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Bill split calculator
Put your bill, people, tax and tip in: a $120.00 bill with 8% tax and a 20% tip on the pre-tax bill is $153.60 in all, $38.40 each for 4 people. The tip base — pre-tax or post-tax — is the switch that changes the answer.
★ EVERYDAY · MONEY · BILL SPLIT
Bill Split Calculator: Split the Check With Tax & Tip
A $120.00 restaurant bill with 8% tax and a 20% tip is $153.60 in all — $38.40 each for 4 people. Split a bill with tax and tip, pre-tax or post-tax, and see the per-person share. This one is the BILL-SPLIT tool — the share of one bill — the tip-calculator page is the TIP tool — the tip alone — not the split; the paycheck-calculator page is the PAYCHECK tool — the pay per period — not a restaurant bill; and the sales-tax-calculator page is the SALES-TAX tool — the tax on a purchase — not the per-person share.
How much does each person pay on a $120.00 bill?
$38.40 each. The bill is $120.00, the tax at 8% is $9.60, and the tip at 20% on the pre-tax bill is $24.00 — so the total is $153.60, and divided by 4 people that is $38.40 each. That is the whole calculation: add the tax, add the tip, divide by the people. The worked example below shows every step, and the calculator above does it for any bill, any tax rate and any tip.
Three things to check before you trust the number
The tip base is the argument that matters. A 20% tip on the pre-tax $120.00 is $24.00; the same 20% on the post-tax total of $129.60 is $25.92 — $1.92 more, and the per-person share rises from $38.40 to $38.88. The pre-tax tip is the usual convention in the United States, and it is the default on this page, but the bill has to say which one you used or two people will get two different answers. If your group tips on the total after tax, switch the "Tip on" box to post-tax and the calculator follows.
Tax comes before the tip, not after it. The tax is charged on the food and drink, and the tip is a percentage of the bill — so the order is bill, then tax, then tip. Tipping on the bill plus the tax is the post-tax option above, and it costs $1.92 more on a $120.00 bill. The tax rate itself is the one on the receipt: 8% here, but it runs from 0% in the five states with no sales tax to over 10% in some cities, and the calculator takes whatever rate you type.
An uneven split is a different calculation. This calculator splits the bill evenly. When one person had the lobster and another had the salad, split the food by what each person ordered, then split the tax and the tip in the same proportions: if you ordered $60.00 of a $120.00 bill, you pay half the tax ($4.80) and half the tip ($12.00), so $76.80 in all. The even split here is the starting point — the uneven split is the same arithmetic, done per person instead of once for the table.
Worked example
On the defaults: a $120 bill, 4 people, 8% tax, 20% tip on the pre-tax bill.
- The tax: $120 × 8% is $9.60.
- The tip: $120 × 20% is $24.00 — on the pre-tax bill.
- The total: $120 + $9.60 + $24.00 is $153.60.
- Each person: $153.60 ÷ 4 is $38.40.
And the other way: a $125.00 bill splits to $40.00 a person for 4 people, 5 people is the most people who can split this bill and still pay $30.00 or more each, and a 25.3333% tip takes the total to $160.00.
Every branch, checked
- $60 bill, 2 people: $60 bill, 2 people: Total $76.80 — $60.00 bill + $4.80 tax + $12.00 tip (20% on the pre-tax bill). Each of 2 people pays $38.40.
- $200 bill, 5 people: $200 bill, 5 people: Total $256.00 — $200.00 bill + $16.00 tax + $40.00 tip (20% on the pre-tax bill). Each of 5 people pays $51.20.
- 15% tip instead of 20%: 15% tip instead of 20%: Total $147.60 — $120.00 bill + $9.60 tax + $18.00 tip (15% on the pre-tax bill). Each of 4 people pays $36.90.
- Tip on the post-tax total: Tip on the post-tax total: Total $155.52 — $120.00 bill + $9.60 tax + $25.92 tip (20% on the post-tax total). Each of 4 people pays $38.88.
- No tax (0%): No tax (0%): Total $144.00 — $120.00 bill + $0.00 tax + $24.00 tip (20% on the pre-tax bill). Each of 4 people pays $36.00.
- 25% tip instead of 20%: 25% tip instead of 20%: Total $159.60 — $120.00 bill + $9.60 tax + $30.00 tip (25% on the pre-tax bill). Each of 4 people pays $39.90.
