👥 Large Group Auto-Gratuity Checker

Many restaurants automatically add gratuity for large parties. Enter your bill, party size, and the restaurant's policy to see if the auto-gratuity already covers your desired tip.

How the top-up is worked out

The party size decides whether the charge applies at all, and the two percentages are then compared on the same bill figure:

auto-gratuity = party size >= threshold ? bill × (auto % / 100) : 0
extra to add  = max(0, bill × (desired % / 100) - auto-gratuity)

With the loaded figures - a $200 bill, eight people, an 18% charge from six people up, and a 20% intention - the restaurant adds $36.00, you meant to leave $40.00, so $4.00 goes on the extra line. Drop the party to five and the charge vanishes, leaving the whole $40.00 to you.

The extra never goes negative. If the automatic 18% beats the 15% you had in mind, the answer is $0.00 rather than a refund - a mandatory charge is not something you can reduce afterwards.

Which bill figure to type

There is one bill box and no tax field, so both percentages come off whatever you enter. Restaurants normally calculate the service charge on the pre-tax subtotal, so enter that. Put in the taxed total and the numbers stop matching the check: on a $200 subtotal with 8% tax, 18% of $216 is $38.88 against the $36.00 actually printed.

Look at the slip before you sign. A check that already includes gratuity usually still prints an empty tip line and a total, and writing another 20% there is how people tip 38% by accident.

Frequently asked questions

What party size triggers an automatic gratuity?

Six or eight is typical, and the figure is set by the restaurant rather than by law. It has to be disclosed in advance, so it will be printed on the menu or stated when you book; set the threshold box to whatever they use.

Do I have to tip extra when gratuity is included?

No. The included charge is the tip. Add more only if the service was worth more than the percentage they applied, which is exactly what the extra line here quantifies.

Is auto-gratuity charged before or after sales tax?

Almost always on the pre-tax subtotal, the same base as a voluntary tip. Some states also charge tax on the service charge itself, because a mandatory charge counts as part of the sale in a way a voluntary tip does not.