How the split is calculated
Each item is shared equally by the people ticked for it. Everyone's food total is the sum of their shares. GST, service charge and tip are then divided in proportion to those food totals, so the person who ordered more pays more of the tax. A discount comes off in the same proportion before tax.
Totals are worked out to the paisa and add up exactly to the bill. Where a paisa has to go one way or the other, it goes to the person with the larger share.
A worked example
Asha, Ravi and Kabir have dinner. The bill:
| Item | Price | Shared by |
|---|---|---|
| Paneer tikka masala | ₹420 | Asha |
| Chicken biryani | ₹380 | Ravi |
| Veg thali | ₹300 | Kabir |
| Starters | ₹360 | All three (₹120 each) |
| Mocktails | ₹240 | Ravi and Kabir (₹120 each) |
Food totals: Asha ₹540, Ravi ₹620, Kabir ₹540, which makes ₹1,700. GST at 5% is ₹85 and they leave a ₹170 tip, so the bill is ₹1,955.
Asha's food is 540/1,700 of the total, so she pays the same fraction of the GST (₹27) and of the tip (₹54): ₹621. Ravi pays ₹620 + ₹31 + ₹62 = ₹713. Kabir pays ₹621. That adds up to ₹1,955.
An equal split would have been ₹651.67 each: Asha and Kabir would each have paid about ₹31 more than their share, and Ravi about ₹61 less.
GST on restaurant bills
Most restaurant bills in India carry 5% GST. Some, such as restaurants in higher-end hotels, charge 18%. The rate is printed on the bill. If the menu prices already include tax, choose "Included / none".
Service charge is voluntary
Under the Central Consumer Protection Authority's 2022 guidelines, restaurants can't add a service charge automatically or make it a condition of service. You can ask for it to be taken off the bill. If you're happy to pay it, enter the percentage and it is shared like the GST.
When to just split it equally
If everyone had roughly the same, an equal split is faster and the difference is small. A good rule: if the most expensive and the cheapest share differ by less than the price of a coffee, split equally and move on. Use "Split equally" above, and round each share up to the nearest ₹10 if you're paying in cash. The guide to splitting a restaurant bill covers non-drinkers, late arrivals and tips in more detail.
Frequently asked questions
How do you split a bill with GST?
Add up what each person ordered, then share the GST in proportion to each person's food total. If someone's order is 30% of the bill, they pay 30% of the GST. The calculator does this for you.
Is service charge compulsory in Indian restaurants?
No. Under the Central Consumer Protection Authority's 2022 guidelines, service charge is voluntary: a restaurant cannot add it automatically, and you can ask for it to be removed. If you choose to pay it, enter it as a percentage and it is shared like the GST.
Should tax and tip be split equally or by what people ordered?
By what people ordered is fairer when orders are very different, and it is what the item-by-item mode does. When everyone had about the same, an equal split is quicker and the difference is a few rupees.
How do I split shared starters or a bottle of wine?
Add it as one item and tick only the people who shared it. Its price is divided equally among them, and everyone else pays nothing for it.
What if different people paid for different things?
This calculator splits one bill. For a trip or an evening where several people paid, create a free Ezysplit split: add every bill and who paid it, and it works out who owes whom in the fewest payments.
Is my data saved anywhere?
No. The calculator runs in your browser. Names and amounts are kept only on your device so they survive a refresh, and nothing is sent to Ezysplit.