How much should you tip DoorDash drivers? This post will answer that question.Â
To get straight to the point, in general, you should aim to tip your DoorDash driver 15-20% of the total order price. That’s the tip most Dashers would expect to get from a delivery request and it’s what most people would likely tip in a restaurant. That being said, there are certain circumstances where it can make sense to tip more or less, primarily based on how difficult the order is to complete.
In this post, we’ll take a closer look at how much you should tip DoorDash drivers, as well as explain why tipping DoorDash drivers is so important.
How Much Should You Tip DoorDash Drivers?Â
As previously stated, in general, you should aim to tip DoorDash drivers 15-20% of the order total.
When you place your order, you are given the option to give a tip with your delivery. This tip cannot be changed, so unfortunately, if you are someone that tips based on performance, you won’t be able to base your tip on performance. This is in contrast to an app like Uber Eats, which does let customers change their tip after receiving their order (which can lead to unfortunate issues like tip-baiting).Â
While 15-20% is the standard tip I’d recommend, there are times when it can make sense to tip more or less. Most of this will depend on how easy or difficult it is to complete the order.
If your order is particularly easy – such as if the order is a very short distance – then a smaller tip can be okay. For the most part, I would still tip 15-20%, but I can see why someone might tip less for really short orders that won’t take much time.Â
On the other hand, tipping more is recommended if you have an order that will take a long time. In particular, orders that require the driver to travel a long distance should expect a higher tip, as it’ll take your Dasher more time and energy to deliver your order. Orders in which the Dasher needs to shop for your order also warrant a larger tip, as it takes more time for the Dasher to select your items and shop for them.
Ultimately, how much you tip is up to you, but you should understand that Dashers rely on tips (more than 50% of the income I earn from Dashing comes from tips). Dashers cannot see exactly what a customer tipped before the order is completed, but they can get a sense of how much a customer tipped by the payout offered to the Dasher. If the payout is particularly low, Dashers can figure out that the customer likely didn’t tip and will ignore those orders, which means you’ll be waiting longer for your order.
Why It’s Important To Tip DoorDash DriversÂ
There are a few reasons why it’s important to tip DoorDash drivers. There are two main reasons why tipping is so important:
1. Tips Are A Large Part of A Dasher’s Earnings.
First, Dashers work as independent contractors, which means they are paid on a per delivery basis and do not earn an hourly wage or salary. That means Dashers rely on tips for their livelihood.
A Dasher’s pay for an order is made up of three things: (1) the DoorDash base pay; (2) any Peak Pay bonus being offered, and (3) customer tips. In my years of delivering for DoorDash, I’ve found that tips make up over 50% of my earnings. That means if I’m not receiving tips, I’m not making much.
It’s also important to remember that since Dashers are independent contractors, they’re responsible for their own expenses, including maintenance, fuel, and taxes.
In short, if customers aren’t tipping, Dashers aren’t earning much.
2. Dashers Can Accept Or Reject Any Orders They Receive.
Because Dashers are independent contractors, they have the right to accept or reject any orders they receive. While DoorDash does use tricks to try to get Dashers to accept as many orders as possible, for the most part, smart Dashers are only going to accept profitable orders. This is in contrast to say, a delivery driver for Domino’s or Pizza Hut, who is paid by the hour and must deliver any orders assigned to them.Â
What all this means is that if a customer doesn’t tip, they’ll likely find themselves waiting longer for their order, as many Dashers won’t accept the order if it’s paying too low. In some instances, DoorDash might not even be able to find a Dasher to deliver the order.
In short, if you’re a customer and want your order delivered quickly and efficiently, providing an appropriate tip is necessary. Otherwise, you may find yourself waiting longer for your food to arrive.
Final ThoughtsÂ
Tipping is important if you’re ordering from DoorDash. Dashers rely on tips, as DoorDash by itself doesn’t pay much to Dashers. In addition, Dashers are independent contractors, so they can accept or reject orders at will. If you’re a customer, it makes sense to tip appropriately so that you can get your order in a fast, timely manner.Â
My advice is to tip 15-20% on most orders. In some circumstances where your order will take longer than normal to complete (such as if it requires the Dasher to travel a long distance or if the Dasher would have to shop for your order), I’d recommend tipping more than normal.
I hope that post gives you some good information on what you should tip and why it’s so important.
