How the tip calculator works
Enter the pre-tax bill, sales-tax rate, tip percentage and number of people. The default method calculates the tip from the subtotal, but you can choose to include tax in the tip base.
tax = subtotal × taxRate
tip = tipBase × tipPercent
grandTotal = subtotal + tax + tip
perPerson = grandTotal ÷ peopleTip on subtotal vs subtotal plus tax
Tipping customs differ by place and personal preference. Selecting Tip on subtotal excludes sales tax from the gratuity base. Selecting Tip on subtotal + tax applies the percentage after tax.
Currency formatting
USD, EUR, GBP, CAD and AUD are supported for display. Changing the selector does not exchange or convert money; it only changes how the same numeric bill values are formatted.
Worked example
For a $100 subtotal, 10% tax, a 20% tip on the subtotal, and two people: tax is $10, tip is $20, the grand total is $130, and each person owes $65.
Practical limitation
The calculator assumes an even split. It does not allocate different menu items, tax rates or individual tip amounts among guests.
Frequently asked questions
Should I tip on the subtotal or after tax?
Practices vary. The calculator defaults to tipping on the pre-tax subtotal and also lets you choose subtotal plus tax so you can see either method.
Does changing currency convert the bill?
No. Currency selection changes number formatting only. BQ Calculator does not fetch exchange rates or convert between currencies.
How is the bill split?
The grand total is divided evenly by the number of people. The result also shows the tip per person separately.
Can I enter a custom tip percentage?
Yes. Use the percentage field for any value in the supported range or choose one of the quick buttons.
Does the calculator send the bill amount anywhere?
No calculator API is used. The calculation runs in your browser, and optional recent history is stored locally in your browser storage.