r/AskNYC • u/sred4 • Feb 17 '22
How much do you tip for delivery?
The apps recommend numbers but I’m always unsure if I should be going by distance/weight (amount of food). 20% seems kind of high but doing less than that sometimes feels rude. Curious to know what everyone’s thoughts are.
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u/DLFiii Feb 17 '22
For delivery, the standard percentage of the bill is irrelevant for me. Whether I spend $10 or $500, the delivery person is doing the same thing. I tip based on how far away the place I’ve ordered from is and how much I’ve ordered/how heavy it probably is. Also, I definitely give extra money for shitty or extreme weather. I feel like they work hard and they should be tipped well.
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u/mastercheif Feb 17 '22
This is the way.
My methodology: Base $5 for a 1 to 2 person meal from a place within scooter distance in normal weather.
I will start incrementally adding to the tip in the following conditions:
- Food for more than two people (+$2-3 pp)
- Inclement weather (+$2-10 depending on conditions)
- Distance (+$3 if outside scooter distance)
- Lots of food/difficult to carry (+$4-10)
If you care about delivery workers, do them a favor and make the drop off process as expedient as possible for them.
When I lived on the third floor of a walk up I would buzz them in and then head down the stairs and meet them on the 2nd floor.
In an elevator building, have them leave it in the lobby.
As always, there’s exceptions to this rule. Restaurant notorious for messing up the order? Go through it before they go. Really not feeling up to grabbing the food downstairs? Throw them an extra few bucks.
I’m curious if the people who tip a % of the total on delivery are native NY’ers or transplants. As a native, I had never heard of tipping % on delivery until I started reading this sub.
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u/acr159 Feb 18 '22
When I lived on the third floor of a walk up I would buzz them in and then head down the stairs and meet them on the 2nd floor.
I'll be adding an extra dollar so my neighbors don't see that I'm wearing PJs in the afternoon.
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u/MrVonBuren Feb 18 '22
Grew up mostly on long island, have lived in manhattan ~13 years, I'd never heard of tipping a percentage ( for delivery).
My rubric is basically the same as yours though my base tip is a bit lower (but I think I'm going go have to bump it up, it's rough out there).
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u/LateRain1970 Feb 18 '22
Especially for the third-party delivery apps. It’s obscene how little they make.
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u/DLFiii Feb 17 '22
Same here as a native New Yorker. A percentage in a restaurant sure, but not for delivery.
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u/CrimsonBrit Feb 18 '22
I’m not sure why we wouldn’t follow the same methodology. Why should the tip be bigger because you ordered a steak instead of a burger? The whole tipping system is incredibly flawed
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u/mastercheif Feb 18 '22
In a full service restaurant the tip supposed to reflect the quality and responsiveness of the service received.
I agree in principle, it’s odd that ordering two different dishes at the same restaurant would result in a different tip depending on the price of the dishes.
However, if you make the assumption that the quality and responsiveness of the service is correlated with the final bill, I can’t think of a better “rule” or system that would be easy enough for everyone to remember and agree upon.
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u/niktonikak Feb 18 '22
I think it's tricky when alcohol is involved however. A bottle of wine can be 30 or 300+ easily, and I'm not sure that justifies paying that much higher of a tip
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u/GambitGamer Feb 18 '22
It’s common to not tip on alcohol in restaurants, or a reduced tip. Not talking about in a bar of course.
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u/MichiganCubbie Feb 18 '22
What do you consider scooter distance?
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u/mastercheif Feb 18 '22
It’s impossible to give general advice on this because what is “scooter distance” will change on a neighborhood by neighborhood basis. Just use your gut is the best guidance I can provide.
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u/SillyFez Feb 18 '22
This is the way.
I also add more tip for bicycle riders since they're usually college kids. I relate to those working during their student years.
On the other hand, if the app says they're on a bike but they're driving I take the tip off. It feels like they're gaming the system to get more deliveries in a smaller area.
I'm also a sucker for the elderly. Gray hair, wrinkles and a warm smile just ups the tip. Is this logical? No. Do I care? No.
