McDonald‘s offers incredibly convenient ways to get your favorite fast food fixes these days without even having to leave your car or house. With curbside pickup and delivery now available at most locations, you can quickly grab a Big Mac, fries and McFlurry without stepping foot inside the Golden Arches.
But one question that often comes up when using these services is: should you tip? Is it required, expected, or unnecessary to tip for McDonald‘s curbside and delivery? As someone who has worked in the retail and customer service industry for over a decade, I‘m here to break it all down for you.
Tipping for McDonald‘s Curbside Pickup
Let‘s start with curbside pickup, which has become an increasingly popular option since the COVID-19 pandemic. Here‘s how it typically works:
- Place your order through the McDonald‘s app or website
- Select "Curbside Pickup" at checkout and provide details on your vehicle
- Park in a designated curbside spot when you arrive and check in on the app
- A McDonald‘s employee will bring your order directly to your car
In this sense, curbside pickup is very similar to going through the regular drive-thru – except you don‘t have to wait in the line of cars. Just like with drive-thru, tipping is not at all required or expected when picking up McDonald‘s curbside.
The employees preparing and running out your order are earning their normal hourly wage, not relying on tips. They provide the same service to curbside customers that they do to drive-thru customers. So while you can certainly offer a cash tip if you‘d like, it‘s not at all necessary for curbside pickup.
According to a study by QSR Magazine, drive-thru customers only tip 3% of the time at fast food restaurants. Curbside tipping rates are likely very similar. While it may be a nice bonus for the employee, McDonald‘s corporate policy is that tips are never required for pickup orders.
Tipping for McDonald‘s Delivery
Now, what about when you order McDonald‘s delivery through apps like Uber Eats, DoorDash or Postmates? The tipping etiquette here is a bit different.
Even though you‘re still receiving food from McDonald‘s, the person bringing it to you is not a McDonald‘s employee. Delivery is fulfilled by independent contractors who sign up to be drivers for third-party platforms. Their pay primarily comes from a small base amount (usually $2-3) per delivery, not an hourly wage.
For many delivery drivers, tips make up a substantial portion of their earnings. A study by US Foods found that tips account for over 40% of average earnings for food delivery drivers. While tipping for delivery is still technically optional, it is highly encouraged and appreciated for the extra effort required. These drivers are using their own vehicles, gas, and time to pick up and transport your food, after all.
So how much should you tip for McDonald‘s delivery? That‘s ultimately up to you, but here are some general guidelines based on tipping data from Eater and delivery companies:
- 15-20% of your order subtotal (before tax and fees) is a good baseline
- $2-3 is a common minimum tip amount, even for small orders under $10
- $4-5 is a solid average tip for standard delivery orders around $20-30
- 20%+ tip for especially large orders, far distances, or bad weather conditions
Keep in mind the effort the driver makes to carefully pick up your order, navigate to your location, and bring the food safely to your door. A few extra dollars can go a long way in making it a worthwhile trip for them.
You‘ll usually have the option to add a tip when placing your order on the delivery app and charging it to your card on file. However, many people prefer to give cash tips in person so the driver receives the full amount without any platform fees taken out.
The Financial Impact of Tipping for Delivery Drivers
To put the importance of tipping into perspective, let‘s look at some numbers. The average food delivery driver makes $13-15 per hour before tips. But after accounting for expenses like gas, vehicle wear and tear, and self-employment taxes, their real earnings are often closer to minimum wage.
Tips provide a crucial boost to make food delivery a viable income source. Here‘s a breakdown of potential earnings for a 4-hour dinner shift, based on data from Gridwise:
| Deliveries | Avg. Payout | Tip (15%) | Total Earnings | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | $3 | $4 | $56 | $14 |
| 10 | $3 | $4 | $70 | $17.50 |
| 12 | $3 | $5 | $96 | $24 |
As you can see, tips can easily make the difference between earning less than minimum wage and a much more livable hourly rate. Even just a dollar or two more per order adds up over the course of a shift.
It‘s worth noting that McDonald‘s delivery orders tend to be on the smaller side price-wise compared to other restaurants. Drivers fulfill them because they‘re usually ready quickly and allow more deliveries per hour. Tipping a little extra on these orders can help make them worthwhile.
Addressing Common Tipping Concerns
I know that tipping can be a controversial topic, and there are valid concerns about the practice in general. Some people argue that employers should pay workers a full livable wage without relying on tips. Others object to the expectation of tipping becoming too prevalent or guilt-driven.
While I agree that the tipping system is far from perfect, the reality is that tips are still a key part of income for service workers today. Not tipping doesn‘t solve those larger systemic issues. It ultimately hurts the individual workers who are trying to make an honest living.
I‘ve also heard concerns that delivery apps charge extra fees and higher menu prices, so a tip shouldn‘t be necessary on top of that. But those delivery fees go to the companies, not the drivers. And driver base pay is calculated with the assumption that tips will provide the rest. Choosing not to tip doesn‘t "balance out" those other costs – it just stiffs the driver.
At the end of the day, tipping is about acknowledging and appreciating a service provided. It‘s a way to say "thank you" to the person who just brought McDonald‘s to your doorstep so you didn‘t have to leave the couch. When I drove for delivery apps in college, those tips quite literally paid my rent some months.
The Bottom Line on Tipping for McDonald‘s Delivery
As a retail and consumer expert, here is my professional advice on when and how much to tip for your McDonald‘s orders:
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Curbside Pickup: Don‘t feel obligated to tip. It‘s not expected for this type of counter service. If you have an exceptionally large order or received above-and-beyond service, a small cash tip is certainly appreciated but not required.
-
Delivery: Tipping is highly recommended. The drivers are providing a valuable service and deserve to be compensated for it. 15-20% is a good baseline, with a few dollars as a minimum. Consider increasing the amount for large orders or other factors that make the delivery more challenging.
Of course, if you receive poor service, you have the right to adjust the tip amount accordingly. But in general, if you can afford to order McDonald‘s delivery, you can afford to build a reasonable tip into the cost. It‘s part of being a good customer.
Remember, the person bringing you McDonald‘s is working hard to satisfy your craving for a delicious, affordable meal with no effort on your part. A little extra generosity can make their hard work feel much more worthwhile. And it will likely result in even better service on your future orders.
I hope this in-depth guide has given you a clearer perspective on why tipping matters for McDonald‘s delivery and how to approach it. As someone who has worked in customer service and as a delivery driver myself, I strongly believe in taking care of the people who take care of us. Together we can show our appreciation and keep the delivery world running smoothly.
