If you’ve ever ordered a box of pizza, then you might have been confused about how much to tip pizza delivery driver.
Some argue they are to be tipped according to the cost of your purchase while others feel they shouldn’t be tipped in the first place.
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Technically, you are not under any form of obligation to tip a pizza delivery person. However, not leaving a tip out for them could be perceived as ungrateful.
This could affect how quickly your orders are delivered and how well you are attended to.
So, if you have it in mind to tip your pizza delivery driver then you should check out these tips on how you could achieve that.
How much to tip for pizza delivery?
Popularly delivery guys are tipped an average of $3 for every order that isn’t more than $20. For deliveries over $20, you could opt to tip between 10 to 15% of the original price of your order.
Some orders also go overboard the normal pricing as a result of the quantity of your order. You might try to order for a birthday party, family hangout, or whatever big event that has pizza on its menu.
These orders take more as the delivery guy has to load tens of boxes into your home. So, for these kinds of orders, I’d recommend a minimum 20 % tip.
Also, if your order was completed in a good attitude then you should consider adding some extra dollars. This would be a form of appreciation to the driver.
By the way, you can use our simple pizza tip calculator to find out how much to tip a pizza delivery guy.
Get The Right Tip Amount With Our Tip Calculator
Looking for the fastest way to answer this question? Use our pizza tip calculator.
Why tip a pizza delivery driver?
Plenty of times we are concerned about why we are expected to tip that guy that brings our pizza. Some believe these guys are paid enough to keep them boxed up, but are they? How much in tips do pizza delivery drivers make?
Well, let me show you a few reasons why those guys should be handed that arm of favor.
The delivery fee rarely goes to the driver:
When you order a box of pizza and pay to have it delivered, the fee goes through a chain of command. From the business owners and finally to cover the expense of running the vehicle. On rare occasions do the drivers get a sneak of the cash as it is passed along the channels.
Also, some businesses may split the fee with the driver while some smaller ones give the entirety to the driver to supplement their pay. These fees are barely enough to get them through.
However, the delivery fee is just that after all (just gets the box to your house). It doesn’t pass for a tip and never should be allowed to get in the way of passing that tip along.
Assumptions get in the way of a substantial pay:
That fact delivery guys are assumed to get sufficient tips makes their pay substantially lower than other staff members. This gets them just enough to work another day.
Some businesses pay tipped employees much lower than minimum wage by Federal standards. non-tipped employees make about $7 an hour, while tipped employees are paid in the tune of $2 per hour.
By the way, you can use our simple pizza tip calculator to find out how much to tip a pizza delivery guy.
Get your box delivered on time:
Remember, tipping that driver is still a choice!
Nobody is waiting to spank you in the butt when you don’t give out a few notes to that delivery guy. But then, do you want to withhold that tip from them?
Customers who don’t tip are always shoved to the bottom of the delivery list. So, if your box constantly arrives cold you should check how often you tip the driver.
Drivers do all the jobs:
Drivers are what you’d call the grunts of the store, and they do every job inside it. From cleaning the store at the opening, fold boxes to taking orders, down to boxing them, and a lot more. They serve as support staff members and gets the store running.
Drivers are the last employees to the office just behind the manager on duty. They are also the first to arrive. Combine that with their unimpressive pay and the fact that they deliver your food, you’d realize that they work quite hard.
Related – Is pizza delivery a flexible job? – Refusing a pizza delivery.
Tipping Etiquette FAQs
Do I tip the driver if there is a delivery charge?
Please never think of replacing the tip with a delivery fee. I’d advise you tip the same as you would on a good day. The fee is just an additional payment on your bill for the business and hardly ever gets to the driver.
However, even big and popular chains of pizza fast food like Domino’s, Papa John’s, and Pizza Hut, do not get this fee to the driver. Pizza companies pretend to have low prices just for the appeal, so they use the fee to add up.
Drivers have always thrived on tips and receive a minimum wage. This started in years before the emergence of delivery fees. Companies that offer drivers $4 per hour, would have a $2.50 delivery charge, yet not give it to the driver. They always believe the tips would make up the difference.
