# The facts, please, on tipping standards for food delivery **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 9, 2011, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-facts-please-on-tipping-standards-for-food-delivery/581254 "2011-05-09T10:47:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-facts-please-on-tipping-standards-for-food-delivery/581254/21 "2011-05-10T01:38:09Z")
I said "the formula for the \*\*minimum \*\*tip ". I was looking for some round numbers, and a dollar per mile and/or 10% seemed like I was asking a bit much. I didn’t want a too-complicated formula, so I came up with that, ran it through a few scenarios to see how I’d feel, and then added “minimum” before I posted it. But feel free to double that. If I got a $3 tip on that delivery, I wouldn’t feel cheated. That would actually be on the high side of average. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-facts-please-on-tipping-standards-for-food-delivery/581254/22 "2011-05-10T01:40:37Z")
Ask yourself if you delivered it? Also it depends on ones budget, e.g a student. $5 to $7, but for a student, $2. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-facts-please-on-tipping-standards-for-food-delivery/581254/23 "2011-05-10T01:58:52Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > I tip at least 20% for drivers - come on, it’s raining out there, they have to drive their own cars, and I don’t think they actually do make minimum wage. And my pizza is probably hotter than you "maybe 15%"ers. True. Drivers know who the consistently good tippers are. We didn’t have much leeway in moving people up or down in the order, unless it was to double a run to the same neighborhood, but our computer had a note field, and it often told us whether to make that house first or last on the set. And there were some people who drivers would do everything possible to expedite things for. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-facts-please-on-tipping-standards-for-food-delivery/581254/24 "2011-05-10T02:14:27Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > If you want to be remembered forever. Tip a pizza driver really big and attach it to a story. Instant immortality. What does “attach it to a story” mean? Tell the driver a tall tale while he waits? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-facts-please-on-tipping-standards-for-food-delivery/581254/25 "2011-05-10T02:37:25Z")
Data point: during my second run through college, I briefly worked for a local food delivery service. They contracted with local restaurants, and then treated their drivers (probably illegally) as independent contractors. We got no hourly wage at all; instead, we got $4.00/delivery, plus tips. Because they charged a delivery fee anyway, people often gave me a buck tip or so on a $20 order. We covered a tremendous area; it wasn’t uncommon for me to spend 45 minutes round trip for a single delivery. I set up a spreadsheet for tax purposes, and at one point I plugged in the IRS formula for estimating wear and tear on a vehicle used for commercial purposes. When I realized that, deducting wear and tear I’d only made minimum wage on one night of deliveries, and that on another night I’d actually paid for the privilege of working, I quit without notice. Moral of the story: tip those delivery drivers well. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-facts-please-on-tipping-standards-for-food-delivery/581254/26 "2011-05-10T02:40:32Z")
[Here’s one interested party’s guidelines](http://www.tipthepizzaguy.com/general/amount.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-facts-please-on-tipping-standards-for-food-delivery/581254/27 "2011-05-10T02:51:10Z")
> [@Darth\_Sensitive](#): > > True. Drivers know who the consistently good tippers are. We didn’t have much leeway in moving people up or down in the order, unless it was to double a run to the same neighborhood, but our computer had a note field, and it often told us whether to make that house first or last on the set. And there were some people who drivers would do everything possible to expedite things for. You know, I was doing the whole 30 day paleo thing until I ended up with what I’m quite sure is a sinus infection with a hurt tummy, and I was crazy craving pizza so I ordered one. Papa John’s in their e-mail said it was a 60-85 minute wait. 20 minutes, baby, and it was hot. ---
**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-facts-please-on-tipping-standards-for-food-delivery/581254/28 "2011-05-10T03:31:42Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > … Papa John’s in their e-mail said it was a 60-85 minute wait. 20 minutes, baby, and it was hot. This is actually a pet-peeve of mine. A bit off-topic, but before I started delivering, one evening I got home from a hard day at work and didn’t want to fix anything, so I ordered a pizza (from Pizza Hut, not from the place where I would eventually work.) I live less than a mile from their store, but I wanted to drink a beer and shower instead of going out. They told me it would be 45 minutes, so I hopped in the shower. I got out of the shower 20 - 25 minutes after I ordered the pizza and noticed a missed call on my cell phone. Turns out that the “45 minutes” was actually less than 20, and the driver had rang my doorbell and tried to call, but I was not available. So I had to call them, and they had to send the driver back out. Sucked for the driver, but they were way off on their ETA. So now when I take an order I try to give a more accurate ETA. If they are 2 blocks away and we aren’t busy, I’ll tell them that it will probably be less than 20 minutes. I understand that it’s better to give somebody a slightly exaggerated ETA and do better than vice versa. But get close. