# How much do you tip for pizza delivery? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 20, 2001, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-for-pizza-delivery/88540 "2001-10-20T02:31:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Michele\_in\_SoCal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Michele\_in\_SoCal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michele_in_SoCal)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2001, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-for-pizza-delivery/88540/1 "2001-10-20T02:31:43Z")
Pizza delivery is on the way and as I got the money ready I happened to think, “am I being cheap?” with my tip? I have no idea what the going rate is for pizza delivery. The total bill is just under $20.00 and I plan to give $23.00. What are your thoughts? Do you tip differently depending on how many pizzas, or what the total bill is? Or is there a standard flat rate? (And please hurry because the pizza will arrive in 30 minutes!) [sub]just kidding![/sub] ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2001, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-for-pizza-delivery/88540/2 "2001-10-20T02:34:25Z")
Think of a pizza delivery person as a really good waiter, who is good enough to come to your HOUSE to get your food to you. Give the poor soul 20% (or if you get the $6 minimum delivery, at least $6) And if you live in an especially hard-to-find place, somewhere out of the way, have a big scary dog, or order a lot of pizzas/food for one person to handle, tip extra as if you were being especially hard on a waiter. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2001, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-for-pizza-delivery/88540/3 "2001-10-20T02:36:04Z")
> [@](#): > > or if you get the $6 minimum delivery, at least $6 You knew I meant $2, right? Right. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2001, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-for-pizza-delivery/88540/4 "2001-10-20T02:43:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ZipperJJ \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > or if you get the $6 minimum delivery, at least $6 > > You knew I meant $2, right? > > Right. \*\* I was going to start showing up at your house with pizzas regularly. I’m never sure about this. I don’t see their job as the same as a waiter’s job because they are making one trip to deliver one order. That’s different than stopping by to check on our water glasses, bringing catsup, making sure the sour cream is on the side, bringing the check, etc. So I tend to tip less than 20%, but then feel guilty for a couple of hours afterwards. Tonight we ordered pizza and it was $10.50 and I gave her $15.00 and just asked for $1 in change. That was a big tip for me. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2001, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-for-pizza-delivery/88540/5 "2001-10-20T02:52:31Z")
I’ll think you’ll find [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=55134), on tipping the pizza deliveryman, of interest. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2001, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-for-pizza-delivery/88540/6 "2001-10-20T02:55:33Z")
Many of pizza places pay their drivers commissions along the lines of 20% on their deliveries. I’ve worked at such a place (I know, because I’ve worked there doesn’t mean “many,” but asking around, my perception is “many”). This often means the driver is thrilled if you order a whole lot! Considering how many people _don’t_ tip the pizza guy, or just let him keep the loose change, anything “paper” (in the USA) is a good start. I usually tip $2 to $5, depending on the order size, but I admit to having been in that pizza-delivering-boat. I’d say start at $1 plus the loose change, but not to use 20% as the rule; that could get excessive, since, as has been mentioned here, the pizza guy isn’t a waiter that checks on you all night. ---
**Author:** ![Michele\_in\_SoCal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Michele\_in\_SoCal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michele_in_SoCal)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2001, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-for-pizza-delivery/88540/7 "2001-10-20T03:20:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KarlGauss \* > \*\*I’ll think you’ll find [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=55134), on tipping the pizza deliveryman, of interest. \*\* Thanks for the link, KarlGauss. Rest assured I did a search before posting my question, but I only searched GQ. Whoda thunk there’d be such a thread in the BBQ Pit! It would make it soooo much easier if all forums could be searched at once! * * * The pizza arrived and I stayed with my original ‘$3 + change’ tip. Thank you for your responses. I’m glad to find out I haven’t been undertipping. I would have been embarrassed. It is almost always the same guy (yes, we have pizza delivered about once every two weeks) so I feel like we are his “regulars.” ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2001, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-for-pizza-delivery/88540/8 "2001-10-20T04:04:39Z")
When I lived in the dorms in college we’d give the pizza guy a bong hit for a tip. He was most appreciative. I recognize that times have changed though. These days I give two or three dollars plus the change. Haj ---
