See what your order really costs →
Build Your ReceiptDoorDash doesn't just deliver your food. It layers five costs on top of the restaurant price:
1. Menu markup: Restaurants raise DoorDash menu prices 15-30% above in-store to cover DoorDash's commission.
2. Delivery fee: $1.99-$5.99 depending on distance and demand.
3. Service fee: 10-15% of your subtotal. This is the one nobody reads.
4. Small order fee: Under $12? Add another $2.
5. Tip: $3-8, which goes to the driver (not the restaurant).
When you stack all five layers, the average DoorDash order costs 55% more than picking up the same food yourself. Some orders run 91% higher — nearly double.
Three deliveries a week at $35 average = $105/week = $5,460/year.
The same meals, picked up: ~$3,520/year.
The convenience premium: $1,940/year. For families who order more frequently: $3,000+/year.
DashPass ($9.99/month) eliminates delivery fees on orders over $12. But it doesn't eliminate the menu markup, the service fee, or the tip. It saves you $3-5 per order while you still pay 30-40% more than pickup. It's a discount on the markup.
You don't have to stop ordering. Just pick it up. Same restaurant. Same food. Same menu (at in-store prices). You drive 5-10 minutes and save $15-20 per order. Or cook what's already in the fridge — the food you already bought.
How much is delivery actually costing your family?
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