How Much Should You Tip Delivery Drivers?

Delivery drivers continue to provide an important service when it comes to supplying the community with curbside or door to door essentials and food delivery. Part of the convenience of food delivery is showing your driver your gratitude with a reasonable, and when possible, generous tip. Recently, there was a scuttle with a delivery driver showing their unhappiness about the tip by complaining, ranting, and then refusing to deliver the food. While I can’t condone the verbal rant or the discourteous behavior, it’s important to be mindful of the effort and risk involved when requesting door to door service. Keep reading for my answer to the question, “How much should you tip delivery drivers?”

Tipping Delivery Drivers

Gratuity is Not Optional

Unless otherwise clearly stated by the retailer, gratuity is always part of the service. The minimum is 15% and when you can do more and are financially able, please consider a more generous amount.

App Plus Cash

You can add your tip to the app and give a little more if you determine the driver had to go out of their way to provide the service. I know there have been times when I used a delivery service with the tip already included when the driver went above and beyond and gave them additional cash when they arrived. You don’t even have to see them; leave a tip in an envelope under your mat at the door.

Tip on the Total

Your driver is taking potential health risks to deliver your food and a few pennies, one way or the other, isn’t going to matter to you. However, it will make all the difference to the driver who allows you to enjoy your meal or receive your groceries without leaving the comfort of your own home.

Consider Your Home Service Providers

You may not usually tip your plumber or electrician when they come out to fix a leak or repair an issue. Walking into a stranger’s home is not comfortable for either of you during this time, but if it’s an emergency, things must get taken care of quickly. When they arrive, you can expect them to wear masks, even hopefully clean shoe covers and gloves when appropriate. Offering them $10 to buy themselves lunch or a latte would be a nice gesture.

Always Be Courteous (Or At Least Show Restraint)

As a driver, you may not agree with the tip, but rants and unkind gestures (i.e. keeping the food!) are never appropriate. Much like restaurants, some people will be better tippers than others and the next time you see their address, perhaps you wait for the next delivery. The last thing you probably want is to be on national news ranting into a home video camera!

You may also like Don’t Blame the Gig Economy for Making Tipping Awkward. For more of Diane’s etiquette tips read her posts on Inc., subscribe to her articles on The Huffington Post, “like” The Protocol School of Texas on Facebook, and follow her on Pinterest,  Instagram and Twitter.