How this number is made
A fair split starts from the food and drink, adds tax, and adds a tip. This page tips the pre-tax bill, which is the usual custom, then divides the whole total by the number of people. It does not track who ordered the extra dessert.
- Use the subtotal before tax if you have it.
- Match the tax percent on the receipt, or type the sales-tax calculator’s rate.
- Round the per-person number up to the next dollar if you are paying cash and don’t want coin math at the table.
Formula
Tip = bill × tip rate. Tax = bill × tax rate. Each person = (bill + tax + tip) ÷ people.
Worked example
An $86 bill, 8% tax, and 18% tip is $6.88 tax and $15.48 tip. The table owes $108.36. Three people pay $36.12 each.
Questions
What if people ordered unevenly?
Split the shared tax and tip in proportion to each person’s pre-tax food, not by headcount. This form is the even split only.
Is 18% the rule?
No. Eighteen and twenty are common US restaurant habits, not a statute. Service charges printed on the bill are not the same thing as a tip you chose.