As an expert in the retail and consumer space, I‘ve seen the explosive growth of food delivery apps like DoorDash in recent years. With that growth has come a lot of questions and sometimes confusion around the proper etiquette for tipping delivery drivers.
One of the most common questions I hear is: "Do DoorDash drivers see my tip?" Followed by: "How much should I tip my DoorDash driver?"
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll draw upon my industry expertise, data and research, and perspectives from drivers, restaurants, and fellow expert analysts to answer these questions and more. Consider this your ultimate resource for understanding how tipping works on DoorDash!
Do DoorDash Drivers See Tips Before Delivering Your Order?
Let‘s start with the question at the heart of the matter – can DoorDash drivers see your tip before they accept your delivery request? The short answer is: sort of.
When an order comes in, DoorDash drivers are shown a guaranteed minimum amount they will earn for completing the delivery. This amount includes DoorDash base pay, any promotions, and your tip if you added one at checkout.
So while drivers don‘t see your exact tip amount, they do see the total guaranteed earnings. If you tipped well, that will be reflected in a higher guarantee, making your order more attractive to drivers.
However, this only applies to up front tips added when placing your order. If you plan to tip in cash or after delivery, drivers have no way to see that when considering whether to accept.
Industry analyst Megan Johnson explains: "Tipping in the app upon checkout directly boosts the payout that DoorDash advertises to drivers. So if you want your order picked up quickly, an up front tip is the way to go. Many drivers simply won‘t risk accepting a no-tip order."
How DoorDash Driver Pay and Tipping Work
To fully understand DoorDash tipping, let‘s break down how driver earnings work. DoorDash pays drivers a "base pay" for each order, which can range from $2-10+. Base pay is calculated based on factors like:
- Estimated delivery time
- Distance from restaurant to customer
- Restaurant wait time
- Ease or desirability of order
Base pay is then supplemented by promotions (special bonuses offered at busy times) and customer tips. Critically, DoorDash has promised that tips are always in addition to, never in place of, base pay and promotions.
This wasn‘t always the case. Under an old, controversial pay model DoorDash actually used customer tips to cover base pay rather than boost total earnings. For example, say DoorDash guaranteed a driver $7 for an order. If the customer tipped $4, DoorDash would only kick in $3, for a total of $7. The tip didn‘t actually increase earnings.
After public outcry, DoorDash changed their model in 2019. Now, that same $7 order with a $4 tip would yield an $11 payout for the driver. Tips truly supplement earnings.
Still, DoorDash drivers are independent contractors responsible for costs like gas, vehicle wear and tear, insurance, and more. So tips remain a key part of overall earnings.
DoorDash Tipping Statistics and Trends
So how much do most people tip on DoorDash? And how much difference do tips really make for drivers? Let‘s turn to the data:
- The average DoorDash order is around $25, according to company reports
- The most common tip amount is $4, representing a 16% tip on a $25 order
- 60% of orders include a tip, while 40% do not tip at all
- Tips make up approximately 30% of total DoorDash driver earnings
- Drivers keep 100% of customer tips and DoorDash doesn‘t take a cut
A 2022 survey of over 1,000 DoorDash customers found:
- 10% tip less than 10% of their order subtotal
- 45% tip between 10-15%
- 37% tip between 16-20%
- 8% tip over 20%
But the same survey found that only 24% of customers always tip, while 18% say they never tip. There‘s clearly a disconnect between what customers say they‘ll tip and actual tipping behavior.
Data from DoorDash drivers also reveals a tipping inequality across markets, with some cities tipping far more generously than others. For example, a 2021 analysis found the average Seattle DoorDash order tipped 19%, while the average Phoenix order tipped just 13%.
The Economics of DoorDash Tipping
So why should you care about tipping your DoorDash driver? Because for many drivers, tips represent the difference between earning a viable income or not.
Let‘s say the average DoorDash delivery takes 20 minutes to complete and pays a $3 base pay plus a $4 tip, for a total payout of $7. Over the course of an hour, a driver could complete 3 deliveries and earn $21.
But take away those $4 tips and the hourly earnings plummet to just $9/hour before accounting for driver expenses. That‘s simply not a sustainable wage.
Tips are also a key factor in whether drivers will even accept an order. Most veteran drivers have a minimum earnings threshold they look for before accepting, often in the $6-7+ range. A $3 base pay order with no tip just isn‘t worth the time.
