Example: 4 friends, $120 dinner, 8.5% tax, 18% tip
| Friend | Amount to pay |
|---|---|
| Alex | $37.95 |
| Sam | $37.95 |
| Jordan | $37.95 |
| Robin | $37.95 |
Subtotal: $120.00 · Tax: $10.20 · Tip: $21.60
Total: $151.80 = 4 × $37.95
How to split a bill in three steps
- Enter the bill, tax, and tip.Start with the receipt amount and the number of people sharing it. Add a tax rate or dollar amount, then choose a tip percentage or fixed amount. If your entered bill already includes tax, check the box so that tax is not added again.
- Choose the agreement that fits.Split evenly when everyone owes roughly the same amount. Choose individual orders when meals differ, or shares when people have agreed to unequal contributions. Open the names and amounts section to identify everyone and enter their orders or weights. Review any exclusions under Advanced.
- Check it, then share it.Calculate the split and compare the subtotal, tax, tip, and total with your receipt. Each person’s amount includes their allocated cents, so the group total reconciles exactly. Copy the summary for a simple message, or send the share link so everyone can reopen the complete calculation.
Three ways to split a bill, and when to use each
Split evenly
An equal split divides the complete bill between everyone in the group. It suits four friends sharing pizzas, a household buying common supplies, or a weekend rental where everyone stayed for the same nights. You do not need to reconstruct every purchase: enter the amount, include the agreed charges, and set the group size. When a total cannot divide into whole cents, the first people receive the extra cents in list order. For example, $100 across three people becomes $33.34, $33.33, and $33.33. Do not use this method when spending or usage differs substantially and someone would subsidize the others.
Split by what each person ordered
Individual orders keep each person responsible for what they actually consumed. At dinner, one friend might order a $30 meal, another $45, and another $25. Enter those pre-tax amounts; the calculator allocates tax and tip using their relative spending. Shared appetizers should first be divided among the people who ate them and included in their entries. The combined entries must equal the pre-tax subtotal, which helps catch omitted items or accidental double counting. This approach is useful when a modest meal sits beside a much larger order. Do not use it when you cannot reasonably attribute costs to individuals.
Split by shares
Shares describe relative responsibility rather than individual purchases. A weight of 2 pays twice as much as 1, while 0.5 pays half as much. For a $90 shared expense, weights of 2, 1, and 1 produce $45, $22.50, and $22.50. You could count a couple as one combined share, assign a child half a share, or use income proportions for household rent. The numbers need not add to ten or one hundred; only their relative sizes matter. Agree on them together before calculating. Do not use shares when people expect reimbursement for exact, separately itemized purchases.
How tax and tip get divided
In individual-order mode, tax and tip follow each person’s pre-tax spending, not the number of seats at the table. If someone ordered $30 from a $100 subtotal, their allocation starts at 30% of each shared charge. With $8 tax and a $20 tip, that person owes $30 plus $2.40 plus $6, or $38.40.
Percentage tips are calculated on the subtotal before tax. A tip around 15%–20% for table service is common practice in the US, rather than a legal requirement. Check the receipt for a service charge or included gratuity before adding more. You can also enter an agreed dollar tip.
Advanced exclusions redistribute a charge among the remaining eligible people in proportion to their orders or shares. Excluding someone does not reduce the overall tax or tip. If your amount includes tax, the calculator extracts that tax for display instead of charging it twice. Every allocation uses whole cents; the largest fractional remainders receive leftover cents, with ties resolved in list order. Tax calculations are for reference only, not tax advice.
Splitting rent and shared expenses with unequal incomes
Income-based rent starts with an agreement about affordability, not a universal rule. Choose comparable income figures, such as both partners’ monthly take-home pay. If one earns $3,000 and the other $2,000, their combined $5,000 income gives a 60/40 proportion. For $2,000 rent, choose shares of 6 and 4: the contributions become $1,200 and $800. Set tax and tip to zero for an ordinary rent split.
Room size offers another starting point. If private bedrooms measure 120 and 80 square feet, shares of 120 and 80 divide the entered amount in the same 60/40 ratio. Discuss whether common areas, private bathrooms, or parking should change that arrangement before using it.
The same method works for utilities, subscriptions, and travel expenses when usage differs. For a cabin trip, shares could represent nights stayed. For shared electricity, use an agreed household proportion. Revisit those weights when circumstances change, and keep a summary so everyone understands the calculation rather than just receiving a number.
Frequently asked questions
How do you split a bill fairly?
Agree on the rule before paying. Equal portions work when everyone’s costs are similar; individual orders work when spending differs. Shares let a group recognize different budgets or usage. Include tax and tip explicitly, then check that everyone’s amount adds up to the total.
How do you split a bill when everyone ordered different things?
Choose “By what each person ordered” and enter each person’s pre-tax order amount. Divide any shared dishes between the people who ate them before entering those amounts. The orders must match the subtotal. The calculator then distributes tax and tip proportionally, with any leftover cents assigned consistently.
How much should I tip?
For table service, tipping around 15%–20% of the pre-tax subtotal is common practice in the US, not a legal requirement. Consider the service and local customs, and check for an included gratuity first. Choose a preset, enter another percentage, or switch to a fixed tip amount.
Should tax be split evenly or by what people ordered?
When orders differ, proportional tax usually follows spending more closely: a larger order receives more of the tax. Equal splitting is simpler when everyone shares the food. Use Advanced to exclude a person only when appropriate for your agreement. These estimates are for reference only, not tax advice.
How do I split rent with my partner when we earn different amounts?
Agree on which income figures to use, then turn them into relative shares. If your combined income is split 60/40, enter shares of 6 and 4. For $2,000 rent, the contributions are $1,200 and $800. Revisit the arrangement when income or living circumstances change.
Can I count a couple as one share?
Yes. Choose “By shares” and give the couple one combined entry with a share of 1. Give each other participating unit its agreed share. Alternatively, keep both names separate and give each partner 0.5 shares. Those two half shares together have the same weight as one full share.
Is it free? Do I need an account?
The calculator is free and does not require an account, email address, or signup. Calculations run in your browser, without cookies or third-party analytics. There is no saved account history. Copy the summary or keep a share link if you want to revisit a particular split later.
How do I share the split with my group?
After calculating, select “Share this split” to copy a link, then paste it into your group conversation. Opening it restores the inputs and results. Names and amounts are readable from the link, so share it thoughtfully. Use “Copy summary” instead if you only want a plain-text breakdown.