Split Bill Calculator
Split a bill between multiple people with itemised costs. Add people and items dynamically.
Source: MoneyHelper — Budget planner
By Konstantin Iakovlev · Founder, Calks.uk
Last updated: · Verified against HMRC and GOV.UK 2026/27 rates
People
Items
Total Bill
£50.00
Split 3 ways: £16.67 each
Alice
£16.67
Bob
£16.67
Charlie
£16.67
Disclaimer
This calculator is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial or tax advice. All calculations are performed locally in your browser — no personal data is collected or sent to our servers. Rates and thresholds are sourced from HMRC and GOV.UK and are updated for the current tax year. Always verify results with HMRC or consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.
How It Works
Splitting a restaurant bill equally is the quickest approach, but it can feel unfair if people ordered very differently. This calculator supports both equal and itemised splits. You can assign items to individuals and divide shared items like starters or bottles of wine between a subset of the group.
The calculator also handles a tip on top of the split. Choose whether to apply the tip before or after splitting, and set a custom percentage. For large groups, many UK restaurants add a service charge automatically — the calculator lets you include this instead of a separate tip.
UK restaurant tipping conventions. Restaurants with table service: 10-12.5% standard if service charge not added. Service charge added: usually 12.5%, sometimes 15% (London upscale). Cafés/counter service: tip jar optional. Service charge is OPTIONAL by UK law since 1980s — you can request removal for any reason. From October 2024, the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 requires employers to distribute 100% of tips to staff — no employer skim.
Splitting unevenly — drinkers vs non-drinkers. If group includes non-drinkers, even-splitting unfair when drinks are 30-50% of bill. Solutions: (1) Pay-your-own-drinks then split food evenly; (2) Add 30% more to drinkers' share; (3) Itemised split via Splitwise or Tricount app. Birthday convention UK: person celebrated traditionally doesn't pay — others split their share. Mixed orders (steak vs pasta): agree split convention BEFORE ordering, not at billing.
Business meals and tax. Sole traders/employees: meals during business travel away from normal workplace are deductible. Client entertaining: NOT deductible against Corporation Tax (UK rule since 1965 — unlike many countries). Staff entertaining (annual social events): deductible up to £150 per head per year (e.g. Christmas party). VAT recovery: blocked on client entertaining; recoverable on staff entertaining (subject to apportionment if mixed staff/clients).
Splitting with apps — UK options. Splitwise: most popular UK bill-split app, free tier sufficient for occasional use. Tricount: holiday-friendly, offline-capable. Settle Up: alternative with simpler UX. Monzo and Starling: built-in split-bill features (request money from contacts via app). Apple Pay/Google Pay 'Cash App'-style transfers: instant settle-up. Faster Payments: bank transfers settle within seconds 24/7 in UK. No need for cash — most UK groups settle digitally same evening.
Large group dining — automatic service charge. Many UK restaurants add automatic service charge for 8+ diners (sometimes 6+). Typically 12.5% (London 15%). Mandatory under most house policies for large bookings but legally still optional — you can request removal. Worst-case scenarios: ordered nothing but ended up paying split share of expensive bottles. Best practice: discuss budget BEFORE booking (£X per head cap); split-bill apps reduce friction; cash if needed for outliers (one big spender, one teetotaller).
Example: £120 bill for four people with 12.5% tip
- Bill total: £120.00
- Tip at 12.5%: £15.00
- Grand total: £135.00
- Per person (equal split): £33.75
Source: MoneyHelper — Budget planner
Frequently Asked Questions
- How to split a UK restaurant bill fairly.
- Even split: total / number of diners. UK convention varies — splitting evenly common among friends and colleagues; itemised splitting more common for couples and large mixed groups. Service charge: usually 10-12.5% added by restaurant (optional in UK by law since 1980s) — most groups include it in the even-split total. Tip on top: if no service added, 10-15% reasonable for satisfactory service. Cash tips go to staff directly (more reliable); card tips depend on restaurant 'tronc' policy.
- Splitting unevenly — drinkers vs non-drinkers.
- If group includes non-drinkers, even-splitting is unfair if drinks are 30-50% of bill. Common solutions: (1) Pay-your-own-drinks then split food evenly; (2) Add 30% more to drinkers' share; (3) Itemised split via Splitwise/Tricount apps. Birthday convention UK: usually the person being celebrated doesn't pay — others split their share. Awkward but common: ordering an expensive bottle of wine when others ordered house wine — speak up at ordering, not splitting.
- Tax-deductible business meals — UK rules.
- Sole traders/employees: meals during business travel away from normal workplace are deductible. Client entertaining: NOT deductible against Corporation Tax (UK has had this rule since 1965 — unlike many countries). Staff entertaining: annual social events deductible up to £150 per head per year (Christmas party). VAT recovery: blocked on client entertaining; recoverable on staff entertaining (subject to apportionment if mixed).
- Tipping conventions across the UK.
- Restaurants with table service: 10-12.5% tip standard if service not added. Service charge added: usually 12.5% (London 15% increasingly). Cafés/counter service: tip jar optional, round up if you wish. Taxis: round up to nearest £1 or 5-10%. Uber: 10-15% optional, in-app. Hair salons: 10%. Hotels: £1-£2 per bag for porters, £1-£3/night housekeeping (often skipped in UK vs US). Pubs: no tipping for drinks at bar; food meal tip 10% or service charge. Always check bill — service charge is optional, you can have it removed.