Do you want to make some extra cash by delivering food to hungry customers? If so, you might be wondering how much money you can make with DoorDash, one of the most popular food delivery apps in the US. In this article, we will answer this question and give you some tips and strategies to maximize your earnings with DoorDash.
How Does DoorDash Pay Dashers?
DoorDash pays its drivers, or Dashers, based on three components: base pay, tips, and promotions. Let’s take a look at each of them.
Base pay
Base pay is the amount that DoorDash pays you for each delivery. It ranges from $2 to $10, depending on the estimated time, distance, and desirability of the order. Base pay is calculated before you accept the order, so you can see how much you will earn upfront.
Tips
Tips are the extra money that customers give you for your service. You get to keep 100% of the tips you receive from customers. Tips are not included in the base pay, so they are added to your earnings after you complete the delivery. Customers can tip you either in cash or through the app.
Promotions
Promotions are the incentives that DoorDash offers to Dashers to encourage them to deliver more orders. There are two types of promotions: peak pay and challenges.
- Peak pay is the extra money that DoorDash pays you for each delivery during busy times or in high-demand areas. Peak pay can vary from $1 to $5 or more per order, depending on the market conditions. You can see if peak pay is available in your area before you start dashing.
- Challenges are the bonuses that DoorDash pays you for completing a certain number of deliveries within a specific time frame. For example, you might get a $20 bonus for completing 15 deliveries in a week. Challenges are updated weekly and vary by market. You can see the available challenges in your app.
Factors That Affect Dasher Pay
The amount of money you can make with DoorDash depends on several factors, such as your location, order desirability, and mileage. Here are some of them:
Location
The location where you dash can have a significant impact on your earnings. Some areas have more demand for food delivery than others, which means more orders and higher tips. Also, some areas have higher base pay and peak pay rates than others, which means more money per order. You can check the map in your app to see which areas are hotspots for orders and where peak pay is available.
Order desirability
The desirability of an order refers to how attractive it is for Dashers to accept it. Some orders are more desirable than others because they have higher base pay, higher tips, shorter distance, or faster service. You can see the desirability of an order by looking at the total amount that DoorDash offers you before you accept it. The higher the amount, the more desirable the order.
Mileage
The mileage of an order refers to how far you have to drive to pick up and deliver the food. The mileage of an order affects your earnings because it affects your base pay, your gas expenses, and your time. Generally, shorter orders have higher base pay and lower gas costs than longer orders. However, longer orders might have higher tips or peak pay than shorter orders. You can see the mileage of an order before you accept it in your app.
Strategies to Maximize Earnings with DoorDash
If you want to make more money with DoorDash, here are some strategies that you can use:
Drive in high-demand areas
One of the best ways to increase your earnings with DoorDash is to drive in areas where there is a lot of demand for food delivery. These areas usually have more orders, higher tips, and higher peak pay rates than other areas. You can find these areas by looking at the map in your app and following the color codes:
- Red: Very busy
- Pink: Busy
- Gray: Normal
- Light gray: Slow
You can also use the schedule feature in your app to book shifts in advance in high-demand areas.
Focus on busy hours
Another way to boost your earnings with DoorDash is to focus on delivering during busy hours when there is more demand for food delivery. These hours usually coincide with meal times, such as breakfast, lunch, and dinner. During these hours, you can expect more orders, higher tips, and higher peak pay rates than other hours. You can see when peak pay is available in your area in your app.
Prioritize restaurant orders
A third way to increase your earnings with DoorDash is to prioritize restaurant orders over grocery or convenience store orders. Restaurant orders tend to have higher base pay, higher tips, and faster service than other types of orders. Also, restaurant orders usually have lower mileage and less waiting time than other types of orders. You can see the type of order before you accept it in your app.
Get a second driving gig
A fourth way to maximize your earnings with DoorDash is to get a second driving gig with another food delivery app, such as Uber Eats, Grubhub, or Postmates. By having a second driving gig, you can increase your chances of getting more orders and earning more money. You can also compare the offers from different apps and choose the ones that pay you the most. However, you should be careful not to accept orders that conflict with each other or that are too far apart.
Is DoorDash Driving Worth It?
DoorDash driving can be a great way to make some extra cash on your own schedule. However, it is not a get-rich-quick scheme. You have to consider the costs and risks involved, such as gas, maintenance, insurance, taxes, and safety. You also have to compare it to other side hustle options, such as online surveys, freelancing, or blogging.
Here are some tips for success if you decide to become a Dasher:
- Track your expenses and income. Use an app or a spreadsheet to keep track of how much money you spend and earn with DoorDash. This will help you calculate your net income and plan your budget.
- Set realistic goals and expectations. Don’t expect to make a lot of money with DoorDash right away. It takes time and effort to learn the ropes and build a reputation. Set realistic goals for how much money you want to make and how many hours you want to work.
- Be professional and courteous. Treat your customers and restaurant staff with respect and kindness. Follow the instructions and preferences of your customers. Deliver the food on time and in good condition. Communicate clearly and politely with your customers and DoorDash support. This will help you get more ratings, reviews, and tips.
- Take advantage of the perks and benefits. As a Dasher, you can enjoy some perks and benefits from DoorDash, such as discounts, rewards, insurance, education, and health care. You can find more information about these perks and benefits in your app or on the DoorDash website.
There are also other ways to make money with DoorDash besides driving, such as:
- Referring new drivers or customers. You can earn a bonus for each new driver or customer that you refer to DoorDash using your referral code or link. You can find your referral code or link in your app or on the DoorDash website.
- Becoming a Dasher mentor. You can earn extra money by helping new drivers learn the ropes and improve their skills. You can apply to become a Dasher mentor on the DoorDash website.
- Joining the Dasher Community Council. You can earn recognition and rewards by sharing your feedback and ideas with DoorDash and other Dashers. You can apply to join the Dasher Community Council on the DoorDash website.
Conclusion
DoorDash is one of the most popular food delivery apps in the US that allows you to make money by delivering food to hungry customers. The amount of money you can make with DoorDash depends on several factors, such as your location, order desirability, and mileage. You can also use some strategies to maximize your earnings with DoorDash, such as driving in high-demand areas, focusing on busy hours, prioritizing restaurant orders, and getting a second driving gig.
DoorDash driving can be a great way to make some extra cash on your own schedule, but it is not a get-rich-quick scheme. You have to consider the costs and risks involved, as well as compare it to other side hustle options. You also have to be professional and courteous with your customers and restaurant staff. You can also take advantage of the perks and benefits that DoorDash offers to its drivers.
If you are interested in becoming a Dasher, you can sign up on the DoorDash website or app and start delivering today.
