Tip Out Calculator
Figure out how much to tip out bussers, bartenders, hosts, and food runners. See each role's share and what you keep.
Tip Out Method
Total Tips Earned
Busser Tip Out %
Bartender Tip Out %
Host Tip Out %
Food Runner Tip Out %
Projections (5 shifts/week)
Track Every Tip, Every Shift
Log tips on the spot, check your hourly earnings, and let Server44 handle the tip out math for you.
Important Notes
- Projections assume 5 shifts per week and 4.33 weeks per month.
- Tip out policies vary by restaurant. Check your employer's specific guidelines.
- Under the FLSA, managers and supervisors cannot participate in tip pools.
How tip outs work: a guide for servers
A tip out is when servers share a percentage of their tips with support staff (bussers, bartenders, hosts, food runners) who helped during the shift. Most full-service restaurants require it, and the idea is simple: the people who cleared your tables, made your drinks, and ran your food helped you earn those tips, so they get a cut.
Tip pooling is different. In a tip pool, all tips go into one pot and get split up, usually by hours worked. Tipping out is one-directional: you give a set percentage of your tips (or sales) to each support role. The difference matters when it comes to tax reporting and how much you actually take home.
Tip out methods compared
Restaurants generally use one of two methods, and this calculator handles both:
- Percentage of tips: You give a percentage of the tips you earned to each support role. This is more straightforward and works in your favor on slow shifts when tips are lower. Most independently owned restaurants use this method.
- Percentage of sales: Your tip out is based on total sales, not what you actually received in tips. Since POS systems already track sales figures, there's a clear paper trail, and it removes any question about unreported cash tips. A lot of corporate chains go this route.
Some restaurants use a points-based system instead. A total tip pool gets divided by points assigned to each role. In a 10-point system, servers might get 6 points, bartenders 3, and bussers 1. If the pool is $500, each point is worth $50.
Standard tip out percentages by role
| Role | % of Tips (Low) | % of Tips (Typical) | % of Tips (High) | % of Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Busser | 5% | 10–15% | 20–30% | 1–2% |
| Bartender | 5% | 10–15% | 20% | 1–2% |
| Host | 0% | 3–5% | 10% | 0.5–1% |
| Food Runner | 3% | 5–10% | 15% | 0.5–1% |
| Barback | 0% | 5–10% | 15% | 0.5–1% |
| Expo | 0% | 3–5% | 10% | 0.5% |
| Total | 13% | 20–30% | 50%+ | 4–7% |
At most restaurants, the total tip out lands between 20–30% of tips. Fine dining skews higher because there are more support roles involved. Casual spots are usually on the lower end.
Example tip out amounts (% of tips)
| Total Tips | 15% Tip Out | 20% Tip Out | 25% Tip Out | 30% Tip Out | Take-Home (25%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $75 | $11.25 | $15.00 | $18.75 | $22.50 | $56.25 |
| $100 | $15.00 | $20.00 | $25.00 | $30.00 | $75.00 |
| $150 | $22.50 | $30.00 | $37.50 | $45.00 | $112.50 |
| $200 | $30.00 | $40.00 | $50.00 | $60.00 | $150.00 |
| $250 | $37.50 | $50.00 | $62.50 | $75.00 | $187.50 |
| $300 | $45.00 | $60.00 | $75.00 | $90.00 | $225.00 |
| $400 | $60.00 | $80.00 | $100.00 | $120.00 | $300.00 |
| $500 | $75.00 | $100.00 | $125.00 | $150.00 | $375.00 |
Tip out laws and FLSA rules
Under federal law (FLSA, 29 CFR Part 531, Subpart D), employers can require tip pooling among employees who "customarily and regularly" receive tips. The 2018 Consolidated Appropriations Act bars employers, managers, and supervisors from keeping any portion of employee tips. Violations can lead to back pay and liquidated damages.
A few things worth knowing:
- Tip credit: The FLSA lets employers pay tipped employees as little as $2.13/hour, using tips to cover the gap up to the $7.25 federal minimum. Seven states (California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Montana, Minnesota, Alaska) don't allow the tip credit at all.
- No federal cap: There's no federal limit on tip-out percentages, but a really high tip out could run into trouble under state-specific rules.
- Tax implications: All tips, including money you receive through tip outs, count as taxable income. The No Tax on Tips deduction (2025–2028) may lower your federal tax bill on tip income.
- IRS reporting: If you get $20 or more in tips in a month, you're required to report them to your employer. Your employer includes tip income on your W-2.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about restaurant tip outs and tip sharing
What is a tip out in a restaurant?
A tip out is when servers give a portion of their tips to support staff (bussers, bartenders, hosts, food runners) who helped during the shift. Most full-service restaurants require it so the people who helped you earn those tips get a share.
How much should I tip out my busser?
Bussers typically get 10–20% of a server's tips, or 1–2% of total sales. The exact number depends on the restaurant: fine dining usually runs higher, casual dining lower. Check your restaurant's specific policy.
Is tipping out legally required?
Under the FLSA, employers can require tip pooling among employees who "customarily and regularly" receive tips (servers, bartenders, bussers, hosts). Managers and supervisors can't participate. There's no federal cap on tip-out percentages, but some states have their own restrictions.
What is the difference between tip pooling and tipping out?
Tip pooling puts all tips into one shared fund and redistributes them, often equally or by hours worked. Tipping out is when individual servers give a set percentage of their own tips to support staff. Pooling goes both ways; tipping out only goes from server to support roles.
Should I tip out based on tips or sales?
Both are common. Tipping out on tips is more straightforward and works in your favor on slow nights. Tipping out on sales gives a clear paper trail since POS systems track sales automatically, and it removes any question about unreported cash. Many chain restaurants use the sales-based method.
What is a fair total tip out percentage?
Most restaurants fall in the 20–30% range (of total tips). If your tip out is above 30%, it's worth double-checking your restaurant's policy, because that's on the high side. Some upscale places with large support teams do hit 35%.
Can my employer force me to tip out?
Yes. The FLSA allows mandatory tip pooling or tip-out arrangements among regularly tipped employees. But the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 makes it illegal for employers, managers, or supervisors to keep any part of employee tips. Violations carry penalties.
Do I tip out on cash tips or just credit card tips?
You're expected to tip out on all tips, cash and credit card. Many restaurants base tip outs on POS sales data anyway, which sidesteps the issue. If your restaurant uses a percentage-of-sales method, it doesn't matter whether tips were cash or card, because the calculation is based on sales.