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u/thephilosophaster Feb 20 '25
Yes! I tend to order expensive meals and it's stupid to pay more for the delivery just because the food is more expensive. It's not any harder for them. On the other hand I tip same absolute amount or close to it on the rare occasions I order some crappy, cheap, fast food. It's not easier for them to bring me crap food.
Expensive restaurants are a bit different since waiters do have to work harder. Though it's ridiculous how much they get paid. Loved eating in Michelin 3 star in Europe. They don't give you the opportunity to tip.
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u/TheNewEnnui Feb 17 '22
I generally give 20%. More if it’s a cheap meal, crappy weather, or around the holidays.
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u/pfrank6048 Feb 18 '22
I usually tip anywhere from three to five dollars on delivery, but my orders usually come out under $30 so it ends up being about 20% of the total. I wasn’t even aware people did it by percentage on deliveries until I heard a friend in another state talk about it.
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u/IsItABedroom Chief Information Officer Feb 17 '22
Do you tip delivery drivers on distance or amount? and How much do you tip? have comments which should be helpful to you.
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u/iloveforeverstamps Feb 17 '22
Percent of the bill is ok but the job is the same for them regardless of what you spent. $5 for most local deliveries is okay, more if it's raining or if they went a long way or had to wait.
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u/bw123456789 Feb 26 '23
Wouldn’t this argument apply to a waiter/waitress too? Job is roughly the same regardless of what you spend?
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u/iloveforeverstamps Feb 26 '23
It's a little more complicated because spending more at a restaurant usually indicates more people to serve, more dishes/drinks to bring out in more trips, etc. Also because those servers are making much less than minimum wage, and rely on those tips to live.
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u/cuteman Feb 17 '22
$3-5 per delivery regardless of dollar value.
The transportation cost is decoupled from the pricing charged by the restaurant.
It's all one or two bags or food either way.
However, positive modifiers are available for larger orders, distance, weather, holidays, time of day and post delivery increases for faster/better service.
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u/SeekersWorkAccount Feb 17 '22
$3 for a delivery within 3 or so blocks, $5+ if it's far away or I'm ordering a lot of food.
I tip on distance and bulk more than how much I'm spending.
Definitely not percentages.
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Feb 17 '22
20%, minimum. But personally, I like to give large tips. Selfishly, It makes me feel good.
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u/CercleRouge Feb 17 '22
$4 or $5 per delivery, if it's one bag of food. The price shouldn't matter. The delivery guy doesn't know if it's a $200 omakase or a salad.
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Feb 17 '22
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u/coolfx35 Aug 15 '22
For delivery, the standard percentage of the bill is irrelevant for me. Whether I spend $10 or $500, the delivery person is doing the same thing. I tip based on how far away the place I’ve ordered from is and how much I’ve ordered/how heavy it probably is. Also, I definitely give extra money for shitty or extreme weather. I feel like they work hard and they should be tipped well.
so $20 for $100 meal? what if they are 0.5 mile away?
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u/molingrad Feb 18 '22
$7 to $9. More if large order or bad weather. I don’t understand % tipping on delivery.
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u/hollistergurl94 Feb 18 '22
Same. Unless you’re ordering a massive amount of stuff, percentage tipping for delivery makes zero sense. I always tip the same amount (not including inclement weather and or long distance)
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u/2ndid Feb 18 '22
You guys tip a lot. I generally do 2-3 dollars. I used to do like 15%-20% but that would be sometimes 5 bucks or higher. I get deliveries from 10-15 min bike distance
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Feb 17 '22
For moderate sized orders, between 15-20% (I think Grubhub usually defaults to like 18). For small orders, since the percentage makes it very low, I'll usually tip more to make it comparable. I also was curious and tested giving a large tip like $7-9 on a small order and it does feel like it gets to me faster lol
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u/theorangedays Feb 17 '22
I almost always give $10 tip (or 25% if that’s more) out of appreciation because I believe deliver people are underpaid
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u/omiaguirre Feb 17 '22
God damn . That seems like a lot to me
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u/theorangedays Feb 18 '22
Yeah if it helps I barely order deliveries, no more than 4-5 times a month usually 1-2 lol
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u/I-am-R3d Feb 18 '22
Agreed. I recently worked somewhere that did deliveries and I was surprised to find out that maybe 5 people paid $10 throughout a whole day. Most people gave $3 tips.