The surcharge is expected to cover the rising cost of raw materials and hourly wages for their employees. In a small store, the delivery fee makes up the pay for the driver’s hourly wage. They most likely start the driver wage at nothing or a $2 hourly pay and then make it up with the fee.
How the fee is spent varies from business to business as even a small store might keep some of the fees for itself. At their best, the store uses the fee to subsidize the gas reimbursement that we get. Look at it like this, if my store charges about $2 for delivery then at most I’m likely to get $1.29 per delivery to cover for the gas.
Some stores expect us, the delivery guys to get paid by customer tips and are less concerned if you don’t. Some national pizza businesses state it clearly on the side of their box that the delivery fee is not a tip.
By the way, you can use our simple pizza tip calculator to find out how much to tip a pizza delivery guy.
Do I tip less if the driver is late?
There are a lot of factors that contribute to late deliveries. The fault might be from the delivery guy or even the kitchen themselves. In cases where the kitchen boxes the wrong order, the delivery guy is obligated to correct it, which might cost him a substantial amount of his pizza delivery time.
This extra time cause late deliveries and a lot of customers might not understand this, which isn’t their fault. They might move on to refuse to tip the delivery guy which is somewhat unfair.
Other factors that could cause late deliveries are traffic and how fast are the drivers in front of them. Anyways the customers only recognize factors they feel are convenient for their timing. But if he shows up on time, also up his tipping to be just.
Furthermore, some drivers have a reputation for getting the pizza delivered past the required time. But, if the lateness is prominent from different drivers from the same store, then it most likely isn’t the driver’s fault. The inside staff were probably to blame and he doesn’t deserve to be stiffed.
Note, you should keep in mind that each stiff might build your reputation as a popular stiffer. Word may get out and cause drivers to delay your order on purpose.
How much do I tip for large catering orders?
Large catering orders require the delivery guy to carry more boxes and exert more energy than a regular order. Shouldn’t he then be tipped for the extra stress? Well, this is something you should consider.
For big orders, you shouldn’t tip less than 10%. Any more than four items and means that the driver is going to need extra hot-bags, carry extra weight, and you probably got your pizza earlier than normal. Most delivery guys respond to you faster because they expect a bigger tip.
As the size of the order goes up, the tip amount should as well. People who argue that tipping a percentage isn’t necessary because the driver isn’t doing any extra work lack exposure. If you’ve ever tried carrying up to 20 pizzas up a flight of stairs then you’d know it’s a big deal.
I’d recommend tipping about 20% for such a large delivery but 10% would be okay at the least.
Am I to tip less if the driver is incorrect?
Mistakes are inevitable parts of human living. Orders have been delivered wrongly for a long time now and it shouldn’t be alien to you anymore.
Never forget that the delivery guys don’t cook your food!
If your order is wrong then it isn’t their fault!
They are drivers, not the cook, and not the person you should take out your frustrations on. If your order is wrong then they have to come back out to your home. This would cost them extra gas money and time, even though it isn’t their fault.
So, I’d recommend that you still tipped. Delivery guys are just delivery guys!
By the way, you can use our simple pizza tip calculator to find out how much to tip a pizza delivery guy.
How am I to tip a pizza delivery guy when I only have a credit card?
When the box gets to your home, you might have just exhausted all the spare change lying around. Some others do not even like the idea of having any of those lying around and opt to handle all their transactions with a debit card.
In cases like this, the pizza delivery guy would come along with a document for you to sign. In the receipt, a line for tips would be included as is obtainable in regular restaurants. So, all you need do is include your tip, add up the total, and sign off.
For this option to work, you need to readily pay online or call to give out your credit card number. Some drivers are equipped with a card reader that you can easily slide your card across, but it isn’t a popular option.
Do I tip differently if I get pizza from a chain restaurant?
It doesn’t work like that. Chain restaurants like Domino’s, Pizza hut and Papa John’s have similar delivery policies as the smaller stores. They are quite as reliant on tips as their colleagues in smaller stores and not tipping them would be unfair.
I’d recommend you consider them as tip worthy as any other in their line of work.
By the way, you can use our simple pizza tip calculator to find out how much to tip a pizza delivery guy.
Do you tip Uber Eats?
If he delivered the pizza to your home? Then, yes!
