12 Ways to Ask for the Check (Bill)

Finishing a meal at a restaurant is a common situation, but knowing how to ask for the bill politely can vary. Learning these 12 ways to ask for the check will help you handle this moment smoothly and appropriately. This guide covers phrases for casual diners, formal restaurants, and different English-speaking regions.

Common Ways to Request the Bill

Simple & Direct Phrases

1. Check, please. The most common and direct phrase used in the United States. When the server walked by, I said, “Check, please.”
2. Bill, please. The standard phrase used in the UK, India, and many other countries. We finished our coffee and asked for the bill, please.
3. Could we get the check? A polite and very common question form. When we were ready to leave, I asked, “Could we get the check?”
4. We’re ready for the bill. A clear statement that you have finished and wish to pay. After we declined dessert, we told the server, “We’re ready for the bill.”
5. Can I pay, please? A simple question that gets straight to the point. I had to catch a train, so I said, “Can I pay, please?”

Polite & Indirect Phrases

1. Whenever you have a moment, we’d like the check. A very polite and patient way to make the request. We weren’t in a rush, so we said, “Whenever you have a moment, we’d like the check.”
2. Could you bring us the bill when you get a chance? A friendly and understanding way to ask. The restaurant was very busy, so we asked, “Could you bring us the bill when you get a chance?”
3. I think we’re all set. A casual, indirect phrase that signals you are finished. The server asked if we needed anything else, and I replied, “I think we’re all set,” which she understood.
4. We’ll take the check now. A confident and clear statement. After discussing it, we told the server, “We’ll take the check now.”

Non-Verbal & Regional Variations

1. The universal gesture. Making eye contact with the server and miming writing in the air or on your palm. I couldn’t get the server’s attention, so I used the universal gesture for writing.
2. Can we settle up? A casual phrase, especially common in the UK and Ireland, meaning to pay the total amount. It was time to go, so my friend said, “Shall we settle up?”
3. Could we have the tab? “Tab” is another word for bill, often used in pubs or bars but understood everywhere. After our last round of drinks, I asked the bartender, “Could we have the tab?”

Real-Life Dialogues

Server: Can I get you folks any dessert or coffee?
Diner: No, thank you. We’re ready for the bill whenever you have a moment.
Server: Of course, I’ll bring that right out.

Friend A: That was a fantastic meal.
Friend B: It really was. Should we settle up?
Friend A: Sure. (Catches server’s eye) Check, please!

Quick Tips: Choosing the Right Phrase

Situation	Recommended Expression	Why?
A casual restaurant in the US	Check, please.	It’s the standard, universally understood, and perfectly polite in this context.
A busy restaurant	Whenever you have a moment, we’d like the check.	It shows empathy for the server and is very polite.
A formal dining setting	Could we get the bill, please?	Using the question form with “could” is slightly more formal and courteous.
A pub in the UK	Can we settle up? or Bill, please.	These are the natural and expected phrases in British English.

Why This Matters

• Using the right phrase helps you sound like a confident and polite customer, improving your overall dining experience.
• It prevents confusion, especially when traveling between countries that use different words like “check” and “bill.”
• Knowing these 12 ways to ask for the check ensures you can handle this common situation gracefully in any English-speaking environment.

Asking for the bill is a simple but important part of social etiquette. With these phrases, you can do it politely and effectively, whether you’re in a cafe or a fine-dining restaurant. Happy learning! 😊