How the receipt scanner works
Tap Take a photo on your phone, or upload a picture of the receipt. The text is read right in your browser, so the image never leaves your device. The calculator then looks for the lines that matter:
- Subtotal, tax and total, so the tip is worked out on the pre-tax amount.
- Gratuity or a service charge already added. Many restaurants add 18 to 20% for larger parties. If the scanner finds one, it tells you and sets the tip to zero so you don't tip twice.
- The name and type of place, to pick the right custom: a bar tab, a coffee counter and a sit-down dinner all have different norms.
- The state from the address, if it is printed.
Scanning is never perfect on crumpled or faded receipts, so always check the numbers it fills in. Printed "suggested tip" tables at the bottom of a receipt are ignored, since many are calculated on the after-tax total.
Where the suggested tip comes from
The suggestion starts from the customary range for the type of place and the country, then moves within that range based on how you rated the service. In the U.S. these are the usual ranges:
| Type of place | Customary tip |
|---|---|
| Sit-down restaurant | 18 to 22% |
| Bar or pub | 15 to 20%, or $1 to $2 a drink |
| Food delivery | 15 to 20%, at least $3 to $5 |
| Taxi or rideshare | 15 to 20% |
| Hair salon or barber | 15 to 25% |
| Spa, massage, nails | 15 to 20% |
| Buffet | About 10% |
| Coffee shop, counter, takeout | Optional, up to 10 to 15% |
Community averages come from people who press "Share my tip anonymously". Only the type of place, country, state and percentage are stored. An average appears once at least five tips have been shared for that kind of place, so early on you may see a note that there is not enough data yet.
The AI advisor is optional. When you press the button, the text read from your receipt and your selections are sent to an AI model, which weighs the receipt details, local custom and the community average, and explains its suggestion in a sentence or two. It is a second opinion, not a rule. The tip is always your call.
Tipping outside the U.S.
Choose a country and the advice changes. In Japan, China and South Korea tipping is not customary. In France, Italy and Brazil service is normally already in the bill. In the UK a 12.5% service charge is often added automatically. In Canada and Mexico customs are close to the U.S.
The math
Example: an $84.50 bill with $7.39 tax and a 20% tip is $16.90 in tip and $108.79 in total, or $54.40 each for two people.
Frequently asked questions
Should I tip on the amount before or after tax?
Etiquette guides say to tip on the pre-tax subtotal, which is what this calculator does. Tipping on the full total is also fine and simply a little more generous.
Is my receipt photo uploaded anywhere?
No. The photo is read by software running in your own browser, and the image never leaves your device. Only if you press "Ask the AI advisor" is the receipt text (not the photo) sent to produce a suggestion.
What if gratuity is already included?
Then you do not need to tip again. Look for lines such as "gratuity", "service charge" or "auto grat". The scanner flags these when it finds them and sets the tip to zero. You can still add extra for great service.
How much do you tip for takeout or at a coffee shop?
It is optional. Many people leave nothing or round up for a simple pickup, and around 10% or a dollar or two when someone prepared a custom order.
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