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MasterMath

Tip Split Calculator

How to split a tip pool among the staff by hours worked and by points, and what each person takes home.

To split

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To split—
Average per hour worked—
People—
Hours added up—
If it were split evenly—
Who takes most—
Held back before the split—

Split

PersonHoursShareAmount

How this was worked out

    The formula

    amount = (hours × points) ÷ Σ(hours × points) × pool to split

    Where it comes from

    Splitting evenly is only fair if everyone worked the same, and in hospitality that almost never happens: there are full shifts, half shifts and weekend cover. Splitting by hours fixes that and is the most common approach. Points are the second layer: they exist to recognise responsibility or seniority, and they are a decision of the venue, not a rule a calculator can set. In some places front of house scores above the kitchen and in others the reverse, and both can be defended. What does matter is that they are written down and known in advance; a split explained afterwards always looks arbitrary.

    How to work it out by hand

    1. Hold back, if there is one, the share that goes to a common pot before the split
    2. Multiply each person’s hours by their points
    3. Add all those weights up
    4. Each person gets their weight divided by the total, times what is left of the pool

    What is worth knowing

    How tips are treated for tax and employment law varies enormously from one country to another: in some they are income the worker declares, in others they run through payroll, in others they are unregulated. This page splits, it does not advise on that. If the pool goes through the business, ask how it is declared before setting up the system.

    Frequently asked questions

    How do you split tips fairly?

    The most widely accepted way is by hours worked, with points if you want to recognise responsibility. What matters is that the criterion is known beforehand.

    Does the kitchen share in the tips?

    In many places yes, either with a percentage held back first or with points of their own. It is a decision of the venue; this page supports both.

    What are points?

    A weight that multiplies the hours. One is the baseline; 1.2 gives twenty per cent more per hour and 0.8 twenty per cent less.

    What if everyone has the same points?

    Then splitting by points and splitting by hours give exactly the same result, and the page says so.