Friday, February 7th, 2020
Everyone who has ever ordered a pizza or had food delivered has likely been faced with a common quandary: “How much should I tip?”
While the delivery driver isn’t in the same position as a restaurant server, they are still the ones who bring your order right to your doorstep—and you wouldn’t believe some of the wild things your delivery driver has gone through before arriving with your goods.
Although tips are not an obligation, they’re a sign of gratitude for the person’s service here in America. If, for whatever reason, you don’t plan on including a tip with the total of your bill, at least order your pizza for you to pick up yourself.
But, returning to the main issue at hand here: how much to tip your pizza delivery driver. There are several things to keep in mind when calculating how much gratuity to give.
The truth about delivery fees
If you ordered a pizza to be delivered, you may have noticed that you were charged a delivery fee by the restaurant. These fees can vary in the amount, but usually run anywhere from $3-$10.
It may surprise you, then, that delivery fees hardly ever go to the drivers. So it should not be mistaken for a gratuity fee.
Minimum delivery fees
You may also have noticed that in many places, if you must order a minimum dollar amount in order for your food to be delivered. This is called a minimum delivery fee. This shouldn’t be mistaken in any shape or form as going towards the delivery driver.
With a minimum delivery fee, the restaurant will take the up front amount and is not legally required to allot any sum for the driver (with several exceptions related to federal minimum wage)
With those two factors in mind, you can start calculating how much to tip your pizza delivery driver.
How much to tip the pizza delivery driver
Generally speaking, delivery orders that are less than $20 are given a minimum tip of $3. If the order is over $20, then it’s customary to calculate a tip that is 10%-15% of the order (but never less than $5).
How much you choose to actually tip can be influenced by several things (but should always follow those baseline standards). Some instances that warrant a higher tip amount could be:
- Deliveries made during bad weather. Heavy rain, snow, high winds, etc., are all hazardous to those on the road. A good rule of thumb is that if you’re ordering pizza to avoid having to drive in inclement weather, then you should generously tip the person who brings it.
- When the delivery address is more than five miles from the store location.
- If the driver was particularly polite, performed an outstanding service, or arrived ahead of time.
Bad delivery experience?
Wrong order? Cold food? Delivery mishaps happen frequently, unfortunately. But at the very least, you should still give the delivery driver a tip, then call the store and ask to speak to a manager and explain the issue. More often than not, the fault will lie with the store and not the delivery driver.
Why tipping delivery drivers is important
Most delivery drivers only make minimum wage or less, along with tips. But if you factor in expenses such as gas, insurance, and repairs (from the wear and tear put on the vehicle from frequent driving) their costs begin to quickly cut into any profit. Additionally, there are many times where delivery drivers are required to carry extra coverage and pay higher premiums on their car insurance.
In sum: it can be tricky to make a living as a pizza delivery driver. Tips can make or break the job!
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If you’re craving fresh pizza, come to Pizza Planet in Amarillo, Texas. We have been serving some of the best pizzas in Amarillo since 1974. Give us a call at (806) 352-6666 orContact Usby email. Check out ourMenu,Deals, andRewardsand Order Online today.
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FAQs
How much should you tip a pizza delivery? ›
How much to tip the pizza delivery driver. Generally speaking, delivery orders that are less than $20 are given a minimum tip of $3. If the order is over $20, then it's customary to calculate a tip that is 10%-15% of the order (but never less than $5).
Is $5 dollars a good tip for pizza delivery? ›Lifestyle and etiquette expert Elaine Swann suggests paying a $3 to $5 tip when the delivery driver arrives. "Three to five dollars is a sufficient tip," Swann says. "It doesn't necessarily need to be a percentage of the food you ordered."
How much do you tip a 40 dollar pizza delivery? ›How much to tip pizza delivery? The general rule in all instances is that you should tip between 10 % and 20 % of the total value of the bill.
What percentage should I tip my delivery driver? ›For the majority of orders, when it comes to how much to tip for food delivery, you should be adding at least 20 percent onto the total tab.
