Split Bill Calculator — uneven shares with tip

How it works

Tipping comes first and applies to the whole check: tip = subtotal × rate, so the total is subtotal + tip. Then there are two fair ways to divide it. An even split — total ÷ number of diners — is simplest and works when everyone ordered roughly the same. A proportional split charges each person their own order plus the identical tip rate on it, order × (1 + rate), so the tip is shared in proportion to what each person spent rather than flat per head. The comparison lists both numbers for every diner side by side; the gap is exactly how much an even split over- or under-charges each person.

Worked example

The tipping step is the percent-of-base calculation LibreTexts publishes — the same arithmetic behind a 3% commission on $260,000 coming to $7,800. Four diners order $40, $30, $20, and $10: the $100 subtotal tipped 20% is $20, a $120 total. Split evenly that's $30 each. Split proportionally, the $40 diner pays $48, the $30 diner $36, the $20 diner $24, and the $10 diner $12 — the four shares still add to $120, but now the light eater pays $12 instead of the $30 an even split would have charged. Those per-person figures are this calculator's own arithmetic on the published method.

Frequently asked questions

How do I split a bill fairly when people ordered different amounts?

Tip the whole check first, then charge each person their own order plus the same tip rate — order × (1 + rate). That shares the tip in proportion to spending, so nobody subsidizes a bigger order than their own. The proportional column shows each share; they add back to the full total.

Even split or proportional — which should we use?

Even (total ÷ heads) is fine when orders are similar and simplicity matters. Proportional is fairer when they differ a lot — a light eater shouldn't pay the same as someone who ordered twice as much. The table shows both so the group can decide; the page doesn't pick for you.

How is the tip handled across people?

The tip is calculated once on the whole subtotal, then divided along with the food. In the even split it's baked into total ÷ heads; in the proportional split each person pays the tip rate on their own order, which distributes the same total tip in proportion to what each spent.

Why does the even split overcharge whoever ordered least?

Because it ignores what each person ordered — everyone pays the average. If one person's order is below the average, the even split charges them more than their food plus a fair share of tip, and the difference subsidizes the bigger orders. The proportional column makes that gap explicit.

Do the proportional shares add up to the total?

Yes — each person pays order × (1 + rate), and the orders sum to the subtotal, so the shares sum to subtotal × (1 + rate), which is the total with tip. The check is covered exactly, with no rounding shortfall in the underlying math.

Can it handle tax as well as tip?

Enter each person's order including their share of tax, or add tax into the orders, and the tip then applies on top. The page models one rate applied to the whole check; if your venue taxes and you tip on the pre-tax amount, tip the pre-tax orders and add tax separately.

How accurate is this, and what does it exclude?

The arithmetic is exact for the orders and tip rate entered, and it handles up to four diners. It excludes shared items that don't belong to one person, splitting tax differently from tip, rounding to whole dollars, and parties larger than four. For a simple even split of one bill, the tip calculator is quicker.