More Recommended Ebike/Scooters
Check out these other ebikes/scooters I've had the chance to do a review for:
- GEN3 Outcross Bike – The GEN3 Outcross is a solid, affordable fat tire ebike that does a good job of doing what I need it to do. It works great for city riding, giving me a smooth ride in all conditions. It’s works really well as a winter ebike since the fat tires give it good traction over snow and ice. Check out my GEN3 Outcross Review.
- Himiway Escape Bike – The Himiway Escape is an interesting bike for anyone looking for a moped-style ebike. If you’re a gig economy worker, the Himiway Escape is particularly interesting and it’s possible to think of it as an investment, especially if you can opt to do deliveries with the Himiway versus using a car. It’s not cheap, but you can definitely make your money back when you compare the mileage you’ll put on your car versus using an ebike. Check out my Himiway Escape Bike Review.
- Espin Sport Bike – The Espin Sport is a good ebike for someone who is looking for an ebike that feels and rides more like a regular bike. There are many ebikes that are really only bikes in name. In reality, they’re basically electric mopeds. The Espin Sport, by contrast, is a bike you could probably ride without the battery and you’d feel like you’re just riding a regular bike. Check out my Espin Sport Review.
- Varla Eagle One Scooter – The Varla Eagle One is an excellent scooter that can make sense for a lot of people. It can work as a primary mode of transportation. You can use it to work on gig economy apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. And it can also be a recreational vehicle if you’d prefer to use it for that. Check out my Varla Eagle One Review.
- Fucare H3 Scooter – The Fucare H3 is a fun scooter and I’ve enjoyed testing it out. For a daily commuter or quick trips or errands, the Fucare H3 is probably the scooter I’ll use. It’s portable and easy to maneuver, so it’s just easier to take on the road when I need it. Check out my Fucare H3 Scooter Review.
More Recommended Investing App Bonuses
For additional investing app bonuses, be sure to check out the ones below:
- M1 Finance ($100) – This is a great robo-advisor that has no fees and allows you to create a customized portfolio based on your risk tolerance. You also get $100 for opening an account. Check out my M1 Finance Referral Bonus – Step-By-Step Guide.
- SoFi Invest ($25) – SoFi Invest is an easy brokerage account bonus that you can earn with just a few minutes of work. Use my SoFi Invest referral link, fund your SoFi Invest brokerage account with $100 and you’ll get $25 of free stock. I also have a step-by-step guide for the SoFi Invest referral bonus.
- Moomoo (5 free stocks) – Moomoo is a free investing app currently offering 5 free stocks (usually worth around $75-$100) if you open an account using a referral link and deposit $2,000. Read my Moomoo referral bonus guide for more information.
- Webull (5 free stocks) – Webull also gives you 5 free stock valued between $3-$3,000 each if you open an account using my referral link. Here’s a guide I wrote about how to earn your free stocks using Webull.
- Robinhood (1 free stock) – Robinhood gives you a free stock valued between $2.50-$225 if you open an account using my referral link.
- Public (1 free stock) - Public gives you a free stock valued between $3-$70 if you open an account using my referral link.
More Recommended Bank Account Bonuses
If you’re looking for more easy bank bonuses, check out the below options. These bonuses are all easy to earn and have no fees or minimum balance requirements to worry about.
- GO2Bank ($100) - GO2Bank is an easy bank bonus that I recommend people take advantage of if they have an easy way of meeting the direct deposit requirement. I like that it’s easy to open the account and that the bonus pays out quickly. Check out my step-by-step guide on how to earn your GO2Bank $100 referral bonus.
- Chime ($100) - Chime is a free bank account that offers a referral bonus if you use a referral link and complete a direct deposit of $200 or more. In practice, any ACH transfer into this account triggers the bonus. This bonus is easy to earn and posts instantly, so you’ll know if you met the requirements as soon as you move money into the account. I wrote a step-by-step guide on how to earn your Chime referral bonus that I recommend you check out.
- US Bank Business ($750) – This is a fairly easy bank bonus to earn, since there are no direct deposit requirements. In addition, you can open the Silver Business Checking account, which comes with no monthly fees. Check out how to earn this big bonus here.
