TipSplit

How Much to Tip for Delivery

Delivery tipping is a percent or a dollar floor, whichever is kinder on a small ticket. 10–20% of the food total is the usual US band; $3–$5 is a common minimum for a short drop. Stairs, no-elevator walk-ups, ice, and a 20-bag Costco run are why people go above 20%. App prompts are not a statute. Start at 15% below and raise the dollars if the drop was work.

Suggested range: 10–20% of the order, or $3–$5 minimum. Add more for weather, stairs, or a huge haul.

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Percent of the food, or switch to dollars for a $3–$5 floor.

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Equal split only.

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Tipping customs and tax rates vary by place and by type of service. TipSplit is a calculator — not financial, tax, or etiquette advice.

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FAQ

How much should I tip for food delivery?
Ten to twenty percent of the food total, or $3–$5, whichever is larger on a small order. A $14 burrito at 15% is $2.10 — most drivers would rather see $4. A $90 family order at 15% is $13.50, which already looks like a tip. Distance, weather, and apartment complexity matter more than the cuisine.
Do I tip on delivery fees and service fees?
Those fees usually go to the platform, not the person at the door. A common habit is to tip on the food (and maybe drinks), not on “service fee + delivery fee + small-order fee.” If the app only shows a grand total, estimate the food line. This is a courtesy convention, not tax law.
Should I tip before the drop or after?
Most apps collect a tip when you place the order so the offer looks worth taking. You can often change it after. If a drop goes badly, reduce it. If it goes well in a storm, raise it. Pre-tipping $0 and promising cash that never appears is how offers sit stale.
Is no-contact delivery tipped the same?
Yes. Leaving a bag at the door is still a trip, a wait at the restaurant, and a car. “Hand it to me” vs “leave at door” is not a 10-point swing. Gate codes and a missing apartment number are the things that make the job harder — put those in the notes.
Grocery and alcohol delivery vs restaurant delivery?
Heavy groceries and ID checks are more work than a pizza bag. Many people use 10–15% on grocery subs with a higher dollar floor ($8–$15) when there are cases of water involved. Restaurant delivery stays in the 10–20% / $3–$5 story. Alcohol substitutions and refusals are on the store and the app, not on this calculator.
What if the order is late or wrong?
Refunds and remakes are the merchant or the app. The driver did not cook the food. People still trim a tip when the driver was clearly the delay (wrong house, long smoke break). They usually leave it when the kitchen was slammed. Be specific in the rating text if you want the company to see it.