Tipping

Split a Bill Fairly: 18% Tip Math for Groups

The table splits a $180 dinner among six, someone overpays, and the evening ends with the calculator standoff. A little structure removes it. Start with the tip mode and add the three rules below.

Rule 1: tip on the pre-tax subtotal

Convention and most restaurant POS screens tip on the subtotal before sales tax. Tipping on the tax-inflated total quietly turns an "18%" into nearly 20%. Agree on pre-tax and the number is honest. You see the exact figure in the tip mode.

Rule 2: use the 10% shortcut

To find 18% fast: take 10% (one decimal shift), take half of that for 5%, then add the leftover third of it for 3%. Or simpler — double the 10% then shave a tenth. % on a $60 subtotal: 10% is $6, 18% runs about $10.80.

Rule 3: split with a rounding cap, not a ledger

Split the final total (bill + tip) by the number of people, then round each share to the nearest dollar and let the small remainder ride. Splitting to the penny is where the argument lives. Round to dollars, add the tip as a fix, and move on.

Handling the over- and under-eaters

If one person skipped the wine, don't split equally — divide the shared food cost per person and add their own drinks on top. The classy version: everyone pays their items, then the tip is split equally as a % of the subtotal. That is a two-line job in the calculator.