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You ordered pizza and you’re ready to tip the delivery person, but you’re not sure what amount to give them. How much is the tip for pizza delivery anyway?
In this guide, we cover how much to tip for pizza delivery based on the order total, the minimum amount you may want to tip regardless of the order total, and instances when you might want to tip a little extra.
Key Points
• Guidelines generally suggest tipping your pizza delivery driver between 15% and 20% of the total order amount.
• For small orders where a 20% tip would only be a few dollars, tipping a minimum of $5 can be a nice gesture.
• Certain situations, such as delivery in bad weather or for long distances, may warrant a tip of more than 20%.
• Delivery drivers often prefer cash tips because they get the money immediately, but digital tips are fine too.
• If the pizza is late or arrives cold, it may not be the delivery driver’s fault. Tipping, even a smaller amount, is generally a good idea in this case. You could call the restaurant and ask for a refund or a new pizza if you’re unhappy.
How Much Should You Tip Pizza Delivery Drivers?
While tipping isn’t mandatory, pizza delivery drivers typically rely on tips to make up a portion of their income — the average pizza delivery driver in the U.S. earns about $12.50 an hour (without tips).
A tip also shows your appreciation for a delivery person’s efforts to get your pizza to you. When you’re stumped about how much to give, consider these general rules for tipping.
The 15% to 20% Rule
Much like tipping servers at a restaurant, one standard for pizza delivery tips is 15% to 20% of the food order (minus taxes and any fees). So if your food bill is $40, you could tip $8 for a 20% tip, or $6 for a 15% tip. If you order delivery fairly frequently, you could transfer money into your bank account to make sure you have enough to cover the transactions.
If you use a coupon or discount, it’s a good idea to tip on the full cost of the food rather than the discounted amount. For instance, if two large pizzas cost $50, but you have a buy-one, get-one-free coupon, experts generally recommend tipping up to 20% of the $50 cost — a $10 tip — instead of 20% of the $25 cost ($5). After all, the pizza delivery driver does the same amount of work whether or not you use a coupon. And you can still put the money you save from the discount into your bank account.
If you’re on a tight budget or living on minimum wage, tipping 20% may be challenging. In that case, you could consider tipping 15%, which is still acceptable, or driving to pick up the pizza yourself.
The Flat-Rate Minimum Guideline
If your pizza order is small, like $15, a 15% or 20% tip may not amount to much money. A 20% tip for that $15 order would be just $3.
Because this isn’t much, the flat-rate guideline suggests tipping a minimum of $5 whenever the standard 15% to 20% would be less than that.
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When to Increase Your Tip for Pizza Delivery
There are certain instances when you may want to tip your pizza delivery driver a little extra, including the following situations:
• During bad weather: If you’re ordering pizza because you don’t want to drive in the pouring rain or a snowstorm, you might want to tip your delivery driver more.
• On holidays: You may be celebrating, but the pizza delivery person is spending the holiday working. You could show them some appreciation by tipping extra on major holidays like Christmas and New Year’s.
• For long distances: If you live far away from the pizza place, you might thank the driver for going the extra miles with a bigger tip.
• For large orders: When you order a large number of pizzas, salads, and drinks, the driver has more to manage and carry. A slightly larger tip could be in order in this situation. Just be sure to factor expenses like this into your cashflow.
• For great service: If your pizza delivery driver arrived a lot faster than anticipated, or if they delivered your pizza with kindness and smiles, it might be nice to tip a little extra to say thank you if it’s within your budget.
Do Restaurant Delivery Fees Go to the Driver?
You may see delivery fees and/or service fees when ordering food from a pizza place or through a food delivery app like Uber Eats or DoorDash. If you’re reluctant to tip because you assume those fees go to the driver, keep this in mind: often, the fees go to the restaurant or the app (to help cover their costs associated with the delivery), not necessarily to the driver. Or perhaps, just a portion goes to the driver.
If you’re ordering through a food delivery app, you could read the app’s fee breakdown to understand where the money is going.
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Cash vs. Card: What Is the Best Way to Tip?
When you order pizza online or over the phone, you may be able to choose to pay with a card (upon ordering) or cash or your digital wallet (upon receipt). In terms of how to tip, you might be able to add it on your card when you pay for the order, or you may prefer to give cash on delivery. Generally either option is fine.
Some drivers tend to prefer cash because they receive the money instantly and they may be able to use it right away, like putting it toward their grocery budget. Others might not have a preference. Because you can’t know for sure what your driver prefers, one option is to tip the way you choose.
The Takeaway
Tipping your pizza delivery driver is generally good etiquette and shows your appreciation for their service. Tipping 15% to 20% of the cost of the food is the standard; you might also want to tip a little extra in certain situations, such as on holidays and during bad weather. Tips often supplement a delivery driver’s income. Making sure ahead of time that you have enough money in your bank account and room in your budget to cover your food delivery and the tip is a good idea.
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FAQ
How much is a pizza delivery tip for a very large party order?
In general, a tip for pizza delivery is approximately 15% to 20% of the cost of the food you ordered, but very large orders mean that a delivery driver has a lot of food items to manage and carry. Consider tipping more generously in this case — perhaps 25% — for their extra trouble.
Is tipping mandatory for food delivery?
Tipping for food delivery is not mandatory, but it’s generally a good idea since the delivery driver is providing a service for you. Food delivery drivers often rely on tips to help supplement their income. If you’re not able to tip, you could consider ordering your pizza for pickup instead.
Should I tip if the pizza arrives late or cold?
If the pizza arrives late, or if it’s cold, you may want to tip closer to 15% than 20%. However, keep in mind that the delay could be due to the kitchen, not the driver, or that the pizza might be cold if the restaurant is understaffed and the driver has been asked to make more deliveries than usual.
Rather than assume the driver is at fault, contact the restaurant to discuss a refund or a replacement pizza if you’re unhappy.
Do delivery drivers prefer cash or digital tips?
Many pizza delivery drivers prefer cash tips because they receive the money immediately. However, when purchasing pizza with a credit card or on an app, it’s perfectly fine to tip digitally.
How much is the tip for pizza delivery in a small town versus a city?
No matter whether you live in a big city or a small town, the tip is the same — 15% to 20% of the cost of the food you ordered. If your order is small and the pizza place is nearby so that the driver doesn’t have far to go, you might choose to tip a flat $5, or even $3 in a small town with a lower cost of living.
Photo credit: iStock/Antonio_Diaz
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