Do pizza delivery drivers expect tips? ›The delivery or service fees you may have paid the restaurant or food delivery app probably don't go to the driver. In general, such fees cover the cost of business for the food delivery app or service. The restaurant and the driver assume that tips are part of the driver's wage, so never skip the tip.
How much do you tip for $35 pizza delivery? ›How much do you tip for a $35 pizza delivery? A 15% tip for a $35 delivery would be $5.25.
Is it OK to not tip pizza delivery? ›The delivery or service fees you may have paid the restaurant or food delivery app probably don't go to the driver. In general, such fees cover the cost of business for the food delivery app or service. The restaurant and the driver assume that tips are part of the driver's wage, so never skip the tip.
How much do you tip for $50 pizza delivery? ›The Web site www.tipthepizzaguy.com suggests the following: 15% for normal service, with a $2 minimum; 20% for excellent service; 10% or less for poor service; at least 10% for orders of $50 or more. Don't assume a delivery charge, if there is one, goes to the pizza deliverer.
Should you always tip the pizza guy? ›Tipping practices can vary depending on the industry. Unless the service you've received has been truly terrible, it is customary to tip your delivery driver. When considering tipping the pizza delivery driver, a 15-20% tip is customary. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide whether to give more or less.
How much do you tip for $100 pizza delivery? ›Here's what ezCater Says
Our recommended tip range for catering delivery drivers, as featured in our FAQs, is: 10% for large orders (over $100) 15% for smaller orders. A $5 minimum for all deliveries.
Is $10 a good tip for pizza delivery? ›
Research shows that food delivery people should be tipped 10 percent of the bill, at least $1 for bills up to $10. A person should tip 15-20 percent for a difficult delivery.
How much should I tip for $75 pizza delivery? ›If the service was of average quality, the tip should be 15%. For poor service, the tip should be no more than 10%. If you received awful service, such as your pizza arriving cold, then you should tip nothing.
Should you always tip delivery drivers? ›Tipping is not required, but it is customary to tip your delivery guys as a way to say thank you for a job well done. This is especially true in the case of a difficult or demanding job, or when a professional goes above and beyond to provide a high level of service.
Do you tip for carryout pizza? ›The general rule of thumb for a sit-down restaurant is to tip 18 to 20 percent of the bill. So on a large takeout order where the staff went above and beyond, Gottsman recommends about a 15 percent tip. Keep in mind also that restaurant staff often rely on tips as part of their earnings.
Why you should always tip delivery drivers? ›They personally deliver to your doorstep
While this isn't always necessary to do so beforehand, with certain delivery services, drivers might tend to deny delivering your order if they see there is no tip for them. They are barely making money as it is, so they are most likely surviving off of the tips they receive.
| Rank | City | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kirkland, WA | $47,868 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $45,302 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $40,912 |
| 4 | Council Bluffs, IA | $39,630 |
People generally tip 15-20% of the bill.
How much do you tip for pizza delivery on $30? ›I tip at least 20% across the board. So for a $30 pizza delivery, I would tip a minimum of $6.
What is a good tip on $40? ›15-20% of the bill, including drinks.
Why should I tip on pizza delivery? ›Why do You Tip Delivery Drivers? Delivery drivers typically don't make much more than minimum wage, if that. On top of that, they have to pay for car insurance and gas on their vehicle, which slims down that profit margin considerably.
How much do you tip Chinese food delivery? ›
“If you are ordering Italian or Chinese food for four to five people, I would recommend giving a flat rate — perhaps $5 to $8 when they hand you your food. If you are ordering a large amount of food that requires multiple trips to bring to your door, I suggest giving a larger sum such as $10 to $15.”
How much do you tip for $70 delivery? ›15-20% of the bill, including drinks.
How much do you tip on $80 pizza delivery? ›A 20+% tip would be pretty generous, and make up for a lot of sub-par tips from others, and put you on the nice list. You'll get mention when the driver goes back to the store, and likely receive premium service in the future. Bigger orders that don't tip well also get mention.
Is it rude to not tip for takeout? ›"Even takeout involves some amount of service, and we should tip those employees." A tip is a token of appreciation for the service provided, and takeout is a service, Parsa says. Your gratuities also support restaurant workers and their employers during difficult times.
