Simple Tip Calculator from NerdWallet

Courtney Neidel
By Courtney Neidel 
Updated
Edited by Kathy Hinson

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.

Tip calculator instructions

This tip calculator shows how much to give service providers based on two common tipping percentages (15% and 20%), or a custom amount you enter. You can also use it to help you split the bill.

Bill amount: Enter the price of the meal or service.

Level of service: Choose how you would rate your experience. Was it average or above average? You can also choose to enter a custom tip percentage.

Number of customers tipping: Use this feature to calculate each person's share of the tip if you're with a group.

Results: The calculator will provide the total tip, the tip per customer and the total bill, including the tip.

Before you build a budget
NerdWallet breaks down your spending and shows you ways to save.

How much do you tip at a restaurant?

The standard tip for a restaurant server is 15% to 20%, based on the experience, according to Elaine Swann, lifestyle and etiquette expert and founder of the Swann School of Protocol.

A 10% tip may suffice in some situations, and it’s easy to calculate. Think picking up a carryout order or a cup of coffee. Remember, 10% of $10 is $1. Double it to $2 for 20% of $10.

How much do you tip for other services?

For many other service providers, 15% to 20% is a standard tip too. For example, that’s how much to tip a hairdresser and how much to tip a massage therapist if you can, Swann says.

You can also look for a cue in the presets on the payment screen of the point-of-sale system if the business uses one.

Track your spending with the NerdWallet app
Track your budget and see all of your finances together in a single place. Get timely insights to make smart financial decisions – all for free.

Unhappy with the service you received? Gently voice your concerns with the service provider and look for ways to resolve the issue, Swann says. Tipping less than 15% is fine in those cases, but still aim to give some gratuity. Keep in mind that the minimum wage for tipped employees is significantly lower than regular minimum wage, with the understanding that tipping makes up the difference.

See more financial calculators from NerdWallet.

AD
Capitalize
Find and move all your old 401(k)s — for free.
401(k)s left behind often get lost, forgotten, or depleted by high fees. Capitalize will move them into one IRA you control.
start consolidating

on Capitalize's website