Free tool for restaurant and bar managers
Restaurant tip pool split calculator
Share = tip pool × (hours × points) ÷ total hours × points of everyone in the pool. In the example, a $1,200 pool is shared by two servers (8 and 6 hours, 3 points), a bartender (7 hours, 2 points), a busser (6 hours, 1 point) and a host (4 hours, 1 point). That is 24 + 18 + 14 + 6 + 4 = 66 point-hours, so one point-hour is worth $18.18 and the shares are $436.36, $327.27, $254.55, $109.09 and $72.73.
Last updated 2026-11-12.
- Value of one point-hour
- Total point-hours (hours × points)
- Total paid out
Check the inputs: a pool above 0, no negative hours or points, and at least one person with hours and points above 0.
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Example scenarios
Three sets of example inputs worked through the same formulas as the calculator above. They are illustrations, not averages or statistics.
| Scenario | Inputs | Total point-hours | Value per point-hour | Largest share | Smallest share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | $400 pool; 6 h × 2, 5 h × 2, 4 h × 1 | 26 | $15.38 | $184.62 | $61.54 |
| Typical | $1,200 pool; 8 h × 3, 6 h × 3, 7 h × 2, 6 h × 1, 4 h × 1 | 66 | $18.18 | $436.36 | $72.73 |
| High | $3,000 pool; 9 h × 3, 9 h × 3, 8 h × 3, 8 h × 2, 7 h × 1, 6 h × 1 | 107 | $28.04 | $757.01 | $168.22 |
Method: Each person's units = hours × points; value of one point-hour = tip pool ÷ total units; share = units × that value; per hour = share ÷ hours. Rows with 0 hours or 0 points get nothing. Figures checked against the same formulas on 2026-11-12.
How the calculator works
Each person in the pool gets points for their role, for example 3 for servers, 2 for bartenders and 1 for support staff, and the hours they worked. Hours × points are their units. The pool divided by everyone's units is the value of one point-hour; each share is that value times the person's units.
Give everyone the same points to split by hours only. Rows with 0 hours or 0 points get nothing, and the per-hour column shows what each share comes to for each hour worked.
Worked example
A $1,200 pool: two servers with 3 points worked 8 and 6 hours (24 and 18 units), a bartender with 2 points worked 7 hours (14), a busser with 1 point worked 6 hours (6) and a host with 1 point worked 4 hours (4). Together that is 66 point-hours.
One point-hour is worth $1,200 ÷ 66 = $18.18. The servers get $436.36 and $327.27, the bartender $254.55, the busser $109.09 and the host $72.73, which adds up to $1,200. Rounded to cents, shares can be a cent off the pool; settle the difference by hand.
Tip pool rules and caveats
Who may share in a tip pool is regulated. Under the US Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), employers, including managers and supervisors, may not keep any part of employees' tips, and if the employer takes a tip credit the pool may only include customarily tipped staff. Many states and other countries add their own rules.
Check your local law and your written tip policy before using a point scale. This calculator is an estimate, not legal advice.
What this tool does not do
It splits one pool for up to 6 people. It does not handle card fees, tip-outs by sales, taxes or payroll, and it keeps nothing after you close the page.
Questions
How do I split tips by hours only?
Give every row the same points, for example 1. The shares are then proportional to hours.
Can managers be in the tip pool?
Under the US FLSA, managers and supervisors may not keep employees' tips; local laws differ, so check yours before including anyone in a supervising role.
Does this page store my numbers?
No. The math runs in your browser; nothing is sent or saved.
Made by Bardach Technologies. We also make Larderly, a separate food cost sheet for Excel and Google Sheets that works out the food cost of every dish, plus a weekly stock count (USD 29.99, instant download on Gumroad). Larderly does not split tips or run tip pools. This calculator is free and needs no sign-up; nothing is charged on this page. Get Larderly on Gumroad (USD 29.99)