Tip pool calculator
Split a tip pool by hours worked, by role points times hours, or evenly. Shares are rounded to the cent and always add up to the pool.
| Name | Role (points) | Hours | Share |
|---|
How tip pooling works
In a tip pool, the tips from a shift go into one pot that is shared by the people who worked it. The three common ways to divide it:
- By hours. Everyone gets the same amount per hour worked. Simple, and fair when everyone does similar work.
- By points × hours. Each role has points (server 1, busser 0.5, host 0.3, for example) and each person's hours are multiplied by their role's points. This is the most common way to reward front-of-house roles differently.
- Evenly. Everyone who worked gets the same share, whatever their hours. Used for short events and small teams.
Rounding to the cent
Divided shares rarely come out in whole cents. This calculator rounds everyone down, then gives the leftover cents one at a time to the people with the biggest remainders, so the shares always add up to exactly the pool. Sidework does the same.
Who can be in a pool
Which roles may share in a tip pool, and whether managers can, depends on federal, state and local law and on your employer's policy. This page does the arithmetic; it is not legal advice.