Split Expenses Between People
Add each person, how much they paid and how to split the expense to find out who owes whom.
How it's calculated
Add up what each person paid to get the total expense. Then split that total equally between everyone added.
each person's share = total expense ÷ number of people
The difference between what they paid and their fair share is their balance: positive if they're owed money, negative if they owe money. Finally, the minimum transfers needed to settle all accounts are generated.
each person's balance = paid − fair share
It works for trips, shared flats, dinners and any cost where different people paid. Add each person with what they paid (it can be 0) and the tool calculates balances and the minimum transfers. It is best to note payments as they happen so none is forgotten.
Worked example
Ana pays €60, Bea pays €20 and Cris pays nothing, and they split it equally (€20 each). Ana overpaid (+€40), Bea is even (€0) and Cris owes €20. Result: Cris pays €20 to Ana.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I split the expense unevenly between people?
- No, this calculator always splits the expense equally between everyone added — that keeps it fast to use and avoids mistakes when entering percentages.
- What does a positive or negative balance mean?
- A positive balance (+) means that person overpaid and is owed money. A negative balance means they underpaid and still owe their share.
- Why is the suggested number of payments so low?
- The calculator works out the minimum number of transfers needed to settle all debts, instead of having every person pay everyone else.
- What if someone paid nothing?
- Add them with 0: their share is calculated the same way and they will show a negative balance, meaning they must pay their share.
- Does it work for a trip with several expenses?
- Yes. Add up everything each person paid during the trip (accommodation, food, fuel) and the calculator returns the final settlement in one step.