Split result
How to split a group bill fairly
Group dining has an unwritten etiquette. Before the check arrives, agree on two things: the tip percentage and the split method. The most common approach — and the least awkward — is an even split: divide the total (including tip) equally, even if one person's entrée cost a few dollars more. It keeps the math quick and avoids quibbling over appetizers and shared sides.
When the group orders very different things, an itemized split is fairer. Each person pays for what they ordered, and the tip is applied proportionally to each share. If there is a leftover amount nobody claims — a shared appetizer, a bottle of wine, or a rounding discrepancy — call it out before you settle so nobody quietly overpays. A common courtesy is for the person who ordered the shared item to cover it, or to spread it evenly on top of the itemized shares.
Whichever method you choose, tip on the pre-tax subtotal, not the post-tax total. And if you round everyone's share up to a whole dollar, the server gets a small bonus instead of getting shorted by loose change. This calculator handles both the even and itemized cases, including the "unassigned difference" warning so you never accidentally under-collect.
For a quick reference on how much to tip in each situation, see the Tip Guide.