SplitSimpleHome › Free tools › Trip expense calculator
Trip expense calculator: who owes who
Add everyone on the trip, then add each expense with who paid and who shared it. The calculator shows each person's balance and the shortest list of payments that settles the whole group.
Updated November 2026
Group expense calculator
1. People
2. Expenses
| Expense | Amount | Paid by | Remove |
|---|
How it works
- Shares. Every expense is divided equally among the people ticked under Split among. If it does not divide exactly, the extra cent goes to the first people in the list so the total still matches.
- Balances. Each person's balance is what they paid minus the sum of their shares. A positive balance means the group owes them money. A negative balance means they owe the group.
- Settle up. The calculator takes the person who is owed the most and the people who owe, and settles the smaller amount between them first, then moves to the next pair. This is the same method the SplitSimple app uses, and it usually needs at most one fewer payment than the number of people with a balance.
Your trip is stored in this browser only, so you can close the tab and come back. Nothing is uploaded.
Worked example: a weekend in Goa
Asha, Ben and Chitra go away for two nights. Here is what they spent:
| Expense | Paid by | Split among | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel | Asha | All three | 9,000 |
| Cab from airport | Ben | All three | 1,500 |
| Scuba diving | Chitra | Ben and Chitra | 6,000 |
Total spend is 16,500. Asha's share is 3,000 + 500 = 3,500. Ben's share is 3,000 + 500 + 3,000 = 6,500. Chitra's share is the same as Ben's, 6,500.
- Asha paid 9,000 and owes 3,500, so she is owed 5,500.
- Ben paid 1,500 and owes 6,500, so he owes 5,000.
- Chitra paid 6,000 and owes 6,500, so she owes 500.
Settle up takes two payments: Chitra pays Asha 500 and Ben pays Asha 5,000. Press Load example above to see it in the calculator.
Why the fewest payments matters
If every person paid back every expense directly, a group of six after a week away could end up with 20 or more transfers, many of them going in circles. Netting everything into one balance per person first removes the circles. Then matching the biggest creditor with each debtor clears balances one at a time. For a typical trip of four to eight people, that means three to seven payments in total, and each person only has to send money once or twice.
A few habits keep the numbers clean:
- Add expenses on the day, while the receipt is in hand. Reconstructing a week from bank statements is where mistakes creep in.
- Use Split among for anything optional, like drinks, an activity or a room upgrade, so people who opted out do not pay.
- Agree on one currency. If you paid in two, convert at the rate on your card statement before entering it.
- Settle within a week of getting home. Balances that sit for months turn into awkward conversations.
Frequently asked questions
How does the calculator decide who pays whom?
It works out each person's balance (what they paid minus their share), then repeatedly matches the person owed the most with a person who owes, settling the smaller of the two amounts. This keeps the number of payments low, usually one fewer than the number of people with a balance.
What if an expense was only shared by some people?
Untick the people who were not part of it under Split among. The amount is divided only among the ticked people, so someone who skipped the boat ride does not pay for it.
Is my trip saved?
Yes, in this browser only. The trip is stored in your browser's local storage so a refresh does not lose it. Nothing is sent to SplitSimple. Use Clear to start over, or save it as a group in the app to share it with everyone.
Why are some shares a cent or paisa different?
When an amount does not divide exactly, for example 100 split three ways, the leftover cent goes to the first people in the list so the shares add up to the exact expense.
Can I use this for a flat or a group of friends, not just a trip?
Yes. It works for any group that shares costs: flatmates, a wedding group, a weekend away or a team lunch fund. For ongoing costs that repeat every month, a SplitSimple group keeps the running balance for you.
Track it with your group
SplitSimple is free: add expenses, see who owes whom, and settle up with the fewest payments.
Start a group, free