Tipping is awkward. You're staring at your phone, the smell of Thai curry is practically wafting through the screen, and then—the prompt. DoorDash asks how much you want to give the human being about to drive through five miles of construction to bring you dinner.
A lot of us just tap the middle button. Usually, that's fine. But in 2026, the math on what makes a "good" tip has changed. Between new minimum pay laws in cities like New York and California, and the soaring cost of keeping a car on the road, that old 15% rule doesn't always cut it. Honestly, tipping for delivery isn't like tipping a waiter. It’s more like hiring a private courier.
Why how much should you tip DoorDash isn't about the food price
Most people treat DoorDash like a mobile version of a sit-down restaurant. If the bill is $20, they tip $4. If it’s $100, they tip $20.
But here’s the reality: your driver doesn't care if that bag contains a $10 burrito or a $70 steak. The effort is the same. They are still starting their car, driving to the restaurant, waiting for the kitchen, and navigating your apartment complex's confusing gate code.
The mileage-first mindset
Professional Dashers—the ones who treat this like a business—look at "dollars per mile." If you live five miles away, a 20% tip on a $15 McDonald's order is only $3. With the $2 base pay DoorDash usually kicks in, that driver is making $5 to drive five miles. When you factor in the drive back to a busy area, they’re basically paying to deliver your food.
Basically, you’ve gotta start thinking about distance. A solid rule of thumb that keeps drivers happy is $1.50 to $2 per mile. If the restaurant is three miles away, a $5 or $6 tip is great. If it’s 10 miles away? That 20% tip might actually be an insult if the order total was low.
The 2026 legal landscape: New York and California
Things got weird recently. In New York City, the Mamdani administration pushed through rules that guarantee delivery workers roughly $20 to $30 per hour of active time. Because of this, DoorDash moved the tipping prompt to after checkout in NYC. They claimed it was to keep initial costs down for consumers.
The result? Average tips in the city plummeted from over $3 to about 76 cents.
If you're in a city with these "guaranteed pay" laws, you might feel like you don't need to tip at all. But keep in mind, those "guarantees" only apply to "active time"—the minutes spent actually delivering. Drivers still have to cover their own gas, insurance, and the 15% self-employment tax.
In California, a new law (AB 578) finally stopped the "tip-offsetting" games where companies could effectively use your tip to cover the driver's base pay. Now, your tip is truly an "extra" on top of the base. It’s a win for transparency, but it doesn't change the fact that gas is still $5 a gallon in many places.
The "Asshole" Factor: When to go higher
Sometimes, a standard tip is actually kind of mean. You have to look at the "difficulty" of your specific situation.
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- The Third-Floor Walk-up: If you’re ordering three cases of flavored seltzer and you live on the top floor of a building with no elevator, that $2 tip is a slap in the face.
- The "No Parking" Zone: If your driver has to risk a $60 double-parking ticket just to run your food up to the 12th floor of a downtown high-rise, you should probably bump that tip up.
- The Blizzard/Downpour: If you don't want to go out in the rain, remember that your driver is the one getting soaked. A "weather tax" of an extra $3-$5 is the move here.
- The Shopping Order: If you’re using DoorDash for groceries (Shop & Deliver), you’re asking someone to be your personal shopper. They have to find the specific brand of oat milk you like and weigh the bananas. That takes way more time than grabbing a bag from a counter.
Small orders are the trickiest
If you’re just ordering a single Starbucks latte, DoorDash might suggest a $1 or $2 tip.
Don't do that.
Most veteran drivers won't even look at an order that pays less than $6 total. If DoorDash is paying $2 and you tip $1, your coffee is going to sit on that counter getting cold while ten different drivers "decline" the offer.
Basically, you should have a floor of $4 or $5 for any delivery, even if it’s just a block away. It’s about making the trip worth the driver's time.
How your tip affects your wait time
DoorDash doesn't like to admit it, but your tip is essentially a "bid" for service. When an order pops up on a driver’s phone, they see the total payout (or at least a portion of it).
Low tip = Low desirability.
High tip = Fast pickup.
If you want your fries to actually be crispy, a higher upfront tip is your best bet. While you can add a tip after the delivery, most drivers won't risk taking a low-paying order on the "hope" that you'll be generous later. They’ve been burned too many times.
Summary of the new etiquette
Forget the old 15% standard. It’s outdated.
Instead, look at the mileage. Aim for that $2 per mile mark with a $5 minimum. If you’re in a city with high base pay, you can be a bit more conservative, but don't let the app's UI trick you into thinking the driver is suddenly rich. They aren't. They’re just finally getting a somewhat fair shake.
Check the distance from the restaurant before you hit "Place Order." If it's more than 5 miles, consider that your driver is spending at least 20 minutes of their life on your meal. Tip like you'd want to be tipped if you were the one behind the wheel.
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Actionable Next Steps
Next time you order, look at the "expanded info" on the restaurant page to see the exact mileage to your house. Multiply that number by 1.5. If that number is higher than the suggested tip, go into the "Custom" tip box and enter it manually. This ensures your order gets picked up immediately and your driver actually covers their overhead for the trip.**