A ‘pay what you can’ split for gifts, dinners, trips and parties. Anyone who can only afford a certain amount sets a maximum, anyone who wants to give more sets a minimum, and a guest of honour, such as the bride at a bachelorette party, pays nothing. Everyone else pays the same amount, and the total still adds up to the cent.
How it works
- Enter the amount to collect and the people chipping in.
- For anyone with a limit, choose “At most” or “At least” and enter the amount. Choose “Pays nothing” for a guest of honour.
- Everyone without a limit pays the same amount. People whose maximum is lower than that pay their maximum; people whose minimum is higher pay their minimum.
The formula
The calculator looks for one common amount. Each person pays that amount, unless their maximum is lower (then they pay their maximum) or their minimum is higher (then they pay their minimum). The common amount is the one at which all the payments add up to the total.
Every share is rounded to the cent. If a cent is left over, it goes to someone without a limit, so the payments always add up to the exact total.
Worked example: a leaving gift
Eight colleagues collect 300.00 EUR for a leaving gift. Ana, an intern, can give at most 15.00 EUR. Ben can give at most 25.00 EUR. Dora, the manager, wants to give at least 60.00 EUR.
| Person | Limit | Equal split | Pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ana | At most 15.00 EUR | 37.50 EUR | 15.00 EUR |
| Ben | At most 25.00 EUR | 37.50 EUR | 25.00 EUR |
| Dora | At least 60.00 EUR | 37.50 EUR | 60.00 EUR |
| Chris, Eli, Fatma, Gabe, Hana (each) | None | 37.50 EUR | 40.00 EUR |
| Total | 300.00 EUR | 300.00 EUR |
Ana and Ben give what they can, Dora gives her 60.00 EUR, and the other five pay 40.00 EUR each: 2.50 EUR more than an equal split.
Example: a bachelorette weekend where the bride pays nothing
Seven friends share 1,800.00 EUR of costs for a bachelorette weekend. The bride pays nothing, and Mia can pay at most 180.00 EUR. The other five pay 324.00 EUR each. With an equal split, everyone, the bride included, would pay about 257.14 EUR.
Common questions
What if the limits can’t cover the total?
If everyone has a maximum and the maximums together are less than the total, the calculator shows how much is still missing. Raise a limit, add a person or choose something cheaper.
What if the minimums are more than needed?
The calculator shows how much would be left over. Lower a minimum or raise the amount to collect.
Is this fair to the people without a limit?
They pay more than an equal share, but all the same amount, and the table shows exactly how much more. Agree on the limits before anyone pays.
How is this different from the group gift calculator?
The group gift calculator splits a cost equally or by shares you choose. Use this one when people tell you an amount they can afford, rather than a share.
Can I send the result to the group?
Yes. Create a link to share and send it. The names, limits and amounts travel inside the link; nothing is stored on this website.
How do you split bachelorette party costs if the bride doesn’t pay?
Add the bride and choose “Pays nothing”. Everyone else pays the same amount, which covers her share. Whether the bride pays is for the group to agree; the table shows how much more each person pays than an equal split.
What if a bridesmaid can’t afford an equal share?
Choose “At most” for her and enter what she can pay. In the example above, Mia pays 180.00 EUR and the other five pay 324.00 EUR each.