Tip pool calculator
Last checked against official sources: (govinfo.gov; ecfr.gov; ecfr.gov; dol.gov; dir.ca.gov; dir.ca.gov; law.cornell.edu; law.cornell.edu; ecfr.gov)
Enter the tip total and staff rows below. Choose hours, points, or hours × points weighting, exclude roles that should not share, and review cents-exact payouts with the remainder rule shown.
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Federal tip pooling: 29 U.S.C. 203(m)(2)(B) · 29 CFR 531.54 · DOL Fact Sheet #15. Under federal law (FLSA), managers and supervisors are excluded from the pool split; owners with a 20% or larger stake who actively manage are excluded under 29 CFR 531.52(b)(2) and the 20% equity threshold in 29 CFR 541.101. New York hospitality tip sharing and pooling: 12 NYCRR 146-2.16. Optional split-shift premiums cite California 8 CCR 11050 §4(C), DIR split-shift FAQ, and New York spread-of-hours under 12 NYCRR 146-1.6. Sources fetched 11 November 2026. Not legal advice.
Under federal law (FLSA), managers and supervisors are excluded from the tip split; owners with a 20% or larger stake who actively manage the business are also excluded (29 U.S.C. 203(m)(2)(B); 29 CFR 531.52(b)(2)).
Tip pool inputs
Uncheck “In pool” to exclude a role (for example cooks or hosts) from sharing. This tool does not apply tip-credit or minimum-wage tests—confirm pool eligibility with payroll counsel.
Pool summary
- Total pool
- $500.00
- Distributed to pool
- $500.00
- Combined weight
- 84
Employees
Employees
| Name | Role | Hours | Points | In pool | Split shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payout table
| Name | Role | Weight | Tips | Split premium | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex | Server | 32 | $190.47 | $0.00 | $190.47 |
| Jordan | Bartender | 28 | $166.67(+1¢ rem.) | $0.00 | $166.67 |
| Riley | Busser | 24 | $142.86(+1¢ rem.) | $0.00 | $142.86 |
Remainder rule: Leftover pennies after flooring each share go to employees with the largest fractional shares; ties break in row order (top to bottom).
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FAQ
- How do you split tips in a pool?
- Add each employee’s weight (hours, points, or hours × points), divide each weight by the team total, and multiply by the tip pool. This tool floors each share to cents, then assigns leftover pennies to the largest fractional shares.
- Can managers be in a tip pool?
- Under the FLSA, employers may not require employees to share tips with managers or supervisors, and managers generally may not keep pooled tips (29 CFR 531.54). Confirm state rules with qualified counsel.
- Does this calculator apply tip credit or minimum wage?
- No. It only divides the tip dollar amount you enter. Tip credit, minimum wage make-up, and who may join the pool depend on federal and state law and your pay setup.
How this calculator works
A tip pool calculator splits a declared tip total among staff using hours, job points, or hours multiplied by points. Enter the pool amount, pick a method, list each employee with hours and points, and uncheck “In pool” for roles you want excluded (for example a host who does not share, or a manager who must not receive pooled tips under federal rules).
Under the FLSA, employers may not keep tips and may not require tipped employees to share with managers or supervisors (29 CFR 531.54(b)). When an employer takes a tip credit, mandatory pools are limited to employees who customarily and regularly receive tips; when the house pays full minimum wage, pools may include non-tipped roles such as cooks (DOL Fact Sheet #15). HourPunch does not decide eligibility—confirm policy with payroll counsel.
Money is tracked in cents. Each employee's share is the pool times their weight divided by total weight; shares are floored to whole cents, then leftover pennies after flooring each share go to employees with the largest fractional shares; ties break in row order (top to bottom). The payout table shows any extra pennies received from that remainder step.
Worked example
$500 in tips, pool by hours. Alex worked 30 hours and Jordan 20 hours (50 total). Alex gets 500 × (30 ÷ 50) = $300.00; Jordan gets $200.00. If the pool were $100.01 instead, flooring would leave one cent; the row with the larger fractional share receives the extra penny.
| Input or result | Example |
|---|---|
| Alex (30 h) | $300.00 tips |
| Jordan (20 h) | $200.00 tips |
| Total distributed | $500.00 |
Split-shift premiums (optional)
Only California and New York rules with official sources are offered here. California's split-shift premium (DIR split-shift FAQ) compares minimum wage for hours worked plus one extra minimum-wage hour against actual wages when an employer-established split shift applies. New York hospitality spread-of-hours pay adds one hour at the basic minimum wage when the workday span exceeds ten hours. Other states are not listed because this page has no verified citation for them.
Split-shift premiums are separate from tip pool shares—they appear in the payout table but are not taken from the tip total you enter. Export CSV or print the summary for payroll review; nothing leaves your browser unless you save or share the file.
Restaurant teams also use the restaurant shift timesheet template for hours and declared tips on shift logs.
People also ask
- What is the tip pool remainder rule?
- Each share is floored to whole cents; leftover pennies go to employees with the largest fractional shares, with ties broken in table order.
- Can cooks be in a tip pool?
- When all workers receive at least the full federal minimum wage in cash and the employer takes no tip credit, the FLSA allows mandatory pools that include non-tipped employees such as cooks (DOL Fact Sheet #15). State law may differ.
- Which split-shift rules are in this tool?
- Only California split-shift premium and New York hospitality spread-of-hours premium, each tied to official sources. Other states are not shown without a verified citation.
Totals shown here are estimates for checking a pay stub or time sheet. They are not official payroll, tax, or legal advice.