Restaurant Receipt Template

Expense claims and tax records get rejected when a restaurant receipt shows only a card total. A complete one lists each item, the subtotal, tax, tip and total, with the date, time and place. Make one free below with no signup, and download it as a PDF.

Most restaurant receipts get thrown away. The ones that matter are the ones a customer takes to an accountant, so the detail on them has to survive being read six months later by someone who was not at the table.

What goes on a restaurant receipt

• Restaurant name, address and phone number
• Date and time of the meal, since expense policies often care about both
• Table number, order number or check number
• Each item ordered with its price, food and drinks listed separately
• Subtotal, then sales tax as its own line
• A tip line, or the tip amount if it was already added
• Total paid, and how it was paid, with the last four card digits
• Server name if your point of sale prints it

What one looks like

Two guests, dinner service. Two entrees at $24 each, one appetiser at $11, two glasses of wine at $9. Subtotal $77. Sales tax at 8.875 percent is $6.83. The guest adds an 18 percent tip of $13.86 on the pre-tax amount. Total $97.69, paid by card ending 4412.

Note the tip is calculated on $77 rather than on the taxed total. Either is normal. Printing the subtotal clearly lets the customer decide for themselves.

Why the itemised version matters

A card slip that says only the total is not enough for most expense claims. Employers and tax authorities generally want to see what was actually bought, partly because alcohol is treated differently from food in a lot of policies. If a customer asks for an itemised copy after the fact, having a template you can fill in properly is faster than reprinting from the till.

Make a restaurant receipt now

Our receipt generator already has the tip and tax lines. Type in the order, check the totals, download the PDF. Everything stays in your browser.

Related receipt templates

• General receipt template
• Cash receipt template
• Rent receipt template
• Donation receipt template
• All free templates

Last updated October 2026. General guidance, not tax or legal advice. Receipt rules and tax treatment vary by country and state.

What extra details suit each type of restaurant?

The core fields stay the same, but different venues add different details.

Venue	Extra details worth printing
Sit-down restaurant	Table number, server name, number of guests, separate lines for food and drink
Cafe or coffee shop	Order number, size and extras for each drink, takeaway or eat-in
Bar	Tab open and close times, each round of drinks, any service charge
Fast food or counter service	Order number, combo items listed, pickup or drive-through
Food truck	Truck name, location and date, card or cash
Bakery or deli	Weight or quantity for each item, pre-order or collection date
Catering	Event date, number of guests, deposit paid and balance due

What is the difference between a service charge and a tip?

A tip, or gratuity, is an amount the customer chooses to add. A service charge is added by the restaurant, often as a fixed percentage or for larger groups, and is usually printed as its own line before the total. Tax treatment of each differs by place, so show them on separate lines and never fold either into the price of a dish. That is what lets a customer, an accountant or an auditor see exactly what was paid and why.

How do you write a restaurant receipt that passes an expense claim?

1. Show the restaurant name, address, date and time.
2. List every item separately, with food and drink on their own lines.
3. Print the subtotal, then the tax as its own line, then any service charge.
4. Add the tip, or leave a clear tip line so the customer can fill it in.
5. State the total paid and how, with the last four card digits.
6. For a business meal, write the business purpose and the names of the people who attended, on the receipt or in the claim.

Many employers refuse a claim that shows only a card total, so an itemised receipt saves a round of questions.

How do you split a restaurant bill on receipts?

Give each person their own receipt with only their items, an equal share of shared dishes, and their share of tax and tip. Check that the separate totals add up to the original bill. If the table splits evenly, one receipt with a line such as Split four ways, $24.50 each, is clear enough.

Which restaurant receipt mistakes cause trouble?

• A single total with no itemised lines.
• Tax missing, or buried inside the item prices.
• No date or time, which employers often check against the claim.
• The tip written as a guess instead of the amount actually paid.
• A handwritten check that cannot be read when an accountant needs it six months later.
• No copy kept by the restaurant, so a later question about the bill cannot be answered.

Need a different kind of receipt? Try the general receipt generator, the taxi receipt template or the POS receipt template, or read invoice vs receipt.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use this for a handwritten restaurant bill?

Yes, print the template and fill it in by hand at the table, or use the online generator if you would rather type it and hand over a printed slip.

Is there a restaurant receipt maker?

Yes. The free receipt generator on this page works as a restaurant receipt maker: list food and drink separately, add the tax and tip, and it totals the bill.

Is a card slip the same as a restaurant receipt?

No. The card slip proves a payment went through. The itemised receipt shows what was ordered, and most expense policies and tax authorities ask for that version.

Do I have to show tax separately on a restaurant receipt?

In most US states, yes, and it is good practice everywhere. Showing sales tax on its own line lets the customer see the pre-tax subtotal, which is also what tips are usually calculated on.

Can I give a customer a receipt after they have left?

Yes. Reissuing an itemised receipt later is normal, especially for business diners. Use the original date and time of the meal rather than the date you print it.

What should a restaurant receipt include?

The restaurant name and address, the date and time, each item ordered with its price, the subtotal, tax, any service charge or tip, the total paid and the payment method.

What is the difference between a service charge and a tip on a restaurant bill?

A tip is an amount the customer chooses to add. A service charge is added by the restaurant, often as a percentage, and is printed on its own line. Show them separately.

What does a business meal receipt need for an expense claim?

An itemised receipt with the date, time and place, plus the business purpose and the names of the people who attended. Check your employer’s own policy for extra requirements.

How do I split a restaurant bill on separate receipts?

Give each person a receipt with their own items, an equal share of shared dishes and their share of tax and tip, then check that the totals add up to the original bill.