Split Bill Calculator

Splitting a bill evenly is a choice, not a neutral default. It is the fastest and least awkward option when everyone ordered roughly the same, and it quietly overcharges the person who had a salad and tap water. This calculator does the even split properly — including tax and tip, in the right order — and this page explains when an even split is the wrong tool and what to do instead.

The order tax and tip are applied in

Most bill-splitting arguments about a couple of dollars come down to sequencing. Here is exactly what this calculator does:

1. Tax is calculated on the bill amount you entered: bill × tax% ÷ 100.
2. Tip is calculated on the bill plus that tax — not on the bill alone.
3. Grand Total is bill + tax + tip, and per person is that total divided by the headcount.

Tipping on the tax-inclusive figure is a common convention, but it is not the only one, and on a large bill the difference is real. If you would rather tip on the pre-tax subtotal, there is a clean workaround: divide your intended tip rate by 1 plus the tax rate before entering it. To leave a genuine 20% of the subtotal when tax is 10%, type 18.18 into the tip box (20 ÷ 1.10). The tip box accepts any number, so the preset buttons never limit you.

The Without Tax/Tip figure is there as a reference point: it is the raw bill divided by the headcount, so you can see at a glance how much of each share is food and how much is everything else.

When an even split is unfair, and what to do instead

The even split breaks down as soon as orders diverge — one person on a tasting menu, another who does not drink, a table where two people shared a bottle of wine. Three approaches, in rough order of effort:

• Even split. Fine when the orders are comparable, or when the group has agreed to stop counting. This is what the calculator does.
• Hybrid. Shared items — starters, sides, the bottle — split evenly; individually ordered mains and drinks charged to whoever had them. Usually the fairest option per minute of effort.
• Fully itemised. Each person pays for their own items plus a proportional share of tax and tip. The proportional part is the bit people get wrong: your share of the tax and tip should match your share of the subtotal, not be an equal slice. If your items came to 32 of a 160 subtotal, that is 20% of it, so you owe 20% of the tax and 20% of the tip. The percentage calculator will give you that share in one step using its “what % is X of Y” mode.

A practical hybrid trick with this tool: enter only the shared portion of the bill and the number of people sharing it, note the per-person figure, then add each person's individual items on top with their own proportional tax and tip.

The people list, and what it does not do

The list below the results starts with four placeholder names and grows or shrinks to match the Number of People field — adding a person with the button bumps the count, and the X removes one. It is worth being clear about what it is: a roster, not a per-person ledger. Every row shows the same amount, because the split is even. The names are placeholders and are not editable, and there is no field for assigning different amounts to different people.

Used as intended it is a checklist for collecting money: you can see how many people owe and how much, without recounting heads. For uneven amounts, work those out separately and use the list only for the evenly shared part.

Rounding and the missing cent

Every amount is rounded to two decimal places for display, and the per-person figure is rounded independently of the total. That means the shares will not always sum exactly to the grand total: split 100.00 three ways and each person sees 33.33, which comes to 99.99. On larger tables the gap can reach a few cents.

The usual fix is that whoever pays by card covers the difference, or everyone rounds their share up to a convenient amount — which also solves the problem of nobody carrying exact change. If your receipt total differs slightly, check the tax first: many receipts round tax per line item rather than on the subtotal.

How to use the Split Bill Calculator

1. Enter the Bill Amount — the pre-tax subtotal, since the calculator adds tax itself.
2. Set the Number of People sharing the bill.
3. Enter your local Tax (%), or set it to 0 if the bill you typed already includes tax.
4. Choose a Tip Percentage from the preset buttons, or type your own into the box beside them.
5. Read the large Each Person Pays figure, which already includes tax and tip.
6. Check Total Tip, Total Tax and Grand Total against the receipt before anyone hands over money.
7. Use Add Person or the X buttons if the headcount changes; every figure updates immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I give different people different amounts?

No. This tool splits evenly and shows the same figure for everyone. For an uneven split, total each person's items separately and add a proportional share of the tax and tip — proportional to their share of the subtotal, not an equal slice.

My bill already includes tax. What do I enter?

Enter the tax-inclusive figure as the Bill Amount and set Tax to 0. The tip will then be calculated on that full amount, which is the same thing the tool does internally anyway.

Why is the tip larger than I expected?

Because it is calculated on the bill plus tax. With a 120 bill, 10% tax and an 18% tip, the tip is 18% of 132, not of 120. Lower the tip rate slightly if you want to tip on the subtotal only.

Does it work with currencies other than dollars?

Yes. The dollar sign is cosmetic — the arithmetic is currency-agnostic, so entering euros, pounds or yen gives results in that currency.

How many people can I split between?

The headcount field accepts up to 100. Beyond that, or for anything with tiers of contribution, a spreadsheet is the better instrument.

What if I only need the tip, not the split?

Set Number of People to 1, or use the dedicated tip calculator, which applies the tip to the amount you type without adding tax first.

Is anything saved or uploaded?

No. Everything runs in your browser and nothing persists after you close the tab — including the people list, which resets to its defaults on every visit.