How to split a restaurant bill, including tax and tip
When everyone ordered roughly the same thing, splitting a restaurant bill evenly is quick and painless. When one person had a steak and another had a salad and water, an even split stops feeling fair.
Here's how to handle both, and how to divide tax and tip so nobody overpays.
The easy way with SplitMate
- 1
Scan the receipt
Snap a photo and let AI read every line item — no typing.
- 2
Assign each dish
Tap to give each item to whoever ordered it.
- 3
Mark shared plates
Split the appetizers and that bottle of wine between the right people.
- 4
See each person's total
Tax and tip divide proportionally, so everyone's total is exact.
Ways to split it fairly
Even split
Fastest when everyone ate and drank about the same. Divide the final total by the number of people and you're done.
Itemized split
Fairest when orders differ a lot. Each person pays for what they actually had, plus a share of anything shared.
Divide tax and tip proportionally
Split tax and tip in proportion to each person's food total rather than evenly, so larger orders carry their share of both.
Tipping
In the US, 18–20% of the pre-tax total is customary for sit-down service. Many places add an automatic gratuity for larger groups — check before you add more.
Round up
Round each person up to the nearest dollar. The few cents of slack make sure the tip is always fully covered.
Frequently asked questions
How do you split a bill with tip?
Work out each person's food and drink total, then add their proportional share of the tax and tip on top. Splitting tip by what each person ordered is fairer than dividing it evenly.
Should tax and tip be split evenly or by item?
By item is fairer. If you divide tax and tip evenly, the person who ordered a side salad subsidizes the person who ordered the most expensive thing on the menu.
How do I split a bill when everyone ordered different things?
Itemize it: assign each dish to whoever had it, mark anything that was shared, and let tax and tip divide proportionally. Scanning the receipt makes this a few taps instead of mental math.