100% Free

Free Tip Pooling Calculator & Restaurant Tip Pool Software

Enter shift totals, pick a method (hours, points, or %) and get each person's share instantly. Six split methods, state compliance checks and CSV export — no signup, no spreadsheet, no monthly fee.

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Free tip pooling calculator showing per-person tip distribution results

A Real Tip Pool Tool — Not Another Spreadsheet

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Split by Hours, Points, or %

Hours-weighted, points-based, hybrid (points × hours), percentage tip-outs, percentage of sales and equal split. Six methods — pick the one your house uses.

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Per-Person Breakdown in Seconds

Enter cash, card and auto-grat totals, see each person's share immediately. No formulas to maintain, no broken cells.

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State Compliance Warnings

Built-in checks for 20 US states covering manager exclusion, tip-credit eligibility, back-of-house inclusion and credit-card fee deduction.

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Credit Card Fee Deductions

Optionally deduct processing fees before splitting. Configurable rates with warnings if your state restricts the practice.

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CSV Export for Payroll

Download every distribution as a CSV — opens in Excel, Google Sheets, Toast Payroll, Gusto, ADP. End-of-shift records in one click.

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Your Data Stays on Your Device

No signup, no server, no subscription. Employee names and tip data never leave your browser. Works offline after first load.

See It in Action

Six Tip Pool Methods — Pick the One Your House Uses

Select hours-weighted, points-based, hybrid or any of six methods. Enter the shift's cash and card totals. The calculator splits the pool instantly with a per-person breakdown.

  • Hours-weighted: divides tips proportional to time worked
  • Points-based: assign point values per role (Server 10, Busser 5, Host 3…)
  • Hybrid: points × hours for nuanced splits
  • Percentage tip-outs: traditional server-to-support-staff splits
  • Percentage of sales: when tip share is based on sales rung up
  • Equal split: same amount for everyone on the shift
Pool configuration showing six different distribution methods

State Rule Checks — Built In

The calculator flags common regulatory issues based on publicly available state labor rules. Manager exclusion, tip-credit eligibility, back-of-house inclusion and minimum-wage shortfall are checked automatically. This is a reference tool, not a substitute for an employment attorney.

  • 20 states covered: CA, NY, TX, FL, WA, OR, NV, AZ, CO, MA, IL, PA, OH, GA, NC, MI, NJ, VA, TN, MO
  • Manager exclusion verification
  • Tip-credit eligibility per state
  • Minimum-wage shortfall warnings
  • Back-of-house inclusion rules
Compliance check results showing passed and warning statuses

Set Up Staff Once, Reuse Every Shift, Export to Payroll

Add employees with their roles, hourly rates and pool participation settings. The roster saves in your browser — no account needed. Approve each distribution and export the CSV straight to payroll or end-of-shift records.

  • Role-based point values (Server, Bartender, Busser, Host, Runner, BOH…)
  • Track tip-credit eligibility per employee
  • Support for dual-role shifts
  • Save approved distributions for your records
  • Download CSV for Excel, Sheets, Toast, Gusto or ADP
Employee management interface with role assignments

Tip Pooling FAQ

The hours-weighted method is the most common: divide total tips by total hours worked, then multiply by each person's hours.

Example: a $500 pool with 20 total hours = $25 per hour. A server who worked 6 hours gets 6 × $25 = $150. A bartender at 4 hours gets $100. A busser at 2 hours gets $50. The calculator above runs this for you — pick "Hours-Weighted", enter each person's hours and the totals, and read the per-person amounts.
Six methods: Hours-Weighted (tips divided by hours worked), Points-Based (role-weighted), Points × Hours Hybrid (combines both), Percentage Tip-Out (traditional server-to-support), Percentage of Sales (sales-based) and Equal Split. Most casual restaurants use Hours-Weighted; fine dining and bars typically use Points-Based or Hybrid.
A spreadsheet works once. Then somebody changes a formula, a row is deleted, or a new server joins and the math silently breaks.

This calculator: saves your staff roster (add once, reuse every shift), checks state compliance rules automatically, supports six methods with one click, downloads a CSV you can still open in Excel/Google Sheets, and can't be broken by a stray edit because the formulas live in code, not in a cell.
Paid platforms cost $30–$150 per location per month and bundle scheduling, payroll integration and direct tip payout to debit cards. If you need those integrations — daily payout to staff, automatic payroll sync, multi-location dashboards — paid software is worth it.

If you just need the split math, compliance checks and a CSV for payroll, this calculator does the same job for $0. Many small restaurants use the calculator for shift-by-shift splits and only move to paid platforms when staff count or location count grows.
Yes, under federal law (FLSA). Since 2018, employers who pay the full minimum wage (no tip credit) can include back-of-house staff in the pool. Rules vary by state — California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Montana, Minnesota and Alaska ban tip credits entirely. The calculator flags common issues but always confirm with a labor attorney for your specific situation. See DOL Fact Sheet #15 for federal rules.
Each role gets a point value — for example Server = 10, Bartender = 10, Busser = 5, Host = 3, Runner = 4. The total pool is divided by total points, then each employee gets their role's points × the per-point value. It's common where different roles contribute differently to service. Some houses combine points with hours (the Hybrid method) so a busser who worked 8 hours gets more than one who worked 4.
Some states allow it, some don't. The calculator lets you set a fee percentage and warns you if your selected state restricts the practice. Even where allowed, the deduction must be proportional and cannot exceed the actual fee charged by the processor (typically 2.5–3.5 %). California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana and a handful of others do not allow any deduction.
Yes. The same methods apply across hospitality:
• Restaurants: hours-weighted or points-based, with optional tip-outs to BOH
• Hotels: percentage of tips with separate pools for F&B vs. housekeeping
• Bars: points-based (bartender 10, barback 5) or hybrid
• Coffee shops: equal split or hours-weighted
Add custom roles in the employee manager — the calculator does not care whether you call someone "barista" or "server".
Yes. Each distribution can be downloaded as a CSV with employee name, role, hours, tips contributed, tip-outs and net tips. The CSV opens cleanly in Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers and any payroll system that imports CSV (Gusto, ADP, Toast Payroll, QuickBooks, Square).
State rules are based on publicly available labor-law summaries reviewed in January 2025. Labor law changes frequently — the database is updated periodically, but this tool is a starting point, not legal advice. When in doubt, check your state's Department of Labor website or consult an employment attorney.
No. Everything runs in your browser using local storage (IndexedDB). Employee names, rates and tip data never leave your device. There is no account, no cloud sync, no telemetry. Works offline after the first page load.
Puida Oy builds free professional tools for restaurants and small businesses. This calculator was developed with input from restaurant managers and reviewed against published DOL guidance. Questions or feedback? Email hello@puida.com.

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