Kalkulo

Bill split calculator

Split a restaurant bill evenly among friends or flatmates, including any discretionary service charge.

Result
£30 / person
Total paid : £120

About this tool

Why use this tool

Splitting the bill with friends, flatmates or workmates is a common British ritual — from a Sunday roast at the pub to a shared holiday in Cornwall. This calculator instantly divides the total, factoring in an optional service charge on top. Since the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 (in force October 2024), service charges added to restaurant bills go 100% to staff, so understanding what's on your bill matters more than ever.

How it works

Per-person share = (Bill + Service charge) / Number of people. In the UK, restaurants often add a "discretionary service charge" of 10-12.5% to bills for groups of 6+; this is optional and can be politely removed. Faster Payments (introduced 2008 by the Bank of England) settle sterling transfers within seconds between all major UK banks — no fees, no waiting. Apps like Monzo, Starling, Splitwise and Revolut make sharing effortless.

Real example

Sunday roast for 5 at a Manchester gastropub: bill £142, 12.5% discretionary service (£17.75). Grand total: £159.75. Per person: £31.95. For a group Airbnb weekend in the Lake District for 6 (£420 accommodation + £180 groceries + £75 fuel): £112.50 each. For a £280 leaving gift for a colleague, split 14 ways: £20 per person.

Practical tips

Agree the split method upfront: equal share, or itemised. British etiquette leans toward equal splits among friends unless someone abstains from alcohol. Use Monzo's built-in "Split the bill" feature: request payment from group chat contacts in one tap. HMRC treats casual reimbursements between friends as gifts (not taxable). Under Faster Payments, transfers up to £1 million clear instantly across all UK banks. For flatmates with recurring shared bills (rent, energy, broadband), Splitwise or the Monzo Shared Tab keeps everyone honest.

Disclaimer

This calculator performs an equal split. It doesn't itemise per-person consumption or handle currency conversion for group holidays abroad. Service charge policies vary by venue; you always have the right to ask for it to be removed. For structured expense tracking, use Splitwise or your bank's dedicated feature. Not affiliated with HMRC, the FCA or any payment provider.

Frequently asked questions

Is it fairer to split a bill evenly or based on what each person ordered?⌄
British etiquette generally leans toward an even split among close friends, especially for casual meals, though it's common courtesy to itemise separately if someone skipped alcohol or ordered a much cheaper dish. Agreeing the method before you order avoids an awkward conversation once the bill arrives.
Does the service charge on a UK bill actually reach the staff now?⌄
Yes. Since the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 came into force on 1 October 2024, employers must pass on 100% of tips, gratuities and discretionary service charges to workers, fairly and without deductions. Before this law, some venues kept a portion of service charges, so this is a meaningful change for diners who want their tip to reach staff.
Can a UK restaurant split the bill across several cards?⌄
Many can, though it varies more by venue than in the US — some smaller independent restaurants and busy city-centre spots prefer one card holder to pay and have the group settle up afterwards via bank transfer or an app. It's worth asking when you order if splitting several ways matters to your group.
What's the easiest way for the group to pay back whoever covered the bill?⌄
A Faster Payments bank transfer settles within seconds between all major UK banks with no fee, making it the standard choice for splitting bills. Apps like Monzo and Starling also have a built-in 'split the bill' feature that sends a payment request straight from a group chat, which is quicker than typing in sort codes manually.
How should we handle one person's separate order, like a food allergy substitution?⌄
The simplest approach is to deduct that person's dish from the total first, split the remaining bill evenly among the group, then add their dish back onto their individual share. This keeps the maths simple while still being fair to someone whose order genuinely differed from everyone else's.

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