Tipping a food delivery driver around the world
Tipping a food delivery driver is customary in 9 of the 15 countries we track, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and 5 more. In the United States, 15–20% of subtotal, $5 minimum. It is unusual or unwelcome in Japan and South Korea.
Restaurant food delivered to your door. Customs vary widely — here is what to expect country by country.
Europe
| Country | Expectation | Typical amount |
|---|---|---|
| 🇬🇧United Kingdom | Appreciated | £1–3 or ~10% via app |
| 🇫🇷France | Appreciated | €1–2 in app or cash; more for difficult deliveries |
| 🇮🇹Italy | Appreciated | €1–3 for the rider; round up to nearest euro |
| 🇪🇸Spain | Appreciated | €1–2 in cash or via app |
| 🇩🇪Germany | Appreciated | €1–3 in cash or app |
North America
| Country | Expectation | Typical amount |
|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸United States | Expected | 15–20% of subtotal, $5 minimum |
| 🇨🇦Canada | Expected | 15–20% of order, $5 minimum |
| 🇲🇽Mexico | Appreciated | 20–40 MXN per order or 10% of the order |
Asia
| Country | Expectation | Typical amount |
|---|---|---|
| 🇯🇵Japan | Unusual | ¥0 |
| 🇨🇳China | Optional | Optional ¥1–5 via in-app "reward rider" (打赏骑手) |
| 🇰🇷South Korea | Unusual | ₩0 |
| 🇹🇭Thailand | Optional | Optional ฿10–30 in-app |
Oceania
| Country | Expectation | Typical amount |
|---|---|---|
| 🇦🇺Australia | Optional | Optional in-app tip A$2–5 for difficult orders |
South America
| Country | Expectation | Typical amount |
|---|---|---|
| 🇧🇷Brazil | Optional | Not expected; R$3–R$10 in cash for bad weather or large orders |
Middle East
| Country | Expectation | Typical amount |
|---|---|---|
| 🇦🇪United Arab Emirates | Appreciated | AED 5–10 per order |
Tipping a food delivery driver: common questions
Do you tip a food delivery driver?
It depends on the country. Tipping a food delivery driver is expected or appreciated in 9 of the 15 countries we track — including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and 4 more — and is unusual in Japan and South Korea.
How much do you tip a food delivery driver?
In the United States, 15–20% of subtotal, $5 minimum. Across all countries the usual range is 5–20% of the bill. Amounts vary by country — see the table above for each one.
Which countries expect you to tip a food delivery driver?
A tip is genuinely expected in the United States and Canada. In these countries staff often rely on tips as part of their income.
Where should you not tip a food delivery driver?
Tipping a food delivery driver is unusual or can cause awkwardness in Japan and South Korea. A polite thank-you is enough.
Should you tip a food delivery driver in cash or by card?
Cash is the safer choice in Italy and Brazil, where card tips may not reach staff. Elsewhere adding the tip to a card payment is normally fine.