A tip pool splits gratuities fairly by hours worked — each person’s share is their hours over total hours, times the pool. One formula distributes the night’s tips proportionally.
The example
$600 pool, one worker 8 of 40 hours.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Item | Value |
| 2 | Worker hours | 8 |
| 3 | Share of $600 | 8/40 → $120 |
The formula
The formula:
How it works
How it works:
- Sum every participant’s hours for the shift to get total hours.
- Each share is
worker_hours / total_hours * tip_pool— proportional to time worked. - Lock the total hours and pool with absolute references so the formula fills down.
- The shares sum to the pool exactly — a built-in check.
Points-based pools weight roles differently — a server might count as 1.0 and a busser 0.5. Replace hours with hours × role_points on both the numerator and the total, and the same formula distributes by weighted contribution. Always verify the shares re-sum to the pool.
Try it: interactive demo
Worker hours, total hours, pool.
Variations
Total hours
Sum the column:
Points-weighted share
By role:
Per-hour tip rate
Pool ÷ hours:
Pitfalls & errors
Lock total and pool. Use absolute references so each row divides by the same totals.
Zero total hours. An empty roster gives #DIV/0!.
Shares must re-sum. Confirm the distributed shares add back to the pool.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
How do I split a tip pool by hours in Excel?
How do I weight tips by role?
How do I check the split is correct?
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