Unlike leaving a tip for your server or figuring out how much to tip for a massage, sometimes knowing how much to tip food delivery drivers can be tricky. Tipping etiquette varies depending on the situation, but it's always true that a few dollars go a long way. Here, an etiquette expert shares the ins and outs of tipping for delivery and how to make the transaction smooth and professional the next time you order food—pizza or otherwise.
Elaine Swann is a lifestyle and etiquette expert and founder of The Swann School of Protocol, an etiquette training institute.
How Much Should You Tip for Food Delivery?
First, let's be clear: You should absolutely tip food delivery drivers (or couriers or bikers), whether they're delivering pizza or hot food through a third-party delivery app. Etiquette expert Elaine Swann suggests paying a $3 to $5 tip when the delivery driver arrives.
Elaine Swann of The Swann School of Protocol
"Three to five dollars is a sufficient tip. It doesn't necessarily need to be a percentage of the food you ordered."
— Elaine Swann of The Swann School of Protocol
While pizza delivery drivers receive minimum wage, people working for Uber Eats, GrubHub, Seamless, or other food delivery services depend on that extra money. Thankfully, unlike calculating a tip for your restaurant server, how much you tip for food delivery is more of a standard fee.
Tipping Extra for Special Circ*mstances
Swann says there are some cases where you might want to tip a bit more than the standard rate. "Maybe you live in a metropolitan area, and you have a three-story walk-up. Or say it's raining outside, or it's a bad day for traffic, or it's that time of year with the Super Bowl or something," Swann says. "In those cases, you can give a little more if someone has gone above and beyond."
If you plan to become a repeat customer, that little extra can also go a long way toward assuring top-notch service. And if you have a large order—for a class party, say, or for a large meeting—plan to tip extra.
How to Tip for Food Delivery
You may come across different scenarios when paying and tipping for food delivery. These days, you can pay by phone when you order a pizza, pay on an app when you order food, or pay the driver for the food when they arrive. Here's how to handle tipping in each instance.
Paying by Phone or App
If you pay by phone or on an app, Swann suggests planning to have the $3 to $5 tip available in dollar bills—separately. "One thing I would try to avoid doing is dealing with coins and loose change," Swann suggests. "Unless you had to rummage through your house and it's all you found, try to avoid actual coins because that can be cumbersome."
Paying in Person
If you plan to pay the driver for the order when they arrive, set aside the cash for a tip separately. Don't simply hand the driver $40 and say, "Keep the change," Swann says. It is easier for the delivery person to keep their tip separate from the food cost, avoiding awkward exchanges when returning to the restaurant or store.
Cash Is Best
Regardless of the payment method, Swann says cash is a preferred method of tipping for most service workers because it ensures they get the money immediately. (Knowing when to tip in cash can make you a better tipper overall.)
"We don't know what happens if you tip by phone or with your credit card," Swann says. "We don't know if a portion is taken out or it's shared with the rest of the team. So it is always good to have some cash on hand, period, just for tipping."
Should I Tip When Picking Up Food?
If you decide to drive to the restaurant and pick up your food instead of having it delivered, you should still add a tip. Servers are normally the ones responsible for putting your order together and sometimes bring it out to your car for curbside pickup.
Tipping when picking up food shows you appreciate their time—that could be taking them away from tables. (However, you don't need to tip at fast food restaurants when you order at a counter.)
Etiquette Tips for Food Delivery Tipping
When tipping food delivery (or any service worker), Swann says there are a few things to keep in mind to avoid an awkward encounter. It's not just about how much you tip but also how you handle the exchange.
Fold the Cash
It's best to fold the bills nicely and avoid dropping a fistful of change into the delivery person's hand. On the other end of the spectrum, don't worry about making the exchange covert by shaking hands with a bill pressed in your palm.
"Don't keep bills crumpled or balled in your hand," Swann says. "Just fold it in half and hand it to the person—it doesn't have to be a secret."
Be Kind
A kind word and a smile will also make it clear that the money you're handing over is intended as a tip for the food delivery driver to keep. "Make sure you say something, like 'Here you go, thank you for your time,' or 'This is for you, thank you,'" Swann suggests. "Make sure you communicate with them verbally as you hand them that money."
Be Patient
Finally, be patient. Don't just push the cash in the delivery driver's face as they hand you food. This is especially true when tipping for pizza delivery. "Let that person take the pizza out of the bag and hand it to you before you tip," Swann says.
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