The reverses, worked backwards
- Bill for a $40.00 per-person share: $125.00 — at $125.00 the figures are Total $160.00 — $125.00 bill + $10.00 tax + $25.00 tip (20% on the pre-tax bill). Each of 4 people pays $40.00.; at the lower neighbor the figures are Total $158.72 — $124.00 bill + $9.92 tax + $24.80 tip (20% on the pre-tax bill). Each of 4 people pays $39.68.; at the upper neighbor the figures are Total $161.28 — $126.00 bill + $10.08 tax + $25.20 tip (20% on the pre-tax bill). Each of 4 people pays $40.32. — verdict: STEP.
- Most people keeping the share at $30 or more: 5 people — at 5 people the figures are Total $153.60 — $120.00 bill + $9.60 tax + $24.00 tip (20% on the pre-tax bill). Each of 5 people pays $30.72.; at the lower neighbor the figures are Total $153.60 — $120.00 bill + $9.60 tax + $24.00 tip (20% on the pre-tax bill). Each of 4 people pays $38.40.; at the upper neighbor the figures are Total $153.60 — $120.00 bill + $9.60 tax + $24.00 tip (20% on the pre-tax bill). Each of 6 people pays $25.60. — verdict: STEP.
- Tip % for a $160.00 total: 25.3333% — at 25.3333% the figures are Total $160.00 — $120.00 bill + $9.60 tax + $30.40 tip (25% on the pre-tax bill). Each of 4 people pays $40.00.; at the lower neighbor the figures are Total $158.80 — $120.00 bill + $9.60 tax + $29.20 tip (24% on the pre-tax bill). Each of 4 people pays $39.70.; at the upper neighbor the figures are Total $161.20 — $120.00 bill + $9.60 tax + $31.60 tip (26% on the pre-tax bill). Each of 4 people pays $40.30. — verdict: STEP.
What the defaults assume
The defaults are a $120 bill before tax, 4 people, 8% sales tax and a 20% tip on the pre-tax bill — the usual convention. The tax is a flat percentage of the bill, the tip is a flat percentage of the bill (or of the bill plus tax, if you pick the post-tax option), and the total is divided evenly among the people. The model does not count discounts, coupons, gift cards, service charges already added to the bill, or alcohol taxes that some places charge separately — check the receipt for those before you split. It also rounds each person's share to the cent, so with some bills the shares add up to a cent more or less than the total: with 3 people on a $100 bill the share is $33.33 and the three shares add to $99.99, one cent short. The person who pays the card usually covers the odd cent.
These notes repeat in every explainer section because this page is built to be read start to finish: the tip base is the argument that matters; tax comes before the tip, not after it; and an uneven split is a different calculation.
Output · formula · meaning
| Output | Formula | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Tax | bill × tax rate | $9.60 — $120.00 × 8%. |
| Tip | tip base × tip % | $24.00 — $120.00 × 20% on the pre-tax bill. |
| Total | bill + tax + tip | $153.60 — $120.00 + $9.60 + $24.00. |
| Per person | total ÷ people | $38.40 — $153.60 ÷ 4. |
| Reverse: Bill for a $40.00 per-person share | step | $125.00: Total $160.00 — $125.00 bill + $10.00 tax + $25.00 tip (20% on the pre-tax bill). Each of 4 people pays $40.00. |
| Reverse: Most people keeping the share at $30 or more | step | 5 people: Total $153.60 — $120.00 bill + $9.60 tax + $24.00 tip (20% on the pre-tax bill). Each of 5 people pays $30.72. |
| Reverse: Tip % for a $160.00 total | step | 25.3333%: Total $160.00 — $120.00 bill + $9.60 tax + $30.40 tip (25% on the pre-tax bill). Each of 4 people pays $40.00. |
| $60 bill, 2 people | same model | Total $76.80 — $60.00 bill + $4.80 tax + $12.00 tip (20% on the pre-tax bill). Each of 2 people pays $38.40. |
| $200 bill, 5 people | same model | Total $256.00 — $200.00 bill + $16.00 tax + $40.00 tip (20% on the pre-tax bill). Each of 5 people pays $51.20. |
| 15% tip instead of 20% | same model | Total $147.60 — $120.00 bill + $9.60 tax + $18.00 tip (15% on the pre-tax bill). Each of 4 people pays $36.90. |
| Tip on the post-tax total | same model | Total $155.52 — $120.00 bill + $9.60 tax + $25.92 tip (20% on the post-tax total). Each of 4 people pays $38.88. |
| No tax (0%) | same model | Total $144.00 — $120.00 bill + $0.00 tax + $24.00 tip (20% on the pre-tax bill). Each of 4 people pays $36.00. |
