How much can you get in tips as a delivery driver

A tip for a delivery driver constitutes a big part of earnings, and it can make a big contribution towards earnings for a working day. 

As much as platforms such as DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub pay what is close to a minimum wage, tips can make a working routine a well-paying side gig. 

Tip culture, tip earnings, and tip maximization can make a success out of working days for delivery drivers.

Let’s find out how much you can get in tips as a delivery driver!

Average tip amounts for delivery drivers

The tipping culture is quite prominent in the US. In fact, according to research, about 76% of Americans have said they’ll always tip when having their food delivered. Still, this doesn’t reply to our question: How much can you get in tips as a delivery driver?

The tip a food delivery worker can receive depends on numerous factors, such as platform, customer, and kind of order. 

On average, a driver will receive a tip between 10% and 20% of an order value. At least, that is what most people have reported.

Some delivery workers prefer a specific tip, usually between $2 and $10 for an order. This is a better option for low-value orders when 10% wouldn’t be enough. 

In the end, however, this mostly comes down to the customer and their willingness to pay extra for delivery.

Factors that affect your tips

A variety of factors can impact a delivery driver’s tips. This includes:

• Size and cost of an order. Perhaps one of the most simple factors is an order’s size. Greater orders, and specifically orders with many items and catering orders, yield larger tips. This is quite logical, considering that we’ve said that most tips are a specific percentage of the order’s cost. 
• Speed and efficiency. Speed is paramount in a delivery service. Drivers who deliver orders in a timely manner, not compromising service or food integrity, receive larger tips in return. People who order items, especially food, want it to arrive as quickly as possible. The more satisfied they are, the greater the chance of a nice tip.
• Customer service and communication. Excellent customer service greatly contributes to the receipt of good tips. Some of the things that drivers do, such as politely greeting the customers, thanking them, and delivering their food in perfect condition, make a difference. 
• Weather and special conditions. Rain, snow, or extreme heat during work usually guarantees higher tips. Customers are very appreciative when their food delivery drivers have to go through bad conditions just to get a meal to them on time. For this reason, rainy days and snowy nights are the best times financially for delivery drivers, as long as you can deal with the hassle.
• Delivery area. The area in which you deliver can also affect your tips. Generally speaking, the wealthier neighborhoods you drive in, the higher the tips, and vice versa. Remember, however, that this is not a rule but a general guideline, and tips may vary within any given area, so driving in higher-income neighborhoods doesn't guarantee large tips every time.

Maximizing your tips as a delivery driver

Every delivery driver wants to maximize their earnings. One of the ways to do so is to increase the amount of tips received for each delivery. But how can you do that?

While there is no guarantee any action will result in a tip, there are a few things you can do.

Different parts of town have hot spots that have a greater concentration of customers who are tippers, and these sometimes are near restaurants and other high-demand outlets. 

Therefore, choosing to work in these tippy neighborhoods—or during peak times, like at lunch or dinnertime—offers a greater opportunity to earn larger tips.

Excellent customer service has the power to transform a small tip into a substantial one. Greet a customer with a smile, say "please" and "thank you," and apologize for any delayed service courteously. 

Being friendly and businesslike at work is a must. A quick, respectful chat with a customer can build a positive atmosphere and generate a larger tip. Most customers enjoy friendly and respectful drivers, and it can pay off in tips for them.

Lastly, by choosing orders you can deliver quickly, you’ll increase the customer’s overall satisfaction, which can result in quicker tips.

Do certain platforms offer higher tips?

Finding out how much a delivery rider earns on Uber Eats or Grubhub can be much more straightforward than discovering how the tips differentiate between the apps.  

Most food platforms don’t force their customers to tip delivery drivers. At the same time, they allow their drivers to keep 100% of the tipping amount.

This means that it might be challenging to differentiate the size of tips between companies.

Still, we’ve talked to several delivery riders so we could gather some anecdotal experience. This is what we’ve found out:

• Grubhub: Drivers report tips larger for Grubhub, particularly for larger orders or orders with a high price tag. Tipping is larger overall in relation to Uber Eats and DoorDash, with tips a proportion (generally 15% to 20%) of an order’s price tag.
• DoorDash: DoorDash tips vary in between—generally between $3 and $7. With transparent tips, larger orders or extraordinary orders (e.g., catering orders) can generate larger tips, increasing daily earnings. 
• Uber Eats: Uber Eats tips have a general range of $2 to $5, but larger tips can occur for larger orders or complex orders. Tip collection is convenient and even allows tips to be added at an order’s conclusion, providing an opportunity for a tip to be added at any point during an order’s fulfillment.

Once again, it’s important to keep in mind that most companies don’t have an effect on the size of the tips you’ll get, and these are simply the general experiences of workers for these companies. 

Also, tips are not the only factor that influences your daily earnings on a food delivery app. Just because the tips are lower in one company doesn’t mean your entire earnings will be lower.

Related: How to become a delivery driver

Conclusion

Tipping is a significant source of earnings for delivery drivers, and improvement tips can contribute greatly to your overall earnings. 

By providing high-class service and efficiency and working in high-tip locations, your opportunity for a high tip will become brighter and brighter. 

As platforms such as DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub have a variation in cultures for tips, drivers can maximize tips by selecting an ideal platform and tips-improving techniques that make customers happy and satisfied with your service. 

Regardless of whether you are working part-time or full-time, tips for improvement will make the most of your career in food delivery. 

If you wish to further increase your earnings, you can always invest in a good electric bike for food delivery. 

Whizz is a company that specializes in e-bikes designed for delivery riders. By renting or buying an electric bicycle from a reliable company, you will reduce your expenses, maximizing your profit. 

Read also: Earn by offer vs earn by time

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