- How Grubhub calculates pay per order
- Grubhub tips and missions
- Scheduled blocks and the Grubhub contribution
- Grubhub driver levels and what they open up
- Grubhub minimum pay in Seattle
- How Grubhub pays drivers
- What decides how much you make with Grubhub
- Costs Grubhub drivers carry
- Grubhub driver requirements
- Grubhub pay checklist
- Frequently asked questions
Grubhub pays drivers per order: base pay plus any bonuses, plus 100% of tips. Grubhub says base pay accounts for mileage, delivery type, time spent delivering and your local market. It doesn't publish a standard rate, and drivers cover their own costs such as gas, vehicle maintenance and insurance.
Grubhub is smaller than the two biggest delivery apps, and it rewards drivers who plan ahead more than most. Scheduled blocks, driver levels and a market contribution all feed into what you take home. I've read through Grubhub's driver pages to set out how pay works, from a single order up to the extras that come with booking your time in advance.
How Grubhub calculates pay per order
Grubhub keeps the basic formula simple. What you earn per delivery is your base pay plus any bonuses that apply. Base pay takes into account the mileage, the type of delivery, the time spent delivering and your local market. Grubhub describes this as a transparent pay model that pays per order, and you see the offer in the app before you accept.
Grubhub doesn't publish per-mile or per-minute figures for most markets, so the only way to judge an offer is to compare the pay with the distance and time it shows. Tips and missions then sit on top.
Grubhub tips and missions
Grubhub says you keep 100% of your tips from completed deliveries. Missions are the bonus side: complete the mission criteria set in the app and you earn extra. All special offers are tied to specific markets and time periods, so what's running in one city won't match another.
Scheduled blocks and the Grubhub contribution
This is where Grubhub stands apart. You can reserve blocks of time through Scheduling in the app, which gives you dedicated delivery time. Grubhub says booking blocks can boost both your earnings and your driver level.
Blocks also connect to the Grubhub contribution. When you toggle on for a scheduled block and meet the Offer Commitment Rate criteria, Grubhub says the contribution helps you earn a minimum rate for your local market. In plain terms, if your orders during that block come in low, Grubhub may top you up, as long as you've accepted enough of the offers sent to you. Check the exact criteria in your app, because Grubhub says they vary by market and time period.
Grubhub driver levels and what they open up
Grubhub awards levels after 20 deliveries, based on your delivery stats. Higher levels give you early access to scheduling and to catering orders. Early scheduling matters because you get first choice of blocks before other drivers book them. If you plan to deliver regularly, levels are worth paying attention to from your first few weeks.
Grubhub minimum pay in Seattle
A few cities set their own rules. In Seattle, Grubhub says pay is worked out as 0.44 US dollars per minute plus 0.74 US dollars per mile of engaged time, with a minimum of 5 US dollars per offer before tips. You get whichever is greater once the order is complete, and tips are paid on top. Engaged time runs from accepting an offer until the delivery is completed or cancelled. New York City has its own rule too: Grubhub says drivers there are paid at least the minimum hourly rate each week, based on active delivery time from accepting an offer to delivering it.
How Grubhub pays drivers
Grubhub says earnings become available 15 minutes after you complete a delivery. From there you can use Instant Cash Out in the Driver app to send them to your bank, with same-day payment possible depending on your bank. Grubhub's help centre says there may be a fee in your market for each Instant Cashout, shown under Earnings, then Wallet. You can cash out up to 500 US dollars a day, and Instant Cashout isn't available for 72 hours after you verify or change your bank details.
If you don't use Instant Cash Out, Grubhub's help centre says payments are sent by direct deposit on Thursdays, and some banks take 3-5 days to process them.
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What decides how much you make with Grubhub
Put the pieces together and your Grubhub pay comes down to a handful of choices. Where you deliver sets the local market factor in base pay. When you deliver affects how many orders come in and whether missions are running. Whether you book blocks decides if the contribution can apply. And your driver level shapes which blocks and catering jobs you can reach. Two drivers in the same city can end up with very different weeks because one plans ahead and the other just switches on when they're free.
Costs Grubhub drivers carry
Grubhub is clear that delivery partners are responsible for all costs associated with driving, such as gas, vehicle maintenance and insurance. You'll also need a smartphone with a data plan. Tax on your earnings is your responsibility, and I'd talk to an accountant about your own case rather than guessing.
Grubhub driver requirements
You need to be 18 or older, or 21+ in Las Vegas, and pass a background check. Depending on your market you can deliver by car, motorcycle, bicycle or scooter. Drivers need a valid driver's licence and auto insurance, while bikers need a valid licence or state ID.
Grubhub pay checklist
| What | How it works | Source checked |
|---|---|---|
| Base pay | Mileage, delivery type, time and local market | Grubhub driver pay page |
| Tips | 100% kept from completed deliveries | Grubhub driver pay page |
| Contribution | Market minimum during scheduled blocks, if criteria met | Grubhub driver pay page |
| Driver levels | Awarded after 20 deliveries | Grubhub driver site |
| Seattle | Per minute plus per mile, or a per-offer minimum | Grubhub Seattle pay page |
| Payout | Instant Cash Out or Thursday direct deposit | Grubhub driver help centre |
Comparing apps? My guide to how Uber Eats pays delivery people covers the offer card and Instant Pay on that side. And if you'd like something that keeps paying when you're not on the road, have a look at my guide to making passive income with digital products.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Grubhub pay per delivery?
Grubhub doesn't publish a standard rate. Each order pays base pay, based on mileage, delivery type, time and local market, plus bonuses and 100% of tips.
Do Grubhub drivers keep their tips?
Yes. Grubhub says you keep 100% of your tips from completed deliveries.
When does Grubhub pay drivers?
Earnings are available 15 minutes after a delivery for Instant Cash Out. Otherwise Grubhub sends direct deposits on Thursdays.
What is the Grubhub contribution?
A top-up that helps you earn a minimum rate for your market during a scheduled block, if you meet the Offer Commitment Rate criteria.
How old do you need to be to drive for Grubhub?
18 or older, or 21 in Las Vegas, and you need to pass a background check.
