Restaurant, bar & event tipping guide
Do you tip a food delivery driver?
Usually — tipping food delivery drivers is customary in the U.S., though not obligatory. Tipping food delivery drivers is customary in the U.S. A common range is 10%–15% of the order, with a $2–$5 minimum on a small order — more for bad weather, a long distance or a lot of stairs.
Based on: Kiplinger, The Emily Post Institute
The short version
Yes — tipping food delivery drivers is customary in the U.S. Etiquette guidance puts the common range at 10%–15% of the order, with a $2–$5 floor on a small order so the tip doesn't come out under a couple of dollars.
Delivery drivers are a different case from a counter worker: the trip itself is the service, so etiquette guidance treats delivery as customary rather than optional, with 10%–15% of the order as the common range. On a small order that percentage can come out under a couple of dollars, which is why the same guidance points to a $2–$5 floor regardless of the math. Distance, weather and stairs are the usual reasons people go toward or past the top of the range, since the driver's time and effort went up but the order total didn't.
How it's normally handled
Tip through the app when you order, or in cash at the door — either is normal. Tip on the order total before any delivery or service fee, since those go to the platform, not the driver, and a fee on the receipt is never a tip by itself.
What people actually tip food delivery drivers
Typical U.S. range
10%–15% of the order, with a $2–$5 minimum on a small order
Most common
15% of the order
| Bill | 10% | most common15% |
|---|---|---|
| $25 | $2.50 | $3.75 |
| $50 | $5 | $7.50 |
| $75 | $7.50 | $11.25 |
| $100 | $10 | $15 |
| $150 | $15 | $22.50 |
When to go above the range
Bad weather, a long or rural delivery, multiple flights of stairs, a large or heavy order, or a driver who kept you updated through a mix-up.
Common mistakes when tipping food delivery drivers
- Assuming the delivery fee or a service fee is the tip
- Tipping only the app's pre-filled percentage on a small order, which can come out under a couple of dollars
- Not adjusting for a long distance, bad weather, or a walk-up with no elevator
Work out your own
How much should you tip a food delivery driver?
Enter what you actually paid and see where each option lands against the 10%–15% of the order, with a $2–$5 minimum on a small order range — then pick the amount that feels right.
Calculate your tipFrequently asked
How much do you tip a food delivery driver?+
Tipping food delivery drivers is customary in the U.S. A common range is 10%–15% of the order, with a $2–$5 minimum on a small order — more for bad weather, a long distance or a lot of stairs. The typical range is 10%–15% of the order, with a $2–$5 minimum on a small order, with 15% of the order the most common reference point.
Is it rude not to tip a food delivery driver?+
Tipping food delivery drivers is common and appreciated in the U.S., but it is not obligatory. A common reference is 15% of the order.
When should you tip more than the usual range?+
Bad weather, a long or rural delivery, multiple flights of stairs, a large or heavy order, or a driver who kept you updated through a mix-up. In those situations people commonly go above 15% of the order.
When is the tip usually given?+
Tip through the app when you order, or in cash at the door — either is normal. Tip on the order total before any delivery or service fee, since those go to the platform, not the driver, and a fee on the receipt is never a tip by itself.
What do people most often get wrong when tipping food delivery drivers?+
Assuming the delivery fee or a service fee is the tip. Others include: tipping only the app's pre-filled percentage on a small order, which can come out under a couple of dollars; not adjusting for a long distance, bad weather, or a walk-up with no elevator.
How tippos thinks about it
tippos suggests starting at 15% of the order (or the $2–$5 minimum on a small one, whichever is more), and adding a little for a long trip, bad weather or a walk-up delivery with no elevator.
Sources
Ranges on this page come from these published guides. Sources reviewed .
- Kiplinger — A Practical Guide to Tipping — Supports 10%–15% for food delivery, alongside its wider U.S. tipping guidance.
- The Emily Post Institute — General Tipping Guide — Treats delivery as a customary tip, distinct from optional counter and take-out tipping.