Your Tipping Questions, Answered

The standard tip in US restaurants is 18–20% for good service. 15% is on the lower end but not unusual for adequate service, while 22-25% is appropriate for exceptional service or fine dining.

Traditionally, tips are calculated on the pre-tax subtotal. However, tipping on the total after tax is also acceptable—it only adds about 1-2% to your tip. SnapTipCalc lets you toggle between both options.

While not legally required, tipping is a strong social expectation. $2.13/hour is the federal tipped cash-wage floor in states that allow a tip credit, not a typical US server wage. It has been unchanged since 1991. Employers must top up to at least $7.25/hour if tips fall short, and Alaska, California, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington do not permit a tip credit, so servers there earn the full state minimum before tips. Not tipping is considered poor etiquette unless service was truly unacceptable.

If service was poor, you can tip less—10-12% is acceptable for subpar service. Only leave no tip for truly terrible service. Remember that kitchen delays aren't your server's fault. Consider speaking with a manager if there's a serious issue.

Yes, tips should be calculated on your total bill including food and drinks. At a bar, you typically tip $1–2 per drink, or 18–20% of the tab.

Many restaurants add an automatic gratuity in the 18–20% range for parties of 6 or more. Always check your bill for 'gratuity' or 'service charge' before adding a tip. If it's already included, you don't need to tip again.

Tipping on takeout is optional but appreciated: $0–2, or 10% on a large order. Staff still pack and check your order, so many people leave a couple of dollars or round up the total.

For delivery, tip 15–20%, with a $5 minimum, even on small orders. Consider tipping more for bad weather, large orders, or long distances. Delivery drivers rely heavily on tips for income.

Tipping at counter service is optional: $0–2 per order. These employees typically earn full minimum wage. You're not expected to tip restaurant-level percentages when you order at a counter.

Tip the same regardless of platform: 15–20%, with a $5 minimum. While apps like Uber Eats and DoorDash make it easy to tip in-app, drivers appreciate tips equally whether it's app-based or traditional delivery.

With SnapTipCalc, enter your total bill, select the tip percentage, and input the number of people. The calculator divides the total (including tax and tip) by the number of people and shows what each person owes.

For uneven splits, calculate each person's subtotal from the itemized bill, then use SnapTipCalc separately for each person's amount. Alternatively, ask your server to split the check before it arrives.

Yes, when splitting a bill, everyone should tip the same percentage (typically 18–20%). The service was the same for everyone.

For shared items, divide the cost equally among everyone who partook. Add this to each person's individual items before calculating their share of tip and tax.

The rounding feature lets you round your final total to convenient amounts—exact, nearest $1, $5, or $10. This is helpful when paying with cash. Any extra from rounding is added to the tip.

Yes! While SnapTipCalc offers quick buttons for 15%, 18%, 20%, 22%, and 25%, you can also use the slider to select any percentage you prefer.

The Receipt Checker works backwards from a receipt you have already paid. Enter the subtotal, the tax and the amount actually charged, and it back-solves the tip you really left, tells you whether that percentage was taken on the pre-tax subtotal or on the post-tax total, and flags the cases where both readings match the same cent so the basis is genuinely ambiguous.

Yes, SnapTipCalc fetches daily exchange rates so tourists can see their total in their home currency. Rates are cached for performance and updated once per day.

Yes. No signup, subscription or paywall is required. Your bill amounts are calculated in your browser and never sent to us. The site is funded by advertising, and analytics is used only in accordance with the consent choices described in our Privacy Policy.

Once the page loads, the calculator works entirely in your browser without needing an internet connection. Currency conversion requires internet for rate updates.

Yes! SnapTipCalc works for both US and Canadian restaurants. Canadian tipping customs are similar (15–20%). The calculator handles US sales tax and Canadian GST/HST/PST.

Tip $2–5 per night ($5–10 luxury), left daily (not just at checkout) since different staff may clean your room. Leave the tip on the pillow or desk with a note saying 'Thank you' so they know it's for them.

Tip bellhops $2–3 per bag, $5 minimum. For valet, tip $3–5 per retrieval when your car is returned. For concierge services, tip $5–20 per request ($20–50 for complex planning).

Yes, tip 15–20%, with a $2 minimum, just like taxis. You can tip in the app after your ride or give cash.

Tip taxi drivers the same as rideshare: 15–20%, with a $2 minimum. Round up to the nearest dollar for convenience. For exceptional service or help with luggage, tip on the higher end.