Tip Out Calculator
| Pool role | Typical share of server tips | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Bartender | 5-10% | some houses bar-tip on liquor sales instead |
| Busser / server assistant | 5-10% | often the largest single line |
| Food runner | 2-4% | merges with bussers in small houses |
| Host / hostess | 1-3% | some states bar hosts from pools - ask, don't assume |
| All-in total | 15-30% | house policy governs; FLSA caps nothing, but protects who gets in |
Use this at the end of a shift, when house policy takes a cut of your tips for the busser, bar and host pool: enter what you made, the tip-out rate your house runs, and how many people share the pool - the calculator shows what leaves, what each person gets, and what you actually keep.
Tip-out is where service pay gets opaque: the percentage is set by house policy, the split is rarely written down, and the legal floor surprises people - the FLSA lets employers run mandatory tip pools and sets no percentage cap, but draws a hard line at who may be in one. Nobody who can hire or fire takes from the pool, and neither does the house.
How to use
- Enter your tips for the shift - cash and card, the number on your closing report.
- Set the tip-out rate your house charges (of tips, not sales) and the size of the pool.
- Read the split: the per-person figure is what each pool member should see, and the keep number is yours.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I tip out?
Most houses run an all-in tip-out between 15% and 30% of the server's tips - commonly 5-10% to the bar, 5-10% to bussers, 2-4% to runners, 1-3% to hosts. The number that matters is your house policy, but if the all-in figure climbs past a third of your tips, the conversation is with the manager, not the pool.
Can my manager take from the tip pool?
No. Under the FLSA, an employer may not require an employee to give their tips to the employer, a supervisor, or a manager - and the DOL counts owners and officers with 20% or more equity as managers regardless of title. The only exceptions run through tight rules (like a service-charge system that is not tips at all); when in doubt, that money is recoverable.
Is tip-out supposed to be on tips or on sales?
Both models exist. A percentage of tips scales with how the shift actually went; a percentage of sales is predictable but can exceed your tips on a quiet small-bill night - that is how a server ends up paying to work. If your house tips out on sales, run both numbers and know your floor before you pick up a slow Tuesday.
What is the difference between a tip-out and a tip split?
A tip-out is one-directional: the server pays a share to support roles. A tip split divides a shared gratuity among a team that served together. Same math family, different direction - which is why this calculator and a tip-split tool are different questions.
Do credit card tips count in the tip-out?
They count, and they are the dispute magnet: card tips arrive reduced by the processor fee, and the FLSA lets the employer deduct only the actual transaction cost - not a flat estimated percentage. If your card tip-outs look lighter than the cash ones, ask for the fee schedule in writing.