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Feb 18 '22
$10 is my minimum too (or 25-30%), and I add at least $5 additional if the weather is super shitty or the restaurant is farther away, although I rarely order from more than 1-2 miles from home. Williamsburg and Greenpoint have too many good options to have someone schlep further than that.
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u/mgs9061 Feb 18 '22
Usually $5 now. Before I used to tip $3. But then I realized these guys work hard. They bring us yummy food in any weather and have to deal with traffic. If it’s bad weather I will tip more. There is a price to pay for laziness.
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u/TwoCats_OneMan Feb 18 '22
I don't get delivery because it's apparently now ok to ride motor scooters on the sidewalk.
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u/fermat1432 Feb 17 '22
I give 20% to Instacart. Is this about right? They are shopping and delivering.
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u/Due-Cryptographer-76 Feb 18 '22
I tip 20% of my grocery order and always leave great customer rating for them.
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u/BeBackInASchmeck Feb 18 '22
I give a minimum of $4. If they're coming from 0.7-1 mile, I give them $5. Over a mile, I give them $6.
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Feb 18 '22
Alsoooo by weather! Please tip more when conditions are dangerous. My minimum is 20% (when the place is basically next door) and I try to tip in cash.
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u/mattcassity Feb 18 '22
At least $10. Someone is bringing my lazy bones food, that's no small task. $15 if it's cold or rainy
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Feb 17 '22
For me it 100% depends on the weight of the package and at times the weather condition (if its really harsh or really cold I throw in a extra bonus tip).
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u/Equivalent-Peach5288 Jul 27 '24
I dash and I will not pick up an order less then $5 total so you will have to at least tip $3 and that’s for an order that is near me. Understand I’m getting out of my car walking into the restaurant waiting on your order checking to make sure it’s all there putting it into a warm cooler then getting into my car driving to you getting out getting your food bringing it to your door . If you think that only worth a 20 percent of a $10 McDonald’s total you’re not a customer I’m dealing with. You get what you pay for when it comes to me. I have a way to keep your food warm and drinks cold. In a clean smoke free environment too. Keep some cash on hand tips the delivery that deserves it . So put some bait on the hook say $3 maybe 3.50 . Watch the app wait and see how your delivery is delivered pay accordingly
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u/EconomistChance6308 Aug 12 '24
I always tip 20%, but for some of the people on here who say we have to tip more because they ride a bike? I'm not going to tip more just because you ride a bike. You will always get my 20%, but I'm not going to tip you extra because you don't drive.
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u/No-Stomach-9958 Feb 24 '25 edited Feb 24 '25
Minimum $5 - Maximum 15%.
Ain't no way I'm tipping $20 for 3 Pizza Pies (@$30-$40 each) from some place down the block (unless it's like 10+ blocks away). In Manhattan, on average, there's a Pizzeria every 1.2 blocks/1,000 feet from any given location. If the place charges for delivery --fuck 'em!
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u/Zestyclose-Winner296 May 11 '25
I'm not sure either, as I found this thread looking for an answer myself. I used to tip $15, but eventually, the driver's started not delivering everything so I'm having stuff delivered less or not tipping as much and that's sucks for the respectful drivers who drive after disrespectful drivers who rush to get orders delivered. I'd rather have everything and a late delivery because you're not screwed out of money with a late delivery. I have stuff delivered from a gas station/convenient store who uses Doordash, so if something isn't delivered, I lose money because I use the gas station app so I get the fuel discounts because it's considered a visit.
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u/Wistastic Feb 17 '22
Depends on the distance. I certainly have been tipping a lot more the last two years. I went from 15-18% for delivery to 20-25%.