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-facts-please-on-tipping-standards-for-food-delivery/581254/29 "2011-05-10T04:07:24Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > [Here’s one interested party’s guidelines](http://www.tipthepizzaguy.com/general/amount.htm). I tip two dollars on a pizza order less than $20. However, recently I have stopped ordering pizza when I realized that between delivery fees and tip I was paying an extra $4 above the actual price of the food. Suddenly that $9.50 pizza deal turned into $13.50. So I just go pick up the pizza myself now. ---
**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-facts-please-on-tipping-standards-for-food-delivery/581254/30 "2011-05-10T04:26:01Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > I tip two dollars on a pizza order less than $20. However, recently I have stopped ordering pizza when I realized that between delivery fees and tip I was paying an extra $4 above the actual price of the food. Suddenly that $9.50 pizza deal turned into $13.50. So I just go pick up the pizza myself now. Yeah, it is cheaper to just go pick it up yourself, and if you’re sober and out anyway, then that’s the more frugal way to go. We have carryout-specials\*, so picking it up is cheaper even without factoring in the delivery charge. Of course, it’s even cheaper to make your own food. Convenience has a price. This thread is about trying to nail down that price. I’m sure that the store manager is still happy to have your business, and I doubt that any of the drivers are terribly torn up about losing your $2. - At our store it is $8.63 (with tax) for pickup vs. ~$12 for delivery for a large 1-topping. For two large specialty pizzas it’s $20.51 vs. about $26. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-facts-please-on-tipping-standards-for-food-delivery/581254/31 "2011-05-10T04:28:34Z")
There is no standard because there is no standard on how the drivers are paid. some get hourly wages, some don’t. some get gas money, some don’t. some get delivery fees, some don’t. If you tip everybody 15%, some are making $20 an hour, some are making minimum wage. Ask the pizza place how they pay their driver if you want to make sure they’re compensated appropriately. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-facts-please-on-tipping-standards-for-food-delivery/581254/32 "2011-05-12T16:40:49Z")
\*\* > [@Musicat](#): > > What does “attach it to a story” mean? Tell the driver a tall tale while he waits? It doesn’t have to be a big story. I still remember the “we finished Christmas shopping today and we’re under budget - Merry Christmas!” folks. And that probably happened somewhere around 1985. It can be as simple as “I had a great day today, hope you do too” or “the tax return came in.” One delivery guy brought half of a story with him. About 2 or 3 years ago, I opened my door to a short, wiry, maybe early middle-aged guy who happily started intoning "In brightest day, in darkest night. . . " Yes, he had filked the Green Lantern Oath into a pizza delivering oath. I laughed. Then I overtipped him. Figured what would be a good tip and doubled it. He glanced at it, looked surprised, and then thanked me in an ‘aw, you didn’t have to do that’ kind of way. I said, hey, I got a quick pizza and the Green Lantern. How could I not show my appreciation? He nearly burst. Said I was only the second person, ever, to recognize the poem. I think he enjoyed that more than the tip. I bet he still remembers. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-facts-please-on-tipping-standards-for-food-delivery/581254/33 "2011-05-12T17:03:35Z")
I tip a flat $5 on delivery orders unless it’s unusually large or unusually bad weather. I don’t know why, but % seems like a lousy way to think about delivery: it just doesn’t play that big of a role in the amount of work the driver does. When eating out, if you order appetizers and desserts and mixed drinks, you are more work, so it makes sense to tip more. In the end, though, I don’t really like paying extra for tip + delivery fee, so I have pretty much quit ordering delivery: I can’t remember the last time we didn’t just go pick it up. ---
**Author:** ![Iggins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Iggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggins)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-facts-please-on-tipping-standards-for-food-delivery/581254/34 "2011-05-12T23:11:14Z")
I kinda use a sliding scale. I usually only order one pizza and no sides, so that’s a $4-5 tip. If I ordered extra pies or sides, then it’s ~$2 per additional item. So, for a big dinner (2 pies and wings, for example) would be ~$9-10 tip. More if I’m already drunk. ---
**Author:** ![Uber\_the\_Goober](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/58956e/32.png) [@Uber\_the\_Goober](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uber_the_Goober)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-facts-please-on-tipping-standards-for-food-delivery/581254/35 "2011-05-12T23:18:21Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > In the US, in the Midwest, what is the generally accepted convention (as opposed to your opinion) as to how much a food delivery driver (i.e., pizza) is supposed to be tipped? > > My impression has been that the standard tip is less than that generally given to waitstaff–since the person has merely delivered your food and has not waited on you in any sense. > > But I am seeing delivery drivers complain about tips less than fifteen percent. (Not in person–on a discussion forum). > > Is there a fifteen percent standard for delivery people too? Former pizza delivery guy here - and I didn’t read the whole thread…so forgive me if I’m being repetitious…but I gotta chime in before I lose my thought. Not less than $4 or $5, regardless of the percentage. However, maintaining a percentage as the total price goes up is just good etiquette. Yes…all we did was “bring you your food”. :rolleyes: All we did was enable you to save 15 minutes, maybe an hour of your life. Time you didn’t have to spend driving to get your food. Time spent working, maybe playing with your kids, maybe getting freaky with your wife. Bottom line is - how much is that time worth? The time you just saved? No, the delivery guy shouldn’t be tipped $300 if you are a lawyer and that’s your hourly rate. However, just be reasonable. These guys make their living driving around all day. Gas is pricey, as is vehicle maintenance. If the guy was late, more often than not it had nothing to do with him…it’s because the retard that took your order over the phone quoted you a delivery time that was unrealistic based on the business volume at the time. So have a heart. If you aren’t willing to\*\* pay for the service\*\* of having your food delivered…then perhaps you shouldn’t ask someone to deliver it for you. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Know\_Nothing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f04885/32.png) [@I\_Know\_Nothing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Know_Nothing)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-facts-please-on-tipping-standards-for-food-delivery/581254/36 "2011-05-13T00:21:23Z")
Being a former waiter I always tip 20% or more. I am a little iffy about how much to tip, if at all, when I pick it up myself? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-facts-please-on-tipping-standards-for-food-delivery/581254.md?page=1)