Per-person breakdown: $400 bill ÷ 5 people
| Tip % | Tip Amount | Total Bill | Per Person (5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $40.00 | $440.00 | $88.00 |
| 15% | $60.00 | $460.00 | $92.00 |
| 18% | $72.00 | $472.00 | $94.40 |
| 20% | $80.00 | $480.00 | $96.00 |
| 25% | $100.00 | $500.00 | $100.00 |
At 20% tip split 5 ways, everyone pays $96. Round up to $100 each and you've given your server a 25% tip — and nobody needs to do any math. This is the simplest approach for a group of 5, and the extra $4 per person buys goodwill with everyone at the table.
When even splits don't feel fair
A $400 bill for 5 people means an average spend of $80 per person before tip. But in reality, orders are almost never equal. One person had two cocktails and a steak ($110), another had pasta and water ($45). Splitting evenly means the pasta person is subsidizing the steak person's dinner.
There are three approaches that work without creating awkwardness:
📊 Fair split methods for unequal orders
Method 3 is the social sweet spot. The person who ordered the $35 cocktails throws in an extra $15-$20, and the rest split evenly. Nobody needs to audit the receipt, and the person who spent more acknowledges it without being asked. If you want to avoid this entirely, Method 1 — asking for separate checks before ordering — eliminates the issue completely.
$400 bills: where they typically happen
A $400 tab for 5 people is $80/person average before tip. This is firmly in the mid-range restaurant territory — think a nice dinner with appetizers, entrees, and a few drinks. Not fine dining, not casual. It's the price range where tipping matters most because servers at these establishments depend heavily on tips for their income.
At this price point, 18-20% is the expected tip range. Going below 15% at a full-service restaurant where you were served for 1-2 hours is generally considered poor etiquette — regardless of how the $400 is split among the group.
For other bill sizes, the $300 ÷ 4 guide and $500 ÷ 6 guide cover nearby scenarios. The large group tipping guide covers situations with 8+ diners. And the general tipping guide addresses etiquette across all service types.
For restaurant industry tipping data, the National Restaurant Association publishes annual trends. DOL tipped worker regulations explain the legal framework behind tip-dependent wages.
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