How Much to Tip Uber Eats Drivers [& Why You Always Should]

Should You Tip Uber Eats Drivers?

Yes, you should tip an Uber Eats driver. Uber Eats drivers offer a service, so you should tip as if you were getting takeout at a restaurant.

Given their status as independent contractors without the benefits and protections that come with traditional employment, and the fact that they often share a portion of their fees with the delivery platform, tips are a crucial part of their income.

Additionally, despite a general consensus that a $4 tip is fair, many drivers report receiving insufficient or no tips at all, making each tip they do receive even more significant.

How Much Should You Tip Uber Eats Drivers?

For Uber Eats drivers, a tip of 15% to 20% of your total order is recommended. Consider the delivery conditions, order size and complexity, and the overall service when deciding the tip amount.

A common sentiment is that tipping should be proportional to the order size and distance. There’s also an understanding that during peak times (like dinner rush), drivers expect higher tips due to increased demand.

A $5 tip is suitable for short and simple deliveries. For larger orders, especially those costing between $50 to $60, a $10 tip is appropriate, aligning with the 15% to 20% industry standard.

Tip Amount For Great Service

If your Uber Eats driver goes above and beyond their job, travels through harsh weather, or arrives quickly, it’s a good idea to reward them with a tip of 20%-25% or more of your bill.

From Uber Eats, the driver will make the same amount of money no matter how excellently they handle your order. That means it’s up to you to make sure your Uber Eats driver gets the recognition they deserve– with a big tip!

Tip Amount For Average Service

The average rate for a tip is about 15%-20% of the food bill, so this is a good amount to give your Uber Eats driver. But, keep in mind that this percentage may not be fair to your driver if your order is tiny.

For example, if you order a $3 coffee for delivery, the Uber Eats driver must make the same trip, but the tip amount will be much, much smaller than for an average order.

For this reason, when placing a very small order, it’s helpful to tip a set dollar amount– typically $4-$6 — instead of a percentage of the food bill.

Tip Amount For Poor Service

Unless there is something very wrong with the customer service from your delivery driver, it’s good to stick with a minimum of 15%-20%, the restaurant industry standard.

Deplorable service could warrant a smaller tip of 5-10%.. However, keep in mind that many issues with your food are most likely not caused by the Uber Eats delivery driver but by the restaurant.

If your food arrives and the order is incorrect or improperly cooked, that has nothing to do with your driver, so their tip should not be affected.

If the food is cold because the driver took twice as long to deliver the food as the delivery window allowed, that may be poor delivery service– or the driver may have gotten lost or dealt with adverse weather.

Remember that people make mistakes– and it can be very dangerous to drive in the rain or snow– before you decide on the tip amount.

Example: Calculating a Hypothetical Tip

Here is a quick breakdown for calculating tips in different circumstances:

Situations Where No Tip Might Be Justified

Incorrect orders, unprofessional behaviors, or unreasonably delayed deliveries are scenarios where leaving no tip is understandable.

Another classic instance is when a driver eats your food. If you have obvious reasons to believe your Uber Eats driver chomped on your food, you have every right not to offer a tip.

That said, if you did experience such unprofessional conduct, promptly report the issue to Uber Eats. Your feedback will help improve their services and offer refunds if necessary.

Factors Influencing Tipping Amounts

There are a few considerations when tipping delivery drivers of Uber Eats. Aside from time and distance, it’s essential to factor in your order size, traffic, gas, weather, and service quality.

Here’s an example:

Let’s say your order costs 20$ in total, and you’re using the 15% to 20% tipping standard. In such a case, it would leave your Uber Eats driver only $3 to $4, which is typically fair.

But if your request requires the driver to travel ten miles amid heavy traffic and poor weather, a $3 to $4 tip would hardly cut it.

Remember, they also spend money on gas and wait 10 to 15 minutes in restaurants. After receiving the food, they’d secure your order and deliver it as fast as possible to keep it warm.

Then, before they can reach your door, some drivers would need to walk from the nearest parking lot. Some would have to climb stairs, which is a bummer for large-sized orders.

The point is that they’re already spending money, time, and effort from the get-go. Throwing in another one or two dollars for their excellent service will be appreciated.

Of course, you can also lower your gratuity based on similar factors. If your address is easy to get to, with easy traffic and good weather, a 15% to 20% would satisfy most drivers.

How to Tip on the Uber Eats App?

Uber Eats provides plenty of opportunities to send gratuity payments to their drivers. You can do it when checking out, on delivery, or after delivery.

1. How to Tip Uber Eats Drivers at Checkout

Choosing a tip amount before you order is simple and part of the order placing process.

