you'll often see a tip screen at the till; a dollar or a small percentage is a kind gesture, but skipping it isn't rude.

How much should I tip for food delivery?

In the US, 15% to 20% of the order, or at least a few dollars, is typical, and it usually goes to the driver. In the UK, Ireland and most of Europe, a delivery tip is optional. Delivery apps also add their own fees, which are separate from the tip.

How do I split a bill and tip between friends?

Add the tip to the whole bill first, then divide the total by the number of people. If people ordered very different amounts, work out each person's share of the bill first and add the same tip percentage to each.

Why is tipping so important in the United States?

Because it's part of how restaurant staff are paid. The federal minimum cash wage for tipped workers is only $2.13 an hour in 2026, with tips expected to make up the rest. Seven states, including California, Nevada and Washington, require the full minimum wage before tips.

Restaurant Tip Calculator & Bill Splitter (2026)

To calculate a tip, multiply the bill by the tip percentage. A 20% tip on a $50 bill is $50 × 0.20 = $10. How much to leave depends a lot on where you are, so choose a country below and the calculator starts from what's usual there.

Bill amount (USD)

Country

Split between

Tip percentage

Tipping in the United States: 15% to 20% of the pre-tax bill is standard; under 15% signals poor service.

Some restaurants add an automatic gratuity for large groups, so check before tipping again.

Tip: $10.80
Total: $70.80
Each person pays: $35.40
Tip per person: $5.40

Suggested tips are customs, not rules. They come from the research in our country guides and describe sit-down restaurants. Nobody expects a tip at a fast-food counter.

How much should you tip at a restaurant?

There's no single answer, because tipping is cultural. In the United States and Canada, 15% to 20% is standard at a sit-down restaurant, and many servers rely on tips as part of their pay. In the UK and Ireland, around 10% is a normal thank-you, and often a service charge covers it for you. In much of Europe, as well as Australia and Thailand, service is already paid for and a tip is a small bonus rather than an expectation.

Whatever the country, a tip should reflect the service. If the service was poor, it's reasonable to leave less, and if you're unsure, the table below shows what locals usually do.

Tipping customs in 15 countries

Here's what's usual in each country we cover, and what to look for on the bill before you add anything. Follow a country name for our full guide to eating out there.

Country	Sit-down restaurants	Fast food and counters	Check the bill for
United States	15% to 20% of the pre-tax bill is standard; under 15% signals poor service.	Optional. Tip screens are common; a dollar or a small percentage is polite.	Some restaurants add an automatic gratuity for large groups, so check before tipping again.
Canada	15% to 20%, often worked out on the pre-tax amount.	Optional, though card machines usually suggest a tip.	Sales tax is added at the till, so decide whether you're tipping before or after it.
United Kingdom	Optional. Around 10% is a usual thank-you if no service charge is added.	Not expected at fast food, pubs or takeaways.	Many restaurants add a discretionary 10% to 12.5% service charge. You can ask for it to be removed.
Ireland	10% to 15% for good service is normal.	Small change is kind but not expected.	Some restaurants add a service charge for larger groups.
Australia	Not expected. Rounding up or a few dollars for great service is plenty.	Not expected.	Some cafés add a clearly shown surcharge of 10% to 15% on Sundays and public holidays.
Mexico	10% is the usual baseline, 15% for good service.	Not needed; some people leave small change.	Some places in tourist areas add a service charge already.
Colombia	A 10% tip is often suggested on the bill. By law it's voluntary, so you can change or remove it.	Not expected at counters and coffee shops.	Check whether the suggested tip is already included in the total you're paying.
Peru	About 10% is a common gesture at sit-down restaurants.	Not expected at fast food and sandwich shops.	Some sit-down restaurants add a service charge, so check the bill first.
France	Service is included in the price by law (service compris). Leaving a few euros is optional.	Not expected.	Nothing extra should be added: the menu price includes tax and service.
Germany	About 5% to 10% for good service. Tell the server the total you want to pay.	Not expected at bakeries and fast food.	Service charges aren't normally added, so the tip is separate.
Spain	Not expected. Leaving small change or rounding up is a common thank-you.	Not expected.	Menu prices already include 10% IVA.
Italy	Not required. A few euros for great service is a kind gesture.	Not expected at bars and counters.	A coperto (cover charge, usually €1 to €3 a person) or a 10% to 20% servizio may be on the bill.
Netherlands	Optional. Rounding up or 5% to 10% is a friendly thank-you.	Not expected at snack bars and fast food.	Nothing extra is usually added; menu prices include BTW.
Thailand	Not expected, especially where a service charge is added. Small change is a kind gesture.	Not expected.	Prices marked "++" add a service charge (often 10%) and 7% VAT on top.
Nigeria	Not compulsory, but about 10% is a common gesture for good service.	Not expected.	Some upscale places add a service charge, and Lagos restaurants may add a 5% consumption tax.

How to calculate a tip

The calculator does this for you, but the method is simple.

Decide on a percentage, for example 15%, 18% or 20%.
Divide it by 100 to get a decimal, so 18% becomes 0.18.
Multiply the bill by the decimal. That's the tip.
Add the tip to the bill for the total you'll pay.

