How do I split a bill with tax and tip?
Add tax and tip to the bill first, then divide. For an even split, divide the grand total by the number of people. For an uneven split, each person pays for their own items plus a share of tax and tip proportional to what they ordered. This calculator does both.
Should the tip be calculated before or after tax?
Standard etiquette in the US is to tip on the pre-tax subtotal, and that is what this calculator does in percent mode. If your group tips on the after-tax total or agrees on a fixed amount, switch the tip field to a dollar amount and enter it directly.
How do I split a bill unevenly when people ordered different things?
Use the split-by-items mode. Enter what each person ordered before tax and tip, and the calculator assigns everyone their own items plus a proportional share of the tax and tip. Someone who ordered 40% of the food pays 40% of the extras.
What happens when the total does not divide evenly?
Money only splits down to whole cents, so a three-way split of $100.00 cannot be exactly equal. The calculator gives the leftover cents to the first people in the list, one cent each, so the shares always add up to the exact total.
Can I split a receipt by item instead of the total?
Yes. Switch to the split-by-items mode and enter what each person ordered from the receipt, line by line. Each person then pays for their own items plus a proportional share of tax and tip, instead of an equal share of the total. It works for any itemized receipt: a restaurant bill, a grocery run, or a shared online order where different items belong to different people.
Does this calculator work online, without downloading an app?
Yes. It is an online calculator that runs entirely in your browser, on a phone, tablet, or PC, with nothing to install and no signup. HippoSplit itself also runs in the browser, so a group can track shared expenses without anyone downloading an app.
Is this bill split calculator free?
Yes, completely free with no signup. It runs in your browser and nothing you enter is stored or sent anywhere. HippoSplit, the group expense app behind it, also has a free plan with unlimited expenses.
What is the best way to split bills with the same group regularly?
A calculator works for one bill, but for recurring groups an expense tracker saves the repeated math. HippoSplit keeps a running balance per group: add expenses by typing a message or posting a receipt photo in the group chat, and settle up with suggested payments whenever you like.