How the tip calculator works
Type in the bill, choose a tip percentage and enter how many people are paying. The calculator works out the tip, adds it to the bill and divides the total evenly. If you'd rather not deal in pennies, choose a rounding option: round each person's share up to the next pound, or round the whole bill up. The "actual tip rate" shows what percentage you end up leaving once the rounding is done.
Each person pays = (bill + tip) ÷ number of people
Worked example
Three of you have an £84 meal and want to leave 12.5%. The tip is £84 × 0.125 = £10.50, so the total is £94.50 and each person pays £31.50. Round each share up to £32 and the total becomes £96, which is a tip of £12, or 14.29% of the bill.
How much to tip in the UK
Tipping in the UK is always optional, and it's more modest than in the US. These are typical amounts, based on the guidance Visit London gives visitors:
| Where | Usual tip |
|---|---|
| Restaurant with table service, no service charge | 10% to 15% |
| Restaurant that adds a service charge | Nothing extra (the charge is usually 12.5%) |
| Pub or bar | Not expected |
| Taxi | Round up to the nearest pound, or 5% to 10% |
| Hotel porter | £1 to £2 a bag |
| Hotel housekeeping | £1 to £5 a night, if you choose to |
Outside these, there's no set rule. If the service was poor, you don't have to tip at all.
Service charge vs tip
Many restaurants, particularly in London and for larger groups, add a discretionary service charge to the bill, usually 12.5%. This is a tip in all but name, so check the bill before adding more, or you'll tip twice. Because it's discretionary, you can ask for it to be removed if you weren't happy. Tick the service charge box in the calculator to see the split without an extra tip.
Do staff get the tips? The 2024 tips law
The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 came into force on 1 October 2024. It applies to tips, gratuities and service charges that an employer receives or controls, including those paid by card. Under the law and its statutory code of practice, employers must:
- pass on all tips to workers in full, with no deductions other than tax required by law, so no admin or card-processing fees
- share them fairly between workers, including agency workers
- pay them out by the end of the month after the tip was received
- have a written tipping policy available to staff where tips are paid more than occasionally
- keep records of how tips were handled for three years, which workers can ask to see
Cash tips handed straight to a member of staff that the employer has nothing to do with are outside the Act, and that worker keeps them. If you want to be sure your tip reaches the person who served you, cash is still the most direct way, but card tips are now protected too.
Quick tip amounts
| Bill | 10% | 12.5% | 15% |
|---|---|---|---|
| £20 | £2 | £2.50 | £3 |
| £50 | £5 | £6.25 | £7.50 |
| £80 | £8 | £10 | £12 |
| £120 | £12 | £15 | £18 |
Splitting a bill where people ordered different things? The split bill calculator divides it by what each person had. For any other percentage, use the percentage calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much should you tip in a UK restaurant?
10% to 15% is usual for table service when there's no service charge on the bill. If the restaurant has already added a service charge, typically 12.5%, you don't need to tip on top.
Is service charge compulsory in the UK?
No. A service charge is discretionary, so you can ask for it to be removed if you weren't happy with the service. It's a tip, so you don't need to leave another one as well.
Do restaurants have to give tips to staff?
Yes. Since 1 October 2024, the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 means employers must pass on all tips and service charges they receive or control to workers in full, without deductions apart from tax, and share them fairly.
How do I work out a 12.5% tip?
Multiply the bill by 0.125, or find 10% and add a quarter of that again. A 12.5% tip on £64 is £8.
Do you tip in pubs in the UK?
It isn't expected when you order at the bar. Bar staff may leave a tray out for change, but leaving anything is up to you.
Last reviewed October 2026 using 2026/27 figures. This calculator gives an estimate for guidance only.