How to split a restaurant bill

You’ve had a great meal out. But then the bill arrives, and suddenly everyone is doing mental math or pulling up their phone calculator. Splitting a restaurant bill doesn't have to be awkward or unfair. The reality is that money can be a sensitive topic between friends, and not everyone is in the same financial situation. The best bill-splitting approach is one that feels fair to everyone at the table, not just the one that’s easiest to calculate.

Here are some common ways to do it, how to handle things fairly, and simple ways to settle up once you've figured out who owes what.

The 3 common ways to split a bill

Split evenly

Divide the total by the number of people and everyone pays the same amount. This is the fastest method, and it works well when everyone ordered roughly the same thing, such as a shared set menu or similarly priced entrees. It's not a great fit when orders vary a lot, since it means someone who had a salad and water could end up subsidizing someone who ordered a steak and multiple drinks.

Split by item

Each person pays for what they ordered, with tax and tip divided based on their share of the bill rather than split evenly. This is generally considered the fairest method, since nobody pays more than what they actually had. The tradeoff is that it takes more effort to calculate, especially for a large group or a long receipt. We’ll touch on how Venmo’s receipt picture function can help this process further down.

One card, then reimburse

One person pays the full bill upfront, then everyone else pays them back individually, often through providers like Venmo. This is convenient at the table, especially if the restaurant doesn't split payments, but it does mean someone has to do the math afterward and follow up if people forget to pay them back. Chasing friends for money can feel uncomfortable, even when it’s completely reasonable, which is part of why sending a Venmo request straight away tends to work better than leaving it to memory. And if you’d rather not front the bill at all, the Venmo Debit Card offers a useful alternative.

How to split fairly when orders are uneven

The tricky part of splitting by item is usually tax and tip. A fair approach is to divide them proportionally, based on each person's share of the subtotal, rather than splitting them evenly across the group. For example, if your order made up 30 percent of the subtotal, you'd also cover roughly 30 percent of the tax and tip. This keeps things fair and even when one person ordered significantly more or less than everyone else. It can take a little more effort, but it’s often worth it, especially if you know someone in the group is trying to save money and might feel too awkward to say anything.

Handling different dining scenarios

• Shared appetizers or a bottle of wine: agree upfront on who is splitting shared items, then divide those separately from individual orders
• Someone ate significantly less: it's reasonable for that person to pay less, especially in a smaller group, rather than defaulting to an even split
• Large groups: an even split is often more practical for big tables, but it's worth asking upfront whether everyone is comfortable with that before the bill arrives
• Someone left early: settle up what they owe before they go, rather than trying to track it down later
• Someone is on a tight budget: not everyone is in the same financial position, and that is okay. Splitting by item rather than evenly can take the pressure off without anyone having to say anything. A quick check-in before ordering, like agreeing on a rough budget for the meal, can make the whole evening more enjoyable and comfortable for everyone.

A simple way to split and get paid

Venmo makes settling up after a meal simple: whoever paid can request the rest of the group for their share directly in the app, with a note explaining what it's for.

If fronting the cost of a group dinner on one card feels uncomfortable (which, for a lot of people, it can be) the Venmo Debit Card offers another approach. Put the Venmo Debit Card down at a restaurant, and your friends can Venmo you their share before you pay, so you know the balance is there to cover it. If you choose to settle up after the meal instead, the transaction shows up directly in Venmo, where you can split it evenly or adjust each person’s amount with a tap.

Similarly, if you prefer to pay with credit, the Venmo Credit Card makes splitting just as straightforward. Tap any pending or completed restaurant transaction in the app to split it with friends, and earn cash back on the purchase while you’re at it.

Venmo is also rolling out a receipt scanning feature that takes the effort out of splitting by item. Snap a photo of the receipt and Venmo itemizes it automatically. Everyone pays for exactly what they ordered, with tax and tip already worked out, and you can start a Venmo group with the same people for next time. And if you're paying with the Venmo Credit Card, there's an added bonus: earn 3% cash back on restaurant purchases, plus an extra 1% when a friend pays you back after a split.