1. First, settle your order and checkout.
2. Fill in the information on the checkout page and tap next.
3. A page with a header “Show your support with a tip” will appear.
4. The options are 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, or a custom amount.
5. Select your tip amount and place the order.

2. How to Tip Uber Eats Drivers on Delivery

Another option is to wait until after you place the order to add a tip. Many people like to see what time their food actually arrives before they decide on a tip amount.

Follow these steps to tip when your order arrives:

To start the process, you’ll first need to rate your driver:

Once you’ve left a rating, you can select a preset tip amount:

You can also tap “Choose other amount” to leave a custom tip:

To finalize the tip, tap “Submit and Continue.”

Of course, you can always leave your driver a cash tip if you prefer. They’ll certainly appreciate the gesture.

3. How to Tip Uber Eats Drivers After Delivery

Giving the Uber Eats driver a tip through the order history is similar to placing a tip after finishing the order.

If you open the “Orders” section of your Uber Eats app, you should be able to access the history of your last Uber Eats purchase.

From here, you should be prompted to rate the food and delivery. The tipping options should be available after that.

4. How to Tip Uber Eats Drivers in Cash

If you prefer not to tip through the app at all (or you happen to have cash on hand), another way to tip your Uber driver is to give them money when they arrive with your food.

Drivers get to keep 100% of their cash tips, just like tipping on the app, so there are few downsides to using cash to tip your Uber Eats driver.

Tipping Etiquette and Best Practices

Your Uber Eats driver won’t see the tip before the order, so it’s best to practice the following when adding gratuity:

• Tip in cash: Rideshare platforms can hide customer tips from drivers. A cash tip is the easiest way to ensure your favorite driver keeps 100% of your gratuity.
• Consider your address: Is the weather poor? Do drivers need to climb flights of stairs to reach you? Factor the time and location when giving tips.
• Tip for the future: If you plan on using the same service for a long time, fair and generous tips are a way to let drivers know you’re a good customer.

Why Should You Tip Uber Eats Drivers?

There are quite a few reasons why it’s always a good idea to tip your Uber Eats driver. Here are our top two:

1. They Work Hard

It’s no surprise that delivering food is not the easiest– or safest– job on the market.

Bringing food from a restaurant to your house could mean driving, biking, or even walking through potentially unfamiliar or even dangerous locations.

Additionally, keep in mind that many people order food for delivery when the weather is too extreme for them to drive and collect food for themselves.

That means that the delivery driver must face those elements– snow, hail, heatwaves, and heavy rain are all part of the job.

Once the driver has located your residence (which can be very tricky depending on where you live), they need to find an appropriate parking space, locate your particular house or apartment, and ensure that they are handing the food to the correct person.

The driver might even have to balance a large order while navigating stairs.

2. The Tip Is Not Included in Uber Eats Cost

It’s important to know that the cost of a tip is not included in the overall Uber Eats price.

The delivery fee is a separate expense– not a tip– and does not go to the person who delivered your food.

The service fee, delivery fee, and any other costs that are not labeled “Tip” are funds that go to Uber Eats and not to the driver directly.

Understanding the Other Side: Reasons For Not Tipping

While gratuity is a widely practiced custom in the gig industry, some remain clueless or adamant against it. Here are a few reasons why people choose not to tip:

1. Poor Service

Poor delivery service is a typical argument for not leaving a tip. Some customers report having to wait hours on end to receive their already cold orders.

In such circumstances, tipping could feel unfair to the clients.

2. Cultural Norms

Another reason invoked by many is their unfamiliarity with gratuity culture. While tipping is customary in the U.S., it’s not a known practice in most countries.

Asian or European buyers, where tipping is uncommon, could find giving money to delivery workers unnecessary or even strange.

3. Outrageous Fees

An expensive fee is a common complaint for Uber Eats users who refuse to tip. After all, you’ll have to pay for their service, delivery, and applicable taxes on top of your food.

If your food costs only $8, you could pay double that amount for Uber Eats services. As such, people experiencing financial constraints opt not to add gratuity to their orders.

4. Optional Tipping

Frequently Asked Questions

Wrapping Up

Ultimately, how much to tip Uber Eats drivers finally rests on you. As noted by Uber Eats, gratuity will always be at the customer’s discretion.

However, it’s still essential to consider the time, money, and effort of your driver. They brave the weather, traffic, distance, and high fuel prices to get the food at your door piping hot.

The customary tip is 15% to 20% of your bill. But you can always go beyond and express your appreciation for an amazing food delivery experience!