Introduction

We've all been there. The check arrives, everyone stares at it, and suddenly your friend group turns into amateur accountants arguing over who had the extra drink.

Splitting a bill shouldn't be this hard. But between shared appetizers, varying tax rates, and the eternal "how much should we tip?" debate, it often is.

In this guide, we'll cover the fairest methods to split a bill, when to use each one, and how technology can eliminate the awkwardness entirely.

Method 1: Split Evenly

Best for: Close friends with similar orders

The simplest approach: divide the total by the number of people. Everyone pays the same amount.

Pros:

• Fast and easy

• No itemized math required

Cons:

• Unfair if orders vary significantly

• The person who had water subsidizes the cocktails

When to use it: When everyone ordered roughly the same amount, or when you're with close friends who take turns treating each other.

Method 2: Pay for What You Ordered

Best for: Mixed groups, work dinners, or when orders vary widely

Each person pays for exactly what they consumed, plus their proportional share of tax and tip.

Pros:

• Completely fair

• No one overpays

Cons:

• Requires itemizing the receipt

• Math can get complicated with shared items

When to use it: When someone ordered significantly more (or less) than others, or when splitting with acquaintances.

Method 3: Use a Bill Splitting App

Best for: Any situation where you want speed AND fairness

Apps like Checkify let you snap a photo of the receipt, assign items to each person, and automatically calculate everyone's share—including tax and tip, split proportionally.

Pros:

• Fair AND fast

• Handles shared items easily

• Sends payment requests directly via Venmo

Cons:

• Requires downloading an app (but it's free!)

When to use it: Honestly? Every time.

How to Handle Tax and Tip

Here's where most people get it wrong: tax and tip should be split proportionally, not evenly.

If you ordered 30% of the food, you should pay 30% of the tax and tip. This is the only truly fair method.

Most bill splitting apps handle this automatically. If you're doing it manually:

1. Calculate each person's subtotal

1. Divide by the total subtotal to get their percentage

1. Multiply that percentage by tax and tip

1. Add it to their subtotal

Or just use Checkify and skip the spreadsheet.

The Shared Appetizer Problem

Ah, the table nachos. Everyone had some, but who pays?

Solution: Split shared items evenly among everyone who partook, then add that amount to each person's individual total.

In Checkify, you can assign one item to multiple people with a single tap—the app splits it automatically.

Conclusion

The best way to split a bill depends on your group and situation. But if you want fairness without the math headache, a bill splitting app is the way to go.

Download Checkify free and never argue over a check again.