Enter the service price before tax. Deposits and fees not included.
Delivery fees ≠ tip. Platform fees go to the app, not the driver. Always tip separately. Bad weather and long distances warrant 20–25%.
Split with roommates or coworkers
Quick reference, common order totals
| Order total | 15% tip | 20% tip ★ | 25% tip | Min tip |
|---|
How much should you tip for food delivery?
The standard tip for food delivery is 15–20% of the order total, with a $3–5 minimum for any delivery regardless of order size. For a $40 order, tip $6–8. For a small $15 order, don't let the percentage drop below $3.
The $3–5 minimum exists because delivery costs don't scale linearly with order size. A driver navigating traffic to bring a $12 order has the same fuel cost, wear, and time as someone bringing a $40 order, and the smaller percentage tip dramatically underpays for that actual effort.
One thing to understand clearly: delivery fees and service fees go to the platform, not the driver. Paying a $4.99 delivery fee and a $2 service fee on top doesn't reduce what you should tip. These are separate revenue streams. The driver's pay depends almost entirely on the per-delivery base pay from the app plus your tip.
Factors that affect how much to tip
- Weather conditions: Rain, snow, heat wave, tip 20–25% or add $2–5 on top of your standard amount. Drivers on bikes and scooters navigate dangerous conditions to get your order to you. This is when your tip matters most.
- Delivery distance: Long-distance deliveries (5+ miles from the restaurant) use more of the driver's fuel and time. Bump to 20–25% for notably long routes.
- Order size and weight: Large orders are heavier to carry and harder to balance on a bike or in a bag. Tip the higher end of the range for orders over $75 or with multiple large items.
- Stairs, no elevator, gated buildings, unclear addresses all add friction and time. Acknowledge with a slightly stronger tip.
- Speed and accuracy: If your order arrived hot, on time, and complete, that's exactly what a 20% tip is for. For exceptional service, 22–25% is fair.
Food delivery tipping etiquette
On DoorDash and Uber Eats, drivers see the tip before accepting the order. A $0 tip order is frequently skipped entirely, meaning your food sits at the restaurant while drivers pass on the delivery. A minimum tip makes sure your order gets picked up promptly.
For grocery delivery (Instacart, Amazon Fresh, Walmart+), tip 10–15% with a $5 minimum. Grocery shoppers spend 30–60 minutes selecting items, managing substitutions, and loading heavy bags. It's more work than a standard food pickup. Instacart defaults to 5%; always increase it.
Both DoorDash and Uber Eats allow you to adjust your tip after delivery, usually within 30–60 minutes. If your driver went above and beyond, updating your tip after the fact is a great way to reward exceptional service.