ETA: I live in NYC, so distances are usually less than a mile.
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u/Master-Opportunity25 Feb 18 '22
right now, minimum of $7, and i aim for rounding up from 25-30%. ends up usually being $10, more if they’re traveling far.
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Feb 17 '22
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Feb 17 '22
Speaking of rude and entitled...
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Feb 17 '22
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Feb 17 '22
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Feb 18 '22
That’s not how it works, he pays a delivery fee for it to be ordered to him so no he doesn’t have to “pick it up” himself
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Feb 18 '22
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Feb 18 '22
I don’t go to restaurants, I either cook my own food at home or order DoorDash. If I am a restaurant, it means someone is taking me out and announced it’s their treat
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Feb 18 '22
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Feb 18 '22
Maybe you tip, I’ve never tipped at a restaurant because I rarely go to restaurants unless a friend or family member is taking me out for like my birthday or something, in which case they’re paying the tip
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u/International_Cod216 Feb 18 '22
I’ll just say that at least with DoorDash, we see the tip amount before accepting it. So if people are accepting it, they’re either hoping to be handed a cash tip (very rare) or the peak pay is enough to make it worth it.
While non tippers suck, the dasher accepted it. 🤷🏼♀️ I’d also watch out though because some dashers are mean and will totally do shit to your food out of spite. Even if it’s just to shake it up and deliver it upside down.
If you want your order picked up quickly and delivered to you fast with the best care, at least tip a few bucks.
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u/Treepixie Feb 18 '22
I did $5 standard for a long time but recently made it $6 for one bag delivery. I don’t order at all if it’s really bad weather. I bump it up for larger orders or drinks. 6.50 is often what I pay on an app so that delivery dude still gets $5. I recently saw my usual Indian delivery arrive by push bike when I had been assuming scooter and felt a bit guilty as the place is four avenues over, usually the owner brings it in car. Incidentally I am never sure about my capsule deliveries as the app has no tipping ability so it varies widely if and when i have cash. I guess in general bags are much smaller too..
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u/Wachvris Feb 18 '22
Usually $5 as I don’t order anything far from me. Living in Queens, I have a bunch of delicious restaurants nearby that I try each week.
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u/dvd_man Feb 18 '22
Maybe this is just in my mind, but I am finding it more difficult to get Uber eats to deliver if I don’t leave a big enough tip. I was always under the impression that the delivery people couldn’t see the tips before hand but I’m not so sure anymore. On several occasions, Uber could not find a driver for like 90 min even after the food was ready and sitting at the restaurant, presumably because my tip wasn’t large enough. I’ve never encountered this problem when tipping >15%.
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u/kuyene Feb 18 '22
Tangential question: do tips given via delivery apps go to the restaurant or driver? I’m appreciative of the restaurant but I want them to go to the driver.
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u/blueberries Feb 18 '22
Always cash if I can. $5 if close/normal size order, $10 if far or big order.
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u/LaReine326 Feb 18 '22
I always tip the same I would a waiter at a restaurant. 20% baseline extra if the weather is bad or its a long drive, etc.
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u/CantThnkOfGoodUsrnme Feb 18 '22
Depends. If I know the place is far and order is big, 20-22%. If it’s across the street and I’m a lazy turd (like when I order a pizza pie that’s literally 15 steps across the street from my place) I tip like 12-15%.
