Tipping without awkward math

Bill, percent, party size — and when service charges already count.

A tip is usually a percent of the bill. Decide first whether you tip on the pre-tax subtotal or the total with tax — customs differ, and either is fine if your group agrees. Split by headcount only when everyone ordered roughly the same. If one person had drinks and another had a salad, tip on the full bill then settle differences in cash so the server is not shorted by uneven rounding. Read the receipt for an automatic service charge. Adding another full tip on top is generous only if you meant to do it. Delivery apps suggest their own defaults; treat those as starting points, not laws.