How Much Can You Make on DoorDash in a Day?

Side gigs are a great way to build an emergency fund, pay for a vacation, or just have extra money, and DoorDash is one of the more popular ways to do it.

But how much can you make on DoorDash in a day? And more importantly, is it worth it?

We’ll explore the answer to this question below.

How much can you make on DoorDash in a day?

If you’re thinking about driving for DoorDash, you probably wonder how much can you make on DoorDash in a day?

Before I answer this question, it’s important to understand that every region is different. Some markets are hot for DoorDashers, and others aren’t quite as busy. For example, if you live near a college town, you’ll likely make a killing dashing, but you may not be as busy if you live in a rural area.

So, how much can you make in a day driving for DoorDash?

According to DoorDash, drivers make an average of $25 an hour driving for them. So if you work 4 hours a day, that’s $100 a day delivering food. This includes 100% of the tips drivers get to keep.

SO, the amount you can make on DoorDash in a day depends entirely on how much you work, but know you’ll typically make an average of $25 an hour.

How much can you make on DoorDash in a week?

How much you can make per week driving for DoorDash depends on how often you work. If you work 4-hour shifts, which are recommended, you’ll make around $100 a day. If you work three times a week, that’s $300, but if you work all seven days, that’s $700 a week.

Can you make $500 a week with DoorDash?

Any dasher can make $500 a week working with DoorDash. You just have to know when to work to get the most orders and the highest tips. Try scheduling your shifts around popular mealtimes, especially lunch and dinner. 

It may take a little trial and error to figure out when you can make $500 a week with DoorDash depending on the level of business in your area. If you live in an area with many businesses, for example, you could make a killing at lunchtime. But, if you live in an area that’s primarily busy at dinnertime, you may not make as much if you pick up only lunch shifts.

There’s one tiny secret many dashers don’t know about, though. DoorDash offers a Guaranteed Earnings incentive, but it’s only for select drivers.

If you’re a consistent driver for DoorDash and you live in an area where they need more drivers, they may offer you guaranteed earnings, such as $500 a week. This means they will “top off” your earnings for the week if you make the required number of deliveries and you don’t earn the guarantee they set, such as $500. This does not include tips.

Can you make $1,000 a week with DoorDash?

If you want to push the envelope, you may wonder if you can make $1,000 a week with DoorDash. 

I’m never one to shoot down someone’s dream, and honestly, I’ve seen many of my readers accomplish this goal. It comes down to knowing exactly what shifts to work and how to run your business so that you get the highest tips and even the highest earnings from DoorDash.

Many people don’t realize the opportunities DoorDash offers to increase their earnings. But, when you learn the tricks of the trade, you too may make $1,000 a week with DoorDash.

How to increase your earnings with DoorDash

Now that the cat is out of the bag, you probably wonder, “how do I increase my earnings with DoorDash?”

Here are some tried and true tips.

Know the peak times to deliver

This is the key to making as much as you can from DoorDash. It’s all about working smarter, not harder. Pick shifts that are busy in your area. Like I said earlier, this may take some trial and error. If you know people that already drive for DoorDash in your area, pick their brains. Find out when they are the busiest and/or get the largest orders because that’s when you’ll make the most money.

For example, if you deliver when DoorDash pays Peak Pay, you’ll make more per delivery and increase your daily earnings.

Create a consistent schedule

If you have your mind set on making $500 or $1,000 a week with DoorDash, you need a consistent schedule. So pick your shifts early and stick to them.

If you work the busier times, you may find you only have to deliver for 2 or 3 hours to make the same amount of money you’d make working 6 or 8 hours on slower days or times.

Deliver where others don’t

DoorDash as a gig is becoming more popular, and more people are doing it. Thus, if you live in a saturated area, don’t be afraid to go a town or two over. As long as it’s feasible to drive the distance and pick up enough orders to keep you busy for a few hours, you may make more money because you aren’t competing against many other drivers.

Be aware of significant events

Even though you may love hanging with the guys at the bar during a big game, it’s also a great time to be a DoorDash driver. Pick and choose your events wisely. If you know it’s a time that people will likely order delivery. You may want to be out there making money rather than spending it with your buddies.

Participate in DoorDash challenges

DoorDash often runs challenges, especially when short on drivers in an area. When you participate in challenges, you can earn nice bonuses that can help you reach that $500 or $1,000 a week mark.

To complete a challenge, you usually have to complete a certain number of deliveries in a specified period to earn the bonus.

How to get bigger tips with DoorDash

When you wonder how much you can make on DoorDash in a day, a lot of it comes down to how much you earn in tips. Drivers keep 100% of their tips, and the power truly is in your hands when it comes to how much you make.

Here are some great ways to ensure you get bigger tips.

Follow directions

It sounds simple, but many drivers just don’t do it. Read the order carefully. Did the customer ask for extra ketchup or plastic silverware? Maybe they asked you to drop the order on the porch and have no contact.

Read the directions carefully and follow them. This goes a long way with customers, and many will tip a little extra if you do what they ask.

Be friendly

You provide your customers with a service, but a smile goes a long way. Tell them to have a nice day or ask if everything looks right if you hand them the order. Show your customers that you care, and they may reciprocate with a larger tip.

Alert customers to delays

If you’ve run into a lot of traffic or the restaurant is running behind, throw a quick message into the DoorDash app to let your customer know what’s happening. If you don’t, they’ll assume it’s your fault, and they could even remove the tip they left for you. Customers have up to one hour to change their tips for the better or worse, so communication is vital.

Costs of driving for DoorDash

One thing I always caution my readers about with any side gig like DoorDash is the fact that you have independent contractor status.

This means one important thing; you are responsible for your taxes. You aren’t an employee, so you’ll have to pay both the employer and employee portions of your FICA taxes. 

I suggest immediately withdrawing the appropriate taxes based on your tax bracket and putting them aside in a separate account. It’s a good idea to get with your tax advisor to determine how to file your taxes. Many delivery drivers pay their estimated taxes quarterly to stay on top of their obligations.

Other costs you should consider before driving for DoorDash include:

• Wear and tear on your car
• Gasoline
• Insurance
• Parking costs

Also, if you use DoorDash’s faster payout option, which pays you by the next day, it will cost you $1.99 per transfer. It doesn’t sound like much, but it adds up over time.

The pros and cons of being a DoorDash driver

Now that you know the answer to how much you can make on DoorDash in a day, it’s important to look at the pros and cons.

I like to be honest with my readers about the side gigs I talk about, so here are the cons of being a DoorDash driver.

Final thoughts: How much can you make on DoorDash in a day? 

I think DoorDash is a great way to make money on the side, especially if you live in an area with many businesses or a college town. However, it’s ideal to find an area not saturated with drivers, especially if you want to maximize your earnings.

While it is possible to make $500 or $1,000 a week driving for DoorDash, you’ll need to get a little creative to get your earnings as high as you want.