EveryManKnows
People and Etiquette

How to split a bill fairly with friends

To split a bill fairly, agree how before you order when the group is big or budgets differ: split evenly when everyone ordered about the same, pay for your own items when orders differ a lot, and always include tax and tip in each share. Ask the server for separate checks at the start if the restaurant allows it, and settle up the same day if one person pays.

About 5 minutes to learnEveryday skill

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How to do it

  1. Agree at the start whether you are splitting evenly or paying for your own orders.
  2. Ask the server for separate checks before ordering if the group wants them.
  3. Split evenly when orders are similar, and by item when they are not.
  4. Add each person's share of tax and tip, not just the menu prices.
  5. Let the person who ordered only a salad pay for only a salad.
  6. Settle up the same day if one person pays the whole bill.

Common mistakes

  • Proposing an even split after ordering the most expensive thing on the menu.
  • Forgetting tax and tip, so the payer is short.
  • Leaving a friend waiting weeks to be paid back.

Quick self-check

Three questions. Your last score is kept in this browser.

1. When is an even split fair?
2. What do people forget when paying for their own items?
3. One friend paid the whole bill. When do you pay them back?

Teach this to someone

A one-page sheet for showing a friend, a roommate or a kid: what to say, what to show, and one question to check it landed.

Last reviewed . First published .