How many people tip delivery drivers?

A new survey shows that on average, only 15.7 percent of Americans tip their driver when getting food delivered, and 64 percent of them tip a percentage of the food cost versus a flat amount.



According to consumer sentiment data for 2026, approximately 76% of Americans still claim to "always or often" tip their food delivery drivers, but this number has been steadily declining from its pandemic-era peak of nearly 90%. Recent "tip fatigue" has caused a significant shift; a 2025 Bankrate survey indicated that only about 52% of customers now "always" tip for food delivery, a 7-percentage-point drop in just two years. Interestingly, while the frequency of tipping is down, the amount of the tip has stabilized around 18% to 20% or a flat $3 to $5 minimum for standard orders. This decline is largely attributed to "iPad tipping culture," where customers are asked to tip at self-service kiosks and retail counters, leading to an overall resentment that spills over into traditional service roles. Data from platforms like Uber Eats shows that while nearly 60% of riders never tip for a car ride, they are significantly more likely to tip for food delivery, where the driver is providing a more physical service in varying weather conditions.

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Warrener's rule of thumb is to tip delivery people, whether they're on foot, bike, or in a car, between $3 and $5 depending on the cost of the meal and how far they travel. Indeed, a delivered meal for a large family can be costly, and a 20% tip can seem exorbitant, hence his recommendation to tip a flat fee.

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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. The only exception is when you order a super-cheap meal, say $10 or less. In that case, give the driver a flat tip.

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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).

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It depends on how big your order is — good tips are at least 15%, said a DoorDasher who declined to share his name. That means the woman who tipped $5 on her $20 DoorDash order — which is a 25% gratuity — actually gave quite a good tip, drivers said. A $5 tip on a $20 order? That's not bad at all.

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But it also found Gen Z are the worst tippers by far. The survey found Gen Zers are significantly less likely than baby boomers to always tip when they: Eat at a sit-down restaurant: 35% compared to 83% Get food delivery: 31% compared to 62%

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Customers can't have the company send Amazon drivers tips anymore, but if they're home, they're willing to give their own cash. Amazon's Thank My Driver promotion may be over, but you can still thank your driver for Christmas.

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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.

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