The tipping culture remains unchanged no matter the application you order from. Just stick to the normal service of at least $3 or even more, depending on how great the service was.
Do I still need to tip the delivery driver if I ordered online?
This shouldn’t be up for debate if you already have a culture of tipping the delivery driver. Placing your orders online is merely a convenience for you but everything remains unchanged for the delivery guys.
So, if the delivery guy is still performing his or her duty then I’d suggest you find some spare cash and place a smile on their faces. For instances where you cannot pay with cash then you can sign the receipt he would provide you. There you would find the tip line.
Conclusion:
Tipping that pizza delivery guy is not compulsory, but then putting a smile on a person’s face wouldn’t be that bad. A number of these guys don’t get paid enough to cater to the transportation expenses. They are compelled to rely on these tips to keep them afloat.
You might try to argue that some deliveries end badly but on most occasions, they are hardly traced back to the delivery guys. So, if you are not satisfied with your box, I’d recommend you hit up the store manager and find out why.
Don’t fault a delivery guy for things that are beyond their control.
FAQs
How do you calculate tip for 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).
How much do you tip for pizza delivery on $30? ›Calculate How Much to Tip Pizza Delivery
10% or below for inadequate service. 20% for excellent service. 18% for large $100+ orders. $3 minimum for small orders under $20.
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 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.
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.
How much do you tip for delivery? ›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.
How much do you tip for 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.
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.
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.
Is it rude to not tip pizza? ›What the etiquette expert says: Just like at coffee shops, tipping on takeout orders is optional, says Orr. “There isn't an expectation that you tip since you haven't [received service].” If you're paying with cash, you can always round up or leave some change as a gesture of good will, but that's totally your call.
How much do you tip on a $20 order? ›
People generally tip 15-20% of the bill. To calculate tip multiply the total check by 1 plus the decimal percentage tip you'd like to leave. If you wanted to leave a 20% tip, you would add 1 to 0.20 to get 1.20. Multiply the bill by 1.20 to get the total amount you'd leave including tip.
Do delivery drivers know if you tip? ›If you're wondering whether your Uber Eats delivery driver can see if you added a tip before they bring you your order, the answer is yes. The version of the app-based food delivery platform that Uber Eats drivers use shows them how much their customers added as a tip or if they decided not to tip at all.
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 10% pizza tip good? ›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. The farther your home is from the pizzeria, the higher the tip.
Is 10% tip good for takeout? ›“An appropriate amount to tip on takeout orders would be approximately 10% to 12%,” says Kane. The time it takes to prepare your order is much less than waiting on your table in the restaurant, and does not require a customary higher tip.
How much do you tip for $300 delivery? ›Tipping on your grocery delivery isn't required, but tips are the bulk of a shopper's pay in most cases. It's important to keep that in mind each time you place grocery delivery orders. If you want to show your appreciation for a job well done, you should leave at least 10-15% on your order.
How much do you tip for $70 delivery? ›15-20% of the bill, including drinks.
Is a 4 dollar tip good? ›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.
Should you always tip delivery? ›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.
Is 6 A good tip for delivery? ›So what should you give? Some experts suggest a good tip is 20% of your bill or $5, whichever is higher, for your delivery drivers. In addition, you should also consider a few more things and adjust your tip accordingly: If you have a large order for a party or your office, consider adding a few dollars more.
Do people still tip delivery drivers? ›
A tip on top of what has been factored into your bill as payment to the delivery driver is entirely voluntary. However when, for humanitarian reasons, you want to spread extra happiness, just do this quietly without mentioning it to your co-diners.
How much should I tip for a $50 meal? ›In the U.S., a tip of 15% of the before tax meal price is typically expected.
What is a 20% tip on $40? ›| Bill: | $40.00 |
|---|---|
| Tip: | $8.00 |
| Total: | $48.00 |
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.
How much do you tip on a $15 pizza? ›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.
Do pizza drivers prefer cash tips? ›Most prefer cash, because they can choose not to report it, thus they won't get taxed on it.
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.
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 do you tip without cash? ›Most U.S. restaurants already accept cashless tips via credit cards or at your point-of-sale system (POS). That means consumers can easily tip, even if they're not carrying cash.
