How an itemized bill split works
An even split is fair when everyone ordered about the same. When one person had a salad and another had steak and wine, splitting the bill by item is fairer: each person pays for what they ordered, plus a share of anything the table shared, plus their part of the tax and tip. The itemized bill splitter does this from the restaurant receipt in three steps.
- Items. A dish one person ordered goes to that person. A shared dish is divided evenly between the people who shared it.
- Tax and tip. Each person pays the same share of the tax and the tip as their share of the items.
- Cents. The shares are rounded to whole cents so that they add up to the bill exactly.
A worked example
The calculator starts with this bill for three people: Burger $14.50, Pasta $16.00, Pizza to share $24.00, Bottle of wine $30.00, Lemonade $4.50. Alex had the burger, Sam the pasta, Jordan the lemonade. All three shared the pizza, and Alex and Sam shared the wine. The tax is 8% and the tip 18% of the items.
| Person | Items | Tax | Tip | Pays |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex | $37.50 | $3.00 | $6.75 | $47.25 |
| Sam | $39.00 | $3.12 | $7.02 | $49.14 |
| Jordan | $12.50 | $1.00 | $2.25 | $15.75 |
| Total | $89.00 | $7.12 | $16.02 | $112.14 |
Alex's items are the burger, a third of the pizza and half of the wine: $14.50 + $8.00 + $15.00 = $37.50. That is 42.1% of the $89.00 in items, so Alex also pays about that share of the $7.12 tax and the $16.02 tip.
Why the shares always add up to the cent
Splitting money exactly often leaves fractions of a cent. $10.00 shared by three is $3.33 and a third each, and rounding each share on its own gives $3.33 three times, one cent short of the bill. The calculator uses the largest remainder method instead: everyone first gets their share rounded down to the cent, then the cents that are left over go one by one to the shares with the largest fractions. When fractions are equal, the cent goes to someone who has not had an extra cent yet. The result is $3.34, $3.33 and $3.33, and the shares add up to exactly $10.00.
The same happens for the items, the tax and the tip, so every column of the split adds up, and so does the total. Currencies the calculator shows without decimals, such as the Japanese yen, are split into whole units.
Tips for splitting a check
- Copy the receipt line by line. Use the prices before tax as they appear on the receipt, and add the tax at the end as a rate or as the amount printed on the receipt.
- Check for a service charge. If the receipt already includes a service charge or gratuity, set the tip to 0 or enter only what you want to add on top.
- Tip before or after tax. Choose whether a percentage tip is worked out on the items before tax or on the total with tax. Our tip and split calculator compares both for an even split.
- Settle up in one go. Pick who paid the bill, and the result shows what everyone else owes that person. Copy it for the group chat, or send the link so everyone can check their share.
How to use the itemized bill splitter
- 1Add everyone at the table. Type a name for each person.
- 2Add each item with its price, then tap who had it. Tap Everyone for a dish the whole table shared.
- 3Enter the tax and the tip, as a percent or as an amount. Turn on rounding if you want whole amounts.
- 4Pick who paid, then copy the summary for your group chat or copy a link to the split.
Frequently asked questions
How do I split a bill by what everyone ordered?
List each item from the receipt with its price and mark who had it. A dish one person ordered goes to that person. A shared dish is divided evenly between the people who shared it. Tax and tip are then shared in proportion to each person's items. In the example bill, Alex's items come to $37.50 of $89.00, so Alex pays that same share of the tax and the tip.
Should tax and tip be split evenly or by what people ordered?
This calculator splits them by what people ordered: whoever had more food pays more of the tax and the tip, in the same proportion. If your group agrees to split the tip evenly instead, use the tip and split calculator for the tip and this one for the items.
Why does one person pay a cent more than another?
Amounts can only be paid in whole cents. $10.00 split 3 ways is $3.33 and a third of a cent each, so the 3 shares have to be $3.34, $3.33 and $3.33 to make exactly $10.00. The calculator gives each leftover cent to the share that was closest to rounding up and spreads them between people, so the shares always add up to the bill.
What does "Round up each share" do?
It rounds every person's share up to the next whole dollar (or euro, or pound), so nobody needs coins. The extra goes to the tip. In the example bill, rounding up adds $1.86 to the tip.
Can I split an item between only some people?
Yes. Under each item, tap the names of the people who shared it. Tap Everyone to select the whole table at once. The item is divided evenly between the people you select.
How does the share link work?
The link holds the whole bill: names, items, prices, tax and tip. Anyone who opens it sees the same split and can check their share. Nothing is stored on a server; the bill only exists in the link.
Is my data stored anywhere?
No. The calculation runs in your browser. Your bill only ends up in a link if you choose to copy one.