What happens if you don't tip for delivery? ›Is it okay not to tip the delivery driver? It's no different than not tipping your waiter/waitress. Drivers make bare minimum to deliver your food, and tips are what keeps them going. Furthermore, THEY REMEMBER - and if you plan to order again, you may have issues getting someone to pick up your order!
Should you tip refrigerator delivery? ›Consider tipping $10 - $20 for appliance deliveries. If the delivery driver is permitted to accept a tip and service was favorable or they had to go above and beyond (i.e. carry a washing machine down a flight of stairs), a tip is appreciated.
Is 15 tip OK for delivery? ›Food Delivery Drivers
Whether you're ordering DoorDash, Uber Eats, or another food delivery service, tipping etiquette usually falls right in line with the standard 15%. However, this is really only the standard for small orders — those that are easy to pick up and drop off.
And of course, if you don't have cash on you, a credit card is still a viable way to tip. It's better than nothing and every dollar counts.
Is 4 dollars a good tip? ›That depends on who you ask, but, generally, both customers and drivers agree that $4 is a fair tip, according to the study. However, that might be low depending on the amount of food you order. Gottsman suggests tipping at least 20% of the total cost of the meal, or at least $5.
Is 2 dollars a good tip? ›In summary, $2 is likely to be seen as somewhat stingy when it comes to tipping gig economy workers and we'd recommend tipping $3 as a minimum even if that comes to more than the standard 10-20% of the total cost of the goods purchased.
What is a 20 tip on $75? ›
| Bill: | $75.00 |
|---|---|
| Tip: | $15.00 |
| Total: | $90.00 |
Since delivery fees rarely, if ever, go to drivers, they should not be considered part of your tip. Also, a minimum delivery fee is not the same as a tip. It refers to the minimum price of food you must order for the restaurant to deliver.
How much do you tip on $50 delivery? ›The Web site www.tipthepizzaguy.com suggests the following: 15% for normal service, with a $2 minimum; 20% for excellent service; 10% or less for poor service; at least 10% for orders of $50 or more.
Is 2 A good tip for pizza delivery? ›The general consensus in the industry is to tip $2 to $3 per pie delivered. But also look at how much your tip is compared to the entire bill. At the minimum, you should tip 10 percent of the total bill. A tip of 16 percent of the bill is for normal service and 20 percent is for exceptional service.
Should I tip for carryout pizza? ›The general rule of thumb for a sit-down restaurant is to tip 18 to 20 percent of the bill. So on a large takeout order where the staff went above and beyond, Gottsman recommends about a 15 percent tip. Keep in mind also that restaurant staff often rely on tips as part of their earnings.
How much do you tip for $100 delivery? ›Here's what ezCater Says
Our recommended tip range for catering delivery drivers, as featured in our FAQs, is: 10% for large orders (over $100) 15% for smaller orders. A $5 minimum for all deliveries.
If everything goes smoothly with your delivery and the weather is good, 20% is the standard cost of having the mealtime brought to your doorstep. Never tip less than five bucks, though.
Is $10 a good tip for delivery? ›Research shows that food delivery people should be tipped 10 percent of the bill, at least $1 for bills up to $10. A person should tip 15-20 percent for a difficult delivery.
Is a two dollar tip enough? ›In summary, $2 is likely to be seen as somewhat stingy when it comes to tipping gig economy workers and we'd recommend tipping $3 as a minimum even if that comes to more than the standard 10-20% of the total cost of the goods purchased.
Who are you supposed to tip? ›You should tip restaurant workers for all orders, including takeout and delivery. Tip in high-end as well as casual restaurants. In-person restaurant: Tip your waiter or waitress if you dine in but also tip anyone who assists you in getting your food, as waitstaff often do many jobs now.
Do you tip if gratuity is included? ›
Others may automatically include gratuity when the bill is drawn. If either of these instances is the case, then no, you do not need to tip on top of this price. However, if the service was exceptional and you had a wonderful experience, an additional tip is never a bad idea.