Why you shouldn't tip at all? ›
Studies have shown that tipping is not an effective incentive for performance in servers. It also creates an environment in which people of color, young people, old people, women, and foreigners tend to get worse service than white males.
How much do you tip a hairdresser on $200? ›$50 service = $10 tip. $100 service = $20 tip. $150 service = $30 tip. $200 service = $40 tip.
Are you supposed to tip 10 or 20%? ›Even if the service is poor, it's recommended you leave at least 10 percent. * Check your tab carefully because some places add a gratuity to the bill. You may or may not want to supplement that. For the wait staff at sit-down restaurants, the tip should be 15 percent to 20 percent of the pretax bill.
How much do you tip a hairdresser on $100? ›When you spend $100 on highlights, how much is expected? "The industry standard for gratuity is within the range of 18 percent to 22 percent for excellent service," says director of salon operations at Devachan Salon, Rebecca Matthews.
Is $5 a good tip for Uber Eats? ›In a survey done by US Foods, delivery drivers and customers agree that $4 is a reasonable tip for those delivering food. However, 60% of drivers surveyed say they're either not being tipped or not tipped enough.
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.
Is a $2 tip good for a $10 order? ›Yes. The delivery charge is not for the driver— it's for the business, and the convenience of not having to go pick it up yourself. A tip is a thank-you from you to the driver, and has nothing to do with the restaurant.
Is 7 dollars a good tip for delivery? ›Unlike tipping a waiter, there isn't a "standard" tip for delivery. Matt Maloney, co-founder of Grubhub, suggests a minimum tip amount of $5 or 20%, as long as the service was good.
Is a 10 inch pizza too much for one person? ›The rule of thumb is that one 10-inch pizza will feed eight people. So, if you need to feed more than 10 people, the best option is to just order four 10-inch pizzas.
How many slices is a large pizza? ›A large pizza is typically 14 inches in diameter, while a medium pizza is about 12 inches. But the size isn't the only difference between these two pizza types. A large pizza has 10 slices, while a medium pizza has 8.
Who tips better males or females? ›
The survey results showed that restaurant servers and bartenders might not see a meaningful difference between the sexes and tipping. Figures were mostly consistent when it came to tipping restaurant servers, with 95% for both men and women tipping these workers regularly.
Is it rude to not tip for takeout? ›"Tipping on takeout orders is the right thing to do," says H.G. Parsa, professor of lodging management at the University of Denver. "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.
Should I tip if I order at counter? ›Leaving a tip at the counter is not necessary, lifestyle and etiquette expert Elaine Swann told Fox News Digital in a recent interview. "Etiquette would dictate that that is not a requirement," she said.
Can you tip less than 10%? ›It's fine to tip less than you normally would, even as little as 10 percent (but no less).
What is a good tip for a $20 bill? ›People generally tip 15-20% of the bill.
Is 10 tip good 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. The only exception is when you order a super-cheap meal, say $10 or less. In that case, give the driver a flat tip.
Do you tip for takeout 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 a hairdresser on $300? ›$100 service = $20 tip. $150 service = $30 tip. $200 service = $40 tip. $300 service = $60 tip.
How much do you tip a hairdresser for $150? ›Remember the golden rule: "You should tip 20 percent on the entire service cost, not per individual," says Schweitzer. So if your haircut and blow-dry cost $40 total, and your color was $60, your total service cost comes to $100. That means you should tip $20 divided between the colorist and stylist.
How much do you tip a hairdresser for $250? ›You should tip 18% - 22% for good service and 25% for excellent service. A quality hair coloring requires a lot of skill and your hairdresser should feel appreciated for their hard work.
How much do you tip on a $10 delivery? ›
My take on How Much to Tip the Delivery Person:
If you have a decent size order and the place is within a mile or two of your house, I can see 10% being reasonable – but I'd never go under that. And if it is more than a few miles and a small order, under $10 or so, I'd probably go up to 20% or more.
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.
How much do you tip for a $10 dollar meal? ›If you prefer to take the percentage route, 18–20% is generally accepted as “proper,” so 18% of $10 would be $1.80, and 20% would be $2. My personal formula is Good Service = 15%, Excellent Service = 20%.
Is 3 enough 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.