Delivery Tip Calculator
Get a transparent food delivery tip recommendation from order subtotal, one-way distance, order size, and weather — works for DoorDash, Uber Eats, restaurant delivery, and couriers.
Deliveries within 2 miles add no distance charge to the recommendation.
How Much Should You Tip for Food Delivery?
Food delivery drivers bring meals to your door using their own vehicles. Tip $5 minimum or 18-20% of your order.
Delivery Tipping Guide
Recommendation Factors
This recommendation changes with the practical effort involved:
- Applies to all food delivery apps
- Consider distance and delivery time
- Tip more in bad weather
- $4-5 minimum regardless of order size
Delivery Tipping Etiquette
Food delivery drivers bring meals to your door using their own vehicles. Tip $5 minimum or 18-20% of your order.
How this delivery recommendation works
- •Base: 15% of the food subtotal, with a $3 minimum
- •Distance: $0.60 per one-way mile beyond the first 2 miles
- •Order size: medium +$1, large or heavy +$2.50
- •Bad weather: +$2
- •Service adjustment: poor ×0.85, good as calculated, excellent ×1.20
Example: a $32 order 5 miles away in the rain → $4.80 base + $1.80 distance + $1.00 size + $2.00 weather ≈ $9.50 recommended (fair range $8.00–$12.00).
This is a transparent editorial model, not an official formula from any platform. You can override the recommendation in the calculator above. Read the full delivery methodology and change log →
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should you tip for food delivery?
Tip $4-6 or 15-20% of the order, whichever is higher. More for long distances or bad weather.
What is a good tip calculator for delivery?
A good delivery tip calculator should compare both percentage and minimum-dollar tips. For small orders, use at least $4-$6; for larger orders, use 15-20% and adjust for distance, weather, stairs, and wait time.
Should delivery tips be based on subtotal or total?
Use the food subtotal before fees for a percentage tip, then check whether the result is fair for the driver. Delivery fees usually do not go directly to the driver, so they should not replace the tip.
Do delivery fees count as tips?
No, delivery fees go to the company or restaurant, not the driver. Always tip separately.
Should you tip the same for all delivery apps?
Yes, tip 15-20% regardless of which app you use. Drivers on all platforms depend on tips.
Related Calculators
Written and maintained by the CalculateTip.io Editorial Team. Last reviewed by the CalculateTip.io Editorial Team. Rates shown are editorial guidance based on common US practice, not official rules — local customs and platform policies vary.
Sources: How our delivery tip model works · Emily Post Institute tipping guidance · CalculateTip.io editorial guidance based on common US practice; local customs and platform policies vary