Tip Calculator
The tip, the total, and what each person owes when you split it. Nothing is uploaded.
The tip is taken from the bill minus this amount.
In India 5–10% is normal at a restaurant, and a service charge is never compulsory. There is more on that below.
How to use it
- Enter the bill amount.
- Drag the tip slider, or press one of the quick buttons.
- If you are sharing, drag Split between to the number of people.
- Everything updates as you go. No currency symbol is shown, because the arithmetic is the same everywhere.
How much to tip in India
Roughly 5 to 10 percent at a sit-down restaurant is normal, appreciated, and plenty. Rounding up a small bill is perfectly acceptable. In most other situations — a shop, a taxi, a delivery — a tip is not expected, though it is always welcome.
If you have read American advice, ignore the numbers in it. Fifteen to twenty percent is the working assumption there because tipped staff are often paid a lower base wage that the tip is expected to make up. That arrangement does not exist in India, so the percentage does not transfer.
Service charge is not a tax, and not compulsory
This is worth knowing before you add anything on top. A service charge printed on an Indian restaurant bill is money the restaurant has decided to add. It is not a government tax, and it is not the same thing as GST.
Under guidelines issued by the Central Consumer Protection Authority in 2022, restaurants in India may not add a service charge automatically, and you may ask for it to be removed from your bill. If you have paid one, any further tip is entirely your choice.
Tax is a separate matter. GST is a genuine tax and is payable. If you would rather not tip on top of the tax, tick Tip on the amount before tax, enter the tax figure from your bill, and the tip is calculated from the food and drink alone.
Splitting without the awkward paise
Divide 1,200 between seven people and you get 171.43 each, which nobody is going to hand over. Tick Round the total up and the bill is raised to the next whole number before it is divided, so the shares come out clean and the restaurant keeps the difference as a slightly larger tip.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I tip in India?
Around 5 to 10 percent is normal and welcome at a restaurant, and tipping is not expected at all in most other places. This is very different from the United States, where 15 to 20 percent is the working assumption. Tipping anywhere is a courtesy, never an obligation.
My bill already has a service charge. Should I still tip?
That is your choice, and worth knowing: in India a service charge is not a government tax and is not mandatory. Under guidelines issued by the Central Consumer Protection Authority in 2022, restaurants cannot add it automatically, and you can ask for it to be removed. If you have paid one, an extra tip is entirely optional.
Should the tip be worked out before or after tax?
Tipping on the amount before tax is the more common convention, because tax is not part of what the service was worth. Tick the option on this page to exclude tax, enter the tax amount, and the tip is taken from the food and drink alone.
Is anything I type sent anywhere?
No. The arithmetic happens in JavaScript inside your own browser. Nothing is uploaded and nothing is saved — close the tab and it is gone.