Here’s How Much You Should Tip for Pizza Delivery

Updated: Feb. 27, 2024

Close-up of female customer receiving pizza boxes with takeaway at home from delivery man hands

DIKUSHIN/GETTY IMAGES

Reference this guide for how much to tip a pizza delivery if you ordered from a local joint or used a food app.

We’ve all been there: It’s dinnertime, everyone’s hangry, and the fridge is bare. Luckily, ordering food delivery has never been easier. From classic pizza delivery to the many food delivery apps, odds are that you can get your favorite restaurant food brought right to your front door.

The catch? It’s still super awkward to know exactly how much to tip. We’ve pulled together a handy guide to how much to tip pizza delivery (and how much to tip in 2023 everywhere else).

We also taste-tested to find the best pizza chain and found a clear winner.

What is the minimum tip?

Canvasing the internet, we’ve learned that almost everyone agrees on a $5 minimum. (If you live in a small town with a small driving radius, experts say a $3 minimum is fine.) With so many people opting for takeout and delivery over dining at a restaurant nowadays, many people tip for delivery using dine-in minimum guideline of 15-20% of the total bill.

If you think about the time it takes a driver to grab the food from the restaurant, drive it to your place, wait for you to come to the door and then head back to the restaurant, you’re looking at 20 minutes, but probably more. Ask yourself: Would I take that trip for less?

Remember that most delivery people drive their own cars and pay for all associated expenses (like gas), not to mention, accept the permanent aroma of pepperoni pizza embedded in their upholstery. (This wouldn’t be a problem if robots ever start delivering pizza.)

Do delivery fees change the minimum tip?

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. The tipping rules for takeout aren’t necessarily the same as delivery.

When should you tip more than the minimum?

If your order falls under the following conditions, you should tip more—at least 20%.

Bad weather, like sleet or snow (but we don’t think you should order then at all)
Party-sized orders (think 10 pizzas, or tons of entrees with lots of sides)
For delivery outside the normal delivery range
If the driver called with updates or otherwise went above and beyond

Should you ever tip less than the minimum?

If the driver is overtly rude, runs over your prized flower beds, drops the food or commits some other obvious offense, then you can give a lower tip.

What if the food arrives late, or ice cold? That might be on the restaurant, not the driver. If you have a complaint with your food, it’s generally best to tip the driver the minimum, and then call the restaurant to complain. They may take care of you with refunds or coupons.

The Bottom Line of Tipping

We get it: Tipping can get pricey, especially on top of fees. You’re paying for the convenience and the extra time and effort it takes the restaurant and delivery person. You can always try our pick for the top-rated frozen pizza brand!

Restaurant Recipes to Make at Home

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Baked Egg Rolls These egg rolls are low in fat but the crispiness from baking will fool you into thinking they were fried! —Barbara Lierman, Lyons, Nebraska Go to Recipe

Pepperoni Pan Pizza Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Pepperoni Pan PizzaI've spent years trying to come up with the perfect pizza crust and sauce, and they're paired up in this recipe. I fix this crispy, savory pizza for my family often, and it really satisfies my husband and sons. —Susan Lindahl, Alford, Florida