Quick tips you can work out in your head

Start with 10%, which is the bill with the decimal point moved one place left. On a $64.50 bill, 10% is $6.45. From there:

20%: double the 10% figure, so $12.90.
15%: add half of the 10% figure, so $9.67.
18%: take 20% and knock off a little, or use the calculator.

Should you tip before or after tax?

In the US and Canada, sales tax is added to the bill at the end, so you have a choice. Many people tip on the amount before tax, because tax isn't part of the service. Tipping on the total is more generous, and neither is wrong.

The difference is small. On a $80.00 dinner in New York, where the average combined sales tax is 8.54%, tax adds $6.83. An 18% tip on the bill before tax is $14.40. On the after-tax total it's $15.63, just $1.23 more. Our restaurant sales tax calculator shows the tax for every state.

How to split the bill fairly

For a group, add the tip to the whole bill, then divide the total. A $142.60 bill for 4 people with a 20% tip comes to $171.12, so each person pays $42.78.

If one person had a steak and another had a salad, an even split can feel unfair. In that case, add up what each person ordered, then add the same tip percentage to each share. Also check whether the restaurant added an automatic gratuity for your group, which many US restaurants do for large parties, so you don't tip twice.

Service charge or tip: what's the difference?

A tip is money you decide to leave. A service charge is added to the bill by the restaurant, and in practice it's the tip already done for you. A few examples of how this works in the countries we cover:

United Kingdom: many restaurants add a discretionary service charge of 10% to 12.5%. You can ask for it to be removed if the service was poor. Since 1 October 2024, employers must pass tips and service charges to staff in full.
Colombia: the bill often suggests a 10% tip. By law it's voluntary, so you can accept it, change the amount or ask for it to be taken off.
Thailand: a price shown as "199++" means a service charge, often 10%, and 7% VAT will be added on top.
Italy: the coperto is a cover charge per person, not a tip. Some restaurants also add a servizio, which is.
France: service is included in menu prices by law, which is why you see "service compris" on bills.

Why tipping matters so much in the US

In the United States, tips are part of how restaurant staff are paid. The federal minimum cash wage for tipped workers is only $2.13 an hour in 2026, and tips are expected to make up the rest. That's why 15% to 20% is standard, and why leaving nothing sends a strong message.

Seven states, including California, Nevada and Washington, require employers to pay the full minimum wage before tips. Tipping is still customary there, but staff depend on it less. For more on American bills, including sales tax, read our guide to eating out in the US.

Tipping for delivery and takeaway

In the US, a delivery tip of 15% to 20%, or at least a few dollars, is usual, and it normally goes to the driver. Takeaway you collect yourself doesn't need a tip. In the UK and most of Europe, a delivery tip is optional.

Remember that delivery apps charge their own fees, and many list higher menu prices than the restaurant. Our delivery markup calculator shows how much extra an app order really costs.

Frequently asked questions

How much should I tip at a restaurant?: It depends on the country. In the US and Canada, 15% to 20% of the bill is standard at sit-down restaurants. In the UK and Ireland, around 10% is usual if no service charge has been added. In France, Spain, Italy, Australia and Thailand, tipping isn't expected, though small change or rounding up is appreciated.
How do I calculate a 20% tip quickly?: Move the decimal point one place to the left to get 10%, then double it. On a $64.50 bill, 10% is $6.45, so 20% is $12.90. For 15%, add half of the 10% figure: $6.45 + $3.23 = $9.68.
Should I tip on the amount before or after tax?: Many people tip on the bill before tax, because tax isn't part of the service. It's a matter of choice rather than a rule. Tipping on the after-tax total adds a little more; on an $80 bill in New York it's about $1.23 extra at 18%.
Do I need to tip if there's already a service charge?: Usually not. A service charge is the restaurant's own tip line, so adding another tip on top means paying twice. In the UK the service charge is discretionary, so you can ask for it to be removed if the service was poor. In the US, check for an automatic gratuity on large-group bills.
Is a service charge the same as a tip?: Not quite. A tip is money you choose to leave. A service charge is added by the restaurant. In the UK, since 1 October 2024, the law requires employers to pass both tips and service charges to staff in full. In some US states, a mandatory service charge is taxed like the food, while a voluntary tip is not.
Do you tip at fast food restaurants or coffee shops?: It isn't expected at counters in any of the countries we cover. In the US and Canada you'll often see a tip screen at the till; a dollar or a small percentage is a kind gesture, but skipping it isn't rude.
How much should I tip for food delivery?: In the US, 15% to 20% of the order, or at least a few dollars, is typical, and it usually goes to the driver. In the UK, Ireland and most of Europe, a delivery tip is optional. Delivery apps also add their own fees, which are separate from the tip.
How do I split a bill and tip between friends?: Add the tip to the whole bill first, then divide the total by the number of people. If people ordered very different amounts, work out each person's share of the bill first and add the same tip percentage to each.
Why is tipping so important in the United States?: Because it's part of how restaurant staff are paid. The federal minimum cash wage for tipped workers is only $2.13 an hour in 2026, with tips expected to make up the rest. Seven states, including California, Nevada and Washington, require the full minimum wage before tips.

Tip Calculator