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Split expenses calculator for groups

Add everyone in the group, enter each expense with amount and payer – this split expenses calculator shows who pays whom and how much so everyone is square. With as few payments as possible, down to the cent.

Source: Verhoeff T. (2004): Settling Multiple Debts Efficiently: An Invitation to Computing Science. Informatics in Education 3(1), 105–126. Updated: .

Only changes the display, no exchange-rate conversion.
My Toolbox

People

    New expense

    Split between

    Start by adding at least two people.

    Saved in this browser only – nothing is uploaded.

    Result

    How it is calculated

    How splitting expenses works

    1. Add the people – everyone who travelled or pays a share.
    2. Enter each expense: amount, who paid and who it was for. By default it is split between everyone; untick anyone who was not part of it (e.g. a dinner).
    3. For each person the calculator shows what they paid, their share and the balance: plus gets money back, minus has to pay.
    4. Below you see the settle-up payments – who pays whom and how much. “Copy result” puts them on the clipboard as text.

    Worked example: Anna pays £90 for the accommodation, Ben £30 for food, all three share everything. Total £120, share £40 each. Balances: Anna +50, Ben −10, Chloe −40. Settle-up: Chloe pays £40 to Anna, Ben £10 to Anna – two payments.

    As few payments as possible

    Computer scientist Tom Verhoeff (Eindhoven University of Technology) described the problem in 2004: the minimum amount that has to change hands is the sum of all positive balances – any “debtor pays creditor” scheme achieves it. Minimising the number of payments, however, is NP-hard. The calculator therefore searches exactly for subgroups that cancel each other out when up to 16 people have an open balance, saving payments; for larger groups it repeatedly settles the biggest debtor with the biggest creditor.

    Accurate to the cent

    All amounts are calculated internally in cents (whole units for yen and rupiah). If an expense cannot be split evenly, the first participants each get one cent more – the total always adds up exactly.

    Privacy and limits

    Names and amounts are stored only in your browser (localStorage), never uploaded and never put into the address bar. Other group members will not see the list automatically – share the copied result or the CSV file. The tool does not convert exchange rates; enter foreign-currency expenses already converted.

    Frequently asked questions

    How do I split holiday costs fairly?

    Record every expense with its payer, work out each person’s share at the end and settle the difference. The calculator does this automatically and suggests the payments.

    Do I need an app for this?

    No. The calculator runs in the browser on phone and computer, without sign-up. Your data stays on your device; share the result by copying it into your group chat.

    What if someone was not part of an expense?

    Simply untick that person when entering the expense. It is then split only between the people involved.

    How are the payments minimised?

    The total transferred is always the minimum (the sum of the credits, following Verhoeff 2004). The number of payments is minimised exactly for up to 16 people by finding subgroups that settle among themselves.

    Does it work for shared house or flat costs?

    Yes, for any group: flatmates, couples, clubs or a stag or hen do. For running costs, enter one month’s expenses and delete everything afterwards.

    Sources and legal basis

    As of: · Editorial policy

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