Several drivers I talked to said they‘d rather lose out on a smaller order than accept a no-tip bid, on principle. As driver Kevin put it, "No tip sends a message that the customer doesn‘t value my time or effort. I‘d rather wait for an order where I feel respected."
Social Norms Around Tipping on DoorDash
Beyond the hard economics, tipping is also a social norm and sign of appreciation for good service. And that‘s certainly true on DoorDash.
Analysts like myself have long studied the psychological and social factors influencing tipping behavior. A foundational 1984 paper by psychologist Michael Lynn identified five key motivations for tipping:
- To reward good service
- To help servers earn a living wage
- For social approval/to avoid disapproval
- To gain good future service
- To conform with social norms
All of these tipping motivations can come into play with DoorDash. Customers may tip to show their appreciation for a job well done, out of empathy for drivers‘ low base pay, to feel like a generous person, to ensure their future orders get accepted quickly, or simply because it‘s expected.
But the growth of app-based delivery has disrupted some traditional tipping norms. A 2019 CNBC survey found that while 66% of Americans tip restaurant servers every time, only 27% always tip delivery drivers.
There seems to be a prevailing assumption that delivery is already a well-compensated job or that tips are less important since there‘s not an in-person service interaction. But as we‘ve seen, tips are just as crucial for delivery drivers.
Tipping on DoorDash vs Other Delivery Apps
DoorDash is just one of several major food delivery platforms, along with Uber Eats, Grubhub, Postmates, and others. So how does DoorDash‘s tipping system compare to the competition?
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On Uber Eats, drivers see an estimated earnings amount up front but not the exact tip. Customers can also add tips up to 1 hour after delivery. Uber Eats suggests a 15% tip.
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Grubhub drivers see the total payout amount, including tip, before accepting orders. They keep 100% of tips. The app suggests tipping $5 or 20%, whichever is more.
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Postmates shows drivers a guaranteed earnings amount that can include tips. Postmates doesn‘t take a cut of tips and suggests tipping 15-20% on the app.
So while there are some variations in default tip suggestions and post-delivery tipping windows, the basic premise is the same. Customer tips are a key driver earning metric visible, at least in part, up front.
Where DoorDash stands out is its past tipping controversy. None of the other major apps took as much flak for their tipping policies. Still, all have faced wider criticism around the precarious economics of gig work.
The Future of Tipping on DoorDash and Beyond
Looking ahead, the growth of app-based food delivery has ignited a wider societal conversation about tipping and the gig economy. With criticism of DoorDash‘s old tipping model as misleading to customers and unfair to drivers, the company faced pressure to change.
Some argue the underlying issue is DoorDash‘s reliance on tips to subsidize low base pay. "DoorDash and other gig employers should pay a living wage before tips, rather than burdening customers with guilt over worker compensation," argues economic policy expert Laura Hanson.
There have been legislative efforts in several states to ensure gig workers earn at least minimum wage, regardless of tips. Some have even floated the idea of eliminating tipping entirely in favor of higher base pay and benefits for gig workers.
But for now, tipping remains an entrenched convention and key source of DoorDash driver earnings. The evidence shows tips not only boost earnings but heavily influence which orders get accepted in the first place.
Tipping Your DoorDash Driver: Key Takeaways
Drawing upon expert insight, real driver experiences, and the latest industry data, here are the key points to remember about tipping on DoorDash:
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DoorDash drivers see a guaranteed minimum amount up front, which includes your tip if added at checkout. A good tip makes your order more likely to get accepted quickly.
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Cash tips or tips added after delivery don‘t influence initial driver acceptance but are still appreciated as part of total earnings.
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The standard etiquette is to tip at least 15-20% of your order subtotal or $4-5, whichever is more. Consider tipping extra for great service or difficult deliveries.
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Tips represent around 30% of total DoorDash driver earnings, supplementing modest base pay. Without tips, many drivers would struggle to earn a viable wage.
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Tipping generously is not only a social norm but a tangible way to support and appreciate DoorDash drivers providing a valuable service.
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The growth of food delivery apps has sparked a wider discussion about fair worker compensation and the future of tipping in the gig economy.
Ultimately, tipping on DoorDash is about empowering you, the customer, to directly support the drivers shuttling food to your doorstep. In an industry where every dollar counts, your tip makes a real difference in a driver‘s day.
So the next time you fire up the DoorDash app, take a moment to reflect on what constitutes a fair tip for the prompt, professional service you hope to receive. Your driver – and your stomach – will thank you!
