Quick tables
Tip amounts on common bills, calculated on the amount before tax.
| Bill | 15 % | 18 % | 20 % |
|---|---|---|---|
| $20.00 | $3.00 | $3.60 | $4.00 |
| $40.00 | $6.00 | $7.20 | $8.00 |
| $60.00 | $9.00 | $10.80 | $12.00 |
| $80.00 | $12.00 | $14.40 | $16.00 |
| $100.00 | $15.00 | $18.00 | $20.00 |
| $150.00 | $22.50 | $27.00 | $30.00 |
Before or after tax?
Both are common. This page lets you choose.
Tipping on the pre-tax amount is what many people do, and it keeps the tip tied to the food and service rather than to a government rate.
Tipping on the total is simpler: take a percentage of the amount on the card machine. It costs a little more, roughly the tax rate times the tip percentage. At 13% tax and a 15% tip, about 2 cents per dollar of bill.
The Canada Revenue Agency says all tips and gratuities are taxable income for the person who receives them. That is the server’s side of things, not a cost to you.
A service charge the restaurant adds to your bill is different from a tip you choose. Check the receipt before adding a tip on top.
Frequently asked questions
Should I tip on the amount before or after tax?
Either is acceptable and customs differ. The calculator shows both; pick the basis that matches how you usually tip.
What is a typical tip in Canada?
There is no official rate. Many people tip 15 to 20 percent at a sit-down restaurant, and the quick buttons start there. Use whatever suits the service.
How is the tax rate chosen?
It starts from your province’s general combined GST, HST and PST or QST rate, from the CRA rate table. You can change it. Some provinces tax restaurant meals differently from other goods, so your receipt is the final word.
How does splitting work with uneven cents?
The total is divided as evenly as possible. When it does not divide exactly, a few people pay one cent more and the page tells you so, so the shares always add up to the total.
Are tips taxable?
For the person who receives them, yes. The CRA states that all tips and gratuities are taxable and must be reported.
Last updated
Related tools
Sources
How we check it
There is no official tipping rate, so tests compare the calculator with hand arithmetic on sample receipts (for example $50.00 at 13% tax and a 15% tip gives $64.00). They also check that split shares add back to the total to the cent.
Tax defaults come from the same CRA rate table used by our GST/HST calculator. Tax is rounded to the cent first, then the tip; both round half up.
Limits: the page cannot know how your restaurant taxed each item, or whether a service charge is already on the bill. Enter the tax rate shown on your receipt if it differs.