Tip Pooling by Hours Calculator
Split a shared tip pool fairly by hours worked — each person earns a points-per-hour share of the total, not an equal cut.
How it works
Tip rate per hour = total pool ÷ total hours worked · Each share = individual hours × tip rate per hour
Hours-based tip pooling shares a common pool in proportion to time on the floor rather than splitting it evenly, so someone who worked a double is not paid the same as someone who left after two hours. You divide the pool by the sum of everyone’s hours to get a per-hour tip rate, then multiply each person’s hours by that rate. This is the most common and most defensible pooling method; weighted variants add role points (a bartender worth more per hour than a busser) on top of the same idea.
Worked example
A $1,200 pool is shared by three staff working 8, 6 and 5 hours — 19 hours in total. The rate is 1,200 ÷ 19 = $63.16 per hour, so they receive $505.26, $378.95 and $315.79 respectively, adding back to the full $1,200.
Frequently asked questions
Why split tips by hours instead of evenly?
An even split overpays short shifts and underpays long ones. Splitting by hours ties each person’s share to the time they actually contributed, which staff generally see as fairer and which holds up better if a distribution is ever questioned.
How do I weight roles differently?
Assign each role a point value per hour (say servers 1.0, bussers 0.6), multiply hours by points to get weighted hours, then divide the pool by total weighted hours. This calculator uses equal weighting; the same math extends to points.
Is tip pooling legal?
Rules vary by country and, in the US, by state and by whether a tip credit is taken — managers and owners generally cannot share in the pool. Treat this as a math tool and confirm the legal requirements for your jurisdiction before setting a policy.
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Educational estimate, not financial advice.