- SoFi Money ($275) – SoFi Money is a free checking account from SoFi. They’re currently offering a $25 referral bonus if you open a SoFi account with a referral link and deposit $10. You can also make an additional $250 as well if you complete a direct deposit. This is a good bank that is also 100% free, so you won’t have to worry about managing this account. Here’s a post I wrote with instructions on how to earn your SoFi Money bonus: SoFi Money Referral Bonus: Step By Step Guide.
- Fifth Third Bank ($225) – This offer is limited to customers in the following states: Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, West Virginia, and South Carolina. If you don’t live in one of those states, you won’t be able to open an account online but you can still open an account in-branch if you happen to be visiting a city that has a branch. This is a fairly easy bank bonus to earn, especially since there are plenty of data points showing what will trigger the direct deposit requirement. In addition, you can open the Fifth Third Momentum Checking bank account, which comes with no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements. Read my guide on this bonus here.
- Fairwinds Credit Union ($100) – Fairwinds Credit Union is offering a referral bonus for users that sign up using a referral link. Fairwinds has no fees or minimum balance, so this is a particularly easy bonus to earn. Since this is a smaller credit union, my gut instinct tells me this offer won’t be around long, so if you’re in a position to meet the bonus requirements, grab this bonus before it’s gone. Here is my step-by-step guide on how to earn your Fairwinds Credit Union bonus.
- Netspend ($40 + 5% Interest Savings Account) – Netspend is a company that provides 5% interest savings accounts. If you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get a $40 signup bonus once you make your first deposit into your Netspend account of $40 or more. That means you get a 5% interest savings account and a free $40 to start! Make sure to check out my in-depth guide on how to set up these accounts.
- Current ($50) – Current is a free fintech bank that’s offering new users a $50 referral bonus after signing up for an account using a referral link.Current is an easy bonus to earn and also gives you access to three savings accounts that pay you 4% interest on up to $2,000. That means you can put away up to $6,000 earning 4% interest. That’s very good and makes Current an account I recommend to everyone. Check out my step-by-step guide on how to earn your Current Bank bonus.
- Digital Federal Credit Union ($20) – Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) is a free, nationwide credit union that I recommend to readers for two reasons. First, DCU has a $20 referral bonus if you open a free DCU checking account with a referral link. Second, DCU has a saving account that gives you 6.17% interest on your first $1,000. Check out my in-depth post on how to set this account up.
- Novo Bank ($40) - Novo bank is a free business checking account that’s currently offering a $40 bonus if you open a Novo business checking account using a referral link. In addition to being a good bank bonus, Novo is also a good business checking account. It has no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements and operates a good app and website. Indeed, it’s the business checking account I currently use for this blog. Check out my post on how to easily open a Novo account.
- Varo ($30) – Varo is a free fintech banking app similar to Chime or Current. It’s currently offering a $30 bonus to new users that open a new Varo account with a referral link. The bonus for this bank is very easy to meet, all you need to do is spend $20 within 30 days of opening your Varo account. Check out my step-by-step guide to learn how to earn this bonus.
Kevin is an attorney and the blogger behind Financial Panther, a blog about personal finance, travel hacking, and side hustling using the gig economy. He paid off $87,000 worth of student loans in just 2.5 years by choosing not to live like a big shot lawyer.
Kevin is passionate about earning money using the gig economy and you can see all the ways he makes extra income every month in his side hustle reports.
Kevin is also big on using the latest fintech apps to improve his finances. Some of Kevin's favorite fintech apps include:
- SoFi Money. A really good checking account with absolutely no fees. You'll get a $25 referral bonus if you open a SoFi Money account with a referral link, and an additional $250 if you complete a direct deposit.
- US Bank Business. US Bank is currently offering new business customers a $750 signup bonus after opening a new account and meeting certain requirements.
- M1 Finance. This is a great robo-advisor that has no fees and allows you to create a customized portfolio based on your risk tolerance. You also get $100 for opening an account.
- DCU. Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) is a free, nationwide credit union that I recommend to readers for two reasons. First, DCU has a $20 referral bonus if you open a free DCU checking account with a referral link. Second, DCU has a savings account that gives you 6.17% interest on your first $1,000.
- Personal Capital. One of best free apps you can use to monitor your portfolio and track your net worth. This is one of the apps I use to track my financial accounts.
Feel free to send Kevin a message here.
Leave a Reply