How Much to Tip for Food Delivery, According to an Etiquette Expert

Unlike leaving a tip for your server or figuring out how much to tip for a massage, knowing how much to tip food delivery drivers can be tricky. Tipping etiquette varies depending on the situation, but it's always true that a few dollars go a long way.

We asked an etiquette expert to share the ins and outs of tipping for delivery. Here's how to make the transaction smooth and professional the next time you order food—pizza, groceries, or otherwise.

How Much Should You Tip for Food Delivery?

First, let's be clear: You should absolutely tip food delivery drivers (or couriers or bikers), whether they're delivering pizza or hot food through a third-party delivery app. Etiquette expert Elaine Swann suggests paying a $3 to $5 tip when the delivery driver arrives. "Three to five dollars is a sufficient tip. It doesn't necessarily need to be a percentage of the food you ordered."

While pizza delivery drivers receive minimum wage, people working for Uber Eats, GrubHub, Seamless, or other food delivery services depend on that extra money. Thankfully, unlike calculating a tip for your restaurant server, how much you tip for food delivery is more of a standard fee when orders are basic and close by.

Grocery Delivery

Grocery deliveries require more work than restaurant food deliveries because the driver is usually the shopper. For these orders, consider a tip that is a percentage of the total order rather than a flat fee. (Anywhere between 10% and 20% is a good starting point.)

A shopper that goes above and beyond with replacements, bagging, or delivery deserves extra appreciation, and most apps allow you to add an extra tip after the order is complete. For orders under $25 that require significant time searching for items in a large grocery store, consider a flat $5 tip to compensate their effort.

Tipping Extra for Special Circumstances

Swann says there are some cases where you might want to tip a bit more than the standard rate. "Maybe you live in a metropolitan area, and you have a three-story walk-up. Or say it's raining outside, or it's a bad day for traffic, or it's that time of year with the Super Bowl or something," Swann says. "In those cases, you can give a little more if someone has gone above and beyond."

And if you have a large order that is awkward or complicated—like for a class party or for a large meeting—plan to tip extra. If you plan to become a repeat customer, that little extra can also go a long way toward assuring top-notch service.

Other Factors

Tipping amounts can be very personal, but here are some other situations you may have overlooked where a tip of more than the standard $3 to $5 might apply. In these scenarios, either switch to a percentage of the order (between 15% to 20%) or add a few more dollars to the tip total.

Situation	Reasoning
Far Away	Any round trip distance over 6 miles is more costly for the driver.
Multiple Stops	Some foods apps allow you to add extra stops without fees, but this is more work for the driver.
Increased Gas Prices	If gas prices are up near you (more than usual), an added tip is helpful to offset the driver's added costs.
Hard to Find Areas	Living in a remote area or at a hard-to-find address makes the driver's job more difficult.
Late Night Orders	Ordering at an off time is more dangerous and taxing for delivery drivers.

How to Tip for Food Delivery

You may come across different scenarios when paying and tipping for food delivery. These days, you can pay by phone when you order a pizza, pay on an app when you order food, or pay the driver for the food when they arrive. Here's how to handle tipping in each instance.

Paying by Phone or App

If you pay by phone or on an app, Swann suggests planning to have the $3 to $5 tip available in dollar bills—separately. "One thing I would try to avoid doing is dealing with coins and loose change," Swann suggests. "Unless you had to rummage through your house and it's all you found, try to avoid actual coins because that can be cumbersome."

Paying in Person

If you plan to pay the driver for the order when they arrive, set aside the cash for a tip separately. Don't simply hand the driver $40 and say, "Keep the change," Swann says. It is easier for the delivery person to keep their tip separate from the food cost, avoiding awkward exchanges when returning to the restaurant or store.

Cash Is Best

Regardless of the payment method, Swann says cash is a preferred method of tipping for most service workers because it ensures they get the money immediately. (Knowing when to tip in cash can make you a better tipper overall.)

"We don't know what happens if you tip by phone or with your credit card," Swann says. "We don't know if a portion is taken out or it's shared with the rest of the team. So it is always good to have some cash on hand, period, just for tipping."

Etiquette Tips for Food Delivery Tipping

When tipping food delivery (or any service worker), Swann says there are a few things to keep in mind to avoid an awkward encounter. It's not just about how much you tip but also how you handle the exchange.

Fold the Cash

It's best to fold the bills nicely and avoid dropping a fistful of change into the delivery person's hand. On the other end of the spectrum, don't worry about making the exchange covert by shaking hands with a bill pressed in your palm.

"Don't keep bills crumpled or balled in your hand," Swann says. "Just fold it in half and hand it to the person—it doesn't have to be a secret."

Be Kind

A kind word and a smile will also make it clear that the money you're handing over is intended as a tip for the food delivery driver to keep. "Make sure you say something, like 'Here you go, thank you for your time,' or 'This is for you, thank you,'" Swann suggests. "Make sure you communicate with them verbally as you hand them that money."

Be Patient

Finally, be patient. Don't just push the cash in the delivery driver's face as they hand you food. This is especially true when tipping for pizza delivery. "Let that person take the pizza out of the bag and hand it to you before you tip," Swann says.

Listen to Real Simple's "Money Confidential" podcast to get expert advice on starting a business, how to stop being 'bad with money,' discussing secret debt with your partner, and more!