Key Takeaways
- Peak hours for DoorDash are during lunch (11:00 AM to 2:00 PM) and dinner (4:30 PM to 8:00 PM), offering increased earning potential.
- Weekends see a surge in order volumes, making Friday evening through Sunday the best times for DoorDash drivers to work.
- Holidays and special events often lead to more orders, providing Dashers with opportunities for higher earnings.
- Late-night shifts, especially on weekends, can be profitable with less competition and higher demand in some areas.
Understanding Peak DoorDash Hours
As a delivery driver, you choose when you work based on your free time. However, you could waste time and effort by Dashing at random times.
It’s important to know that your actual earnings may differ depending on the time of day you do deliveries. The reason for this is you get incentives for working hours with a higher demand for dashers.
Strategizing around peak hours helps to maximize your earnings. In short, you can gain extra money knowing when customers are most likely to order.
Below, we give you useful tips for getting more orders by selecting the best times to DoorDash!
Summary of the Best Times to Drive Overall
When is the best time to drive overall?
According to DoorDash, the peak times align with meal schedules. This means lunch hours (11:00 AM to 2:00 PM) and dinner hours (4:30 PM to 8:00 PM) are busy times for delivery drivers.
The delivery date also impacts the acceptance rate.
For instance, there’s always a surge in order volumes on weekends and holidays. This is when people are more likely to order in because they’d rather enjoy their rest days.
As all experienced dashers know, working on these days gets them more customer tips and incentives!
Categorized Best Times to Drive
Here are the best times to DoorDash based on the 2023 Restaurant Online Ordering Trends Report.
1. Weekends
According to the report, nearly 50% of Americans order deliveries at least once a week. On top of this, 23% order five to seven times a month.
This is because consumers prefer convenience, and many enjoy browsing through restaurant menus.
Weekends make up a big chunk of the orders as these are the peak times for food delivery services. The rush starts from Friday evenings to Sunday dinner time.
During this time, there’s an increased order volume and higher earning potential due to the need for delivery drivers. You may also notice a demand for hotel deliveries as families may travel to unwind.
Tips for Weekday Dashers
Here are a few tips for doing food deliveries during the week.
- Dash to Work: If you have other work during the day, you can accept dashes as you travel to your destination. DoorDash has a Dash Along the Way Feature that can help.
- Navigate the Hotspots: Office workers may be looking for delicious meals during the lunch rush. You might want to try dashing at a commercial area.
- Park Near Popular Restaurants: Position yourself beside a busy family restaurant at night. Families may order in for dinner.
2. During the Week
During the week, DoorDash says the best time to drive is during lunch break and dinner time.
The lunch rush is from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Meanwhile, the busiest time on weekday nights is from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
Targeting these hours gives gig workers an advantage as there’s a consistent demand.
DoorDash may also send an alert and show you where the hotspots are. When you see a flame icon on the map, it’s a sign that you’ll receive an influx of orders!
Tips for Weekday Dashers
Here are a few tips for doing food deliveries during the week.
- Dash to Work: If you have other work during the day, you can accept dashes as you travel to your destination. DoorDash has a Dash Along the Way Feature that can help.
- Navigate the Hotspots: Office workers may be looking for delicious meals during the lunch rush. You might want to try dashing at a commercial area.
- Park Near Popular Restaurants: Position yourself beside a busy family restaurant at night. Families may order in for dinner.
3. Nights & Evenings
Late evenings are excellent for DoorDash drivers, especially after the dinner rush. You’ll have a busy night when you dash in areas with limited dining options.
The late-night demand starts every 9:00 PM and lasts until 3:00 to 5:00 AM. There are more evening deliveries in city centers compared to the suburbs.
Many dashers prefer late nights because of less traffic and competition.
Expect to get high-paying orders even if there’s a lower order frequency. You can also look forward to a higher probability of getting tipped!
Tips for Holiday Dashing
Here’s how you can prepare for the holiday rush.
- Understand Local Events: Depending on the holiday, certain food items may sell better than others. Situate yourself near restaurants with promising holiday promos.
- Be Ready for a Line: Because these are the busiest delivery times, expect long lines. It’s best to research establishments that can handle the large influx of orders.
- Learn Customer Preferences: Anticipating your customer’s preferences ensures you get better tips.
4. During Holidays
Did you know that dashing during the holidays gets you excellent incentives?
According to DoorDash, the biggest delivery days of the year are holidays like Game Day, Easter, and Memorial Day!
As a dasher, you should anticipate a busy schedule on Christmas Day, New Year’s, Valentine’s, and Mother’s Day. This is when people are most likely to order additional food for their gathering.
Of course, it’s essential to have a strategy for holidays. You should pick orders that’ll give you maximum earnings.
Tips for Holiday Dashing
Here’s how you can prepare for the holiday rush.
- Understand Local Events: Depending on the holiday, certain food items may sell better than others. Situate yourself near restaurants with promising holiday promos.
- Be Ready for a Line: Because these are the busiest delivery times, expect long lines. It’s best to research establishments that can handle the large influx of orders.
- Learn Customer Preferences: Anticipating your customer’s preferences ensures you get better tips.
Tips for Maximizing Earnings During Peak Times
The average pay for dashers is $15.03, but you can earn more than this through a few methods.
First, efficient route planning will give you the biggest advantage. Statista says customers prefer receiving their orders within 21 to 30 minutes.
Make the most out of driving during peak times and map out the best areas to target.
Leverage DoorDash promotions like the Peak Pay, which gives you a bonus if there’s a high demand. You may also want to complete DoorDash challenges to get rewards for meeting a target number of deliveries.
Finally, having excellent customer service makes a huge difference in your tips!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Slowest Day for Doordash?
The morning hours of Mondays to Wednesdays are slower periods for DoorDash. There’s a bigger customer demand every Friday to Sunday.
It’s best to strategize when you’ll go on a delivery run to maximize your earnings. If you’re dashing on a Monday, go to an area where office workers may order in for lunch.
How Long Does it Take to Make $1,000 On Doordash?
You can earn more than $1,000 per week as a full-time DoorDash driver. Those with top dasher status can earn faster than others as well.
To make more money with DoorDash, you should learn about the peak hours and customer ordering patterns. Having great communication with the customer helps!
Who Pays More: Uber Eats or Doordash?
DoorDash drivers may earn more than Uber Eats drivers.
The USA Today says DoorDash drivers make an average of $25 per hour, including tips. Meanwhile, for Uber, drivers only make up to $15.84 per hour or $9.37 per trip.
Final Thoughts: Crafting Your DoorDash Strategy
In conclusion, learning about crucial factors, like the best times to DoorDash, makes a huge difference in your earnings.
Because certain times and days of the year grant you bonuses, scheduling dashes is key to your success.
You should consider making delivery runs during the lunch and dinner rush. Don’t skip out on holidays and weekends, as food delivery apps are in demand during this time.
Aligning the peak hours with your schedule means you can earn more with the same amount of effort!