| 25% tip instead of 20% | same model | Total $159.60 — $120.00 bill + $9.60 tax + $30.00 tip (25% on the pre-tax bill). Each of 4 people pays $39.90. |
| $0 bill | same model | Total $0.00 — $0.00 bill + $0.00 tax + $0.00 tip (20% on the pre-tax bill). Each of 4 people pays $0.00. |
| 1 person pays the whole bill | same model | Total $153.60 — $120.00 bill + $9.60 tax + $24.00 tip (20% on the pre-tax bill). Each of 1 people pays $153.60. |
| 100 people split the bill | same model | Total $153.60 — $120.00 bill + $9.60 tax + $24.00 tip (20% on the pre-tax bill). Each of 100 people pays $1.54. |
| No tax and no tip | same model | Total $120.00 — $120.00 bill + $0.00 tax + $0.00 tip (0% on the pre-tax bill). Each of 4 people pays $30.00. |
Who uses this
- Friends splitting dinner — a $120.00 bill is $38.40 each with tax and a 20% tip: no mental arithmetic at the table, no argument about the tip base.
- The person who pays the card — the total is $153.60, so they know what to charge and what to ask each person for, to the cent.
- A group setting a budget — $125.00 is the biggest bill that still costs $40.00 a person for 4 people: the reverses set the budget before the ordering starts.
- A student learning percentages — one worked example from bill to per-person share, the pre-tax versus post-tax tip, and the reverses that solve for the bill, the people and the tip.
Accuracy & limitations
Figures are the model's own totals on the numbers you type, computed from unrounded values: the tax is the bill times the tax rate, the tip is the tip base (the pre-tax bill, or the bill plus tax) times the tip percentage, the total is the bill plus the tax plus the tip, and each person's share is the total divided by the number of people. The displayed figures are rounded to 2dp. The model assumes a flat tax rate, a flat tip percentage and an even split — it does not handle discounts, service charges already on the bill, or uneven splits by item (the prose above shows how to do those by hand). The tip percentage is shown rounded to whole percent in the summary, so a 25.3333% tip reads as 25% — the money figures are computed from the full value. This page is a calculation tool, not financial advice.
Cite this calculator
A $120.00 restaurant bill with 8% tax and a 20% tip on the pre-tax bill totals $153.60 — $38.40 each for 4 people. Source: Bright Side Kit, brightoolbox.com.
Frequently asked questions
How do you split a bill between 4 people?
Add the tax and the tip, then divide by 4: a $120 bill with 8% tax and a 20% tip is $153.60 in all, so each person pays $38.40. The calculator does it for any bill and any number of people.
Should you tip on the pre-tax or post-tax total?
On the pre-tax bill, usually — a 20% tip on a $120 bill is $24.00, while 20% on the post-tax $129.60 is $25.92. The post-tax tip costs $1.92 more here, and the per-person share rises from $38.40 to $38.88.
How much is the tip on a $120 bill?
$24.00 at 20% on the pre-tax bill, $18.00 at 15% and $30.00 at 25%. The tip is the bill times the tip percentage — before tax, on the usual convention.
How do you split a bill unevenly?
Split the food by what each person ordered, then split the tax and the tip in the same proportions. If you ordered $60 of a $120 bill, you pay half the tax ($4.80) and half the tip ($12.00) — $76.80 in all.
What bill splits to $40 a person for 4 people?
$125.00, at 8% tax and a 20% tip on the pre-tax bill. The reverses solve for any per-person target.
How many people can split a $120 bill at $30 each?
5 people — each pays $30.72. A sixth person drops the share to $25.60. The people count is a step function, so the reverse is the most people who still pay $30 or more.
Does the tip go on the bill before or after tax?
Before tax, on the usual convention — the tip is a percentage of the food and drink, not of the tax. Tipping after tax is the same percentage on a bigger base, so it costs more.
What if the bill already includes a service charge?
Then the tip is already in the total — check the receipt before you add another one. Put the bill as printed (service charge included) and set the tip to 0% if you do not want to tip twice.