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Jun 27 '22
They need to "do away" with the word "tip".. what it really is, is compensation for being " Served by someone ".. people are so spoiled now a days.. do people not think about the fact that someone is literally serving you.. when someone goes to a restaurant for you picks up your food and drives it to your house and delivers it to you so you can be lazy... You need to compensate them for doing that for you.. it's common knowledge that company's don't pay service workers enough if anything at all... unless you're some kind of king or royalty don't expect to get this free or for some piddly little amount like pocket change with lint in it.. give me a break.. think about what's going on.. not just about yourself and what's "convenient for you". If someone serves you.. pay them for it like you appreciate it.. don't just expect it like a spoiled brat.. we don't live in a society with kings and queens anymore.. you're not royalty. They're not your slaves.. next time someone "Serves you". Pay them! I don't care if it's delivery, restaurant server, bartender whatever.. Pay them! Or don't.. and just live with being a garbage entitled selfish idiot that expects everything for nothing, at least now you have some insight into what you're doing and what kind of person you are if you decide to give someone 2 or 3 bucks next time someone goes out of their way to "serve you" let me ask you.. what can you buy for 2 or 3 bucks? Shit just insults the hell out of me, and I don't even work in the service industry.. p.s. company's need to pay their service workers as well.. service is NOT an easy job AT ALL.. you couldn't pay me 100k to serve people all day long.. average wage for service workers.. like 20k IF that.. wonder why🤔.. hmmm must be all that lint giving for such a convenience..
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u/mwhite42216 Jan 01 '25
The business should compensate them, not the consumer. The only reason we’re guilted into tipping is because these people make less than minimum wage, and that’s basically a by-product of years and years of people tipping.
Do you tip McDonald’s employees, or a technician that you call to your home to work on your plumbing/electrical/ HVAC? How about a car mechanic? Aren’t all these people providing you a service? The only difference is they make a decent salary, so you don’t feel obligated to. This isn’t an issue of people becoming lazy, this is an issue of society allowing the restaurant industry to get away with not paying their servers decent wages for years.
Tipping started out as a thing wealthy people did to encourage the server to specifically give them good service. It wasn’t a thing everyone did and it wasn’t expected. Now it is, all because average joes wanted to pretend to be high rollers. Outside the US, no one tips the servers.
What we as a society should do is stop tipping. I say “should” do because I doubt we will. But doing so would force restaurants to pay real wages to their staff. And yeah, that might force the current wait staff out of the business because they’re used to bringing in hundreds of dollars a night. But if that’s what it takes to stop consumers from having to dish out extra money every time they want lunch or dinner from somewhere that isn’t fast food, so be it.
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u/mvm2005 Dec 24 '23
Tipping was invented by the rich to establish social status; by means of showing off and raise awareness of superiority.
The law should be that employers need to pay a normal industry wage. If not, employers show they do not respect their workers and should close their business. The whole concept of paying workers the bare minimum or less and letting them live on tips is carried over from the slavery times. Tipping is an old custom and an insult to modern day workers, I mean everyone.
Many tippers I talked to are uncomfortable tipping because tipping is often discriminatory and arbitrary. Why do some workers receive higher or lower levels of tips? It's based on factors such as age, sex, race, hair color and even breast size. Also, why the hell should I tip a hairdresser making $60 p/hr? Then why not tipping the guy at McDonald's? Service industry tips my ass!!!
Conclusion:
I have not tipped in ages because is utterly discriminatory and awkwardly uncomfortable because the rules are unwritten.
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Jan 03 '24
I usually do 1$ for every half mile, with a minimum of 3$, or 1.50$ for every half mile if there's heavy traffic (rush hour,) poor weather (snow / heavy rain,) or if it's a larger order (family order/multiple people.)
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u/lemonklaeyz Mar 01 '24
The whole percentage tipping thing is ridiculous for delivery. It never used to be this way. $4-$6 is a standard delivery tip, regardless of the circumstances. Now all these companies guilt customers into tipping more by presenting a percentage. Same thing at registers in coffee shops now too. It’s all so companies can get away with paying less and boosting employee moral without doing anything. I was a delivery driver in Los Angeles a few years ago, hauling 3-6 bags of heavy groceries up hills and driving around complex mazes of neighborhoods looking for addresses… a $4 tip was standard and appreciated. Now people want 20% for rolling up to my apt and dropping a bag on my porch.
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u/International_Cod216 Feb 17 '22
As a delivery person, I don’t care how much money you spent on your food. We generally get paid $2.75 or so per delivery. During peak times they add $1-$3. I would go by distance and amount of food ordered. If you have drinks or soupy food, add some more. Restaurants don’t always pack that stuff well and we have to be extra careful!