**Author:** ![greenteeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@greenteeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greenteeth)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2001, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-for-pizza-delivery/88540/9 "2001-10-20T04:13:14Z")
You guys are totally insane!!! I have never seen anyone in my entire life give anything more than $2 for a simple pizza delivery (not including massive orders). 20% or $6 minimum, are you people insane? Do you live in some sort of bizarro world? Usually I give a buck or two (usually one) and offer em a beer which they usually accept. Perhaps that is not truly the wisest thing to do, but it makes em happy. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ccd318/32.png) [@John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Kentzel-Griffin)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2001, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-for-pizza-delivery/88540/10 "2001-10-20T04:47:46Z")
This doesn’t really have a factual answer; it’s more of a poll. I’ll move it to **IMHO** **DrMatrix** - General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![vex77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c4cdca/32.png) [@vex77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vex77)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2001, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-for-pizza-delivery/88540/11 "2001-10-20T05:28:09Z")
Depends on how cute the delivery boy is. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2001, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-for-pizza-delivery/88540/12 "2001-10-20T06:39:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Michele in SoCal \* > \*\*Pizza delivery is on the way and as I got the money ready I happened to think, “am I being cheap?” with my tip? > > I have no idea what the going rate is for pizza delivery. > > The total bill is just under $20.00 and I plan to give $23.00. > > What are your thoughts? Do you tip differently depending on how many pizzas, or what the total bill is? Or is there a standard flat rate? (And please hurry because the pizza will arrive in 30 minutes!) [sub]just kidding![/sub] \*\* That’s a good tip in my book. As a general rule: divide by 10, then add up to the next dollar. E.g., for $13.57, tip $1.37 + 0.63 = $2. And if you don’t have coins, do the above rule & give him the coins too. So for a $13.57, give him $16 and tell him to keep it. ---
**Author:** ![soulmurk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@soulmurk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulmurk)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2001, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-for-pizza-delivery/88540/13 "2001-10-20T06:54:06Z")
I just round up to the nearest multiple of 5 and tell them to keep the change. Considering an average pizza costs me about $11, a four dollar tip is well worth driving the two blocks and climbing 16 stairs. I’ve noticed that since I’ve started tipping that way, my orders tend to arrive very promptly and the driver is always polite. While a delivery driver may not have all the duties of a waiter, they have the distinct advantage of bringing me my supper, as well as breakfast for the next morning. Two meals in one deserves two tips in one. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2001, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-for-pizza-delivery/88540/14 "2001-10-20T06:55:27Z")
15% for all food tips (including delevery and sit-down eating). ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2001, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-for-pizza-delivery/88540/15 "2001-10-20T11:06:51Z")
I generally tip between $3 and $5 and the delivery guys always seem happy with that. Considering I know many people around here who _don’t tip at all_, any tip is probably much appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2001, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-for-pizza-delivery/88540/16 "2001-10-20T17:18:20Z")
When I was in college I usually tipped change + $2, which for 1 pizza was somewhere in the %20-%25 range. I think I was the most generous of my roommates. Of course, once some budding entreprenuer opened a pizza restaurant _inside_ our dorm, delivery became a moot issue. And now I live in a country where there’s no tipping for anything, which makes things a lot more convenient. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2001, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-for-pizza-delivery/88540/17 "2001-10-20T17:20:10Z")
I just realized that percent signs are supposed to go after the numbers. Odd, it looked right when I previewed. ---
**Author:** ![Kbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Kbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kbean)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2001, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-for-pizza-delivery/88540/18 "2001-10-21T00:10:19Z")
I usually give him a pretty good tip, because I live way out in the boonies, and most pizza places usually will refuse to come all the way out here. I guess about 5 bucks. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2001, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-for-pizza-delivery/88540/19 "2001-10-21T00:19:31Z")
The place I order from is only three blocks from my house, so I usually intend to tip a buck or two. However, my math skills are so weak I usually over-tip. Last time, I got my pizza, closed the door, and realized I’d just tipped the pizza girl eight bucks. ---
**Author:** ![Booker57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Booker57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Booker57)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2001, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-for-pizza-delivery/88540/20 "2001-10-21T03:40:50Z")
My 77 year old mother ordered a sheet pizza. The price was $19.80. She gave the driver a Twenty and told him to keep the change. Caught the kid in the driveway and gave him another five dollars. Mom doesn’t get out much. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-for-pizza-delivery/88540.md?page=2)