Driving for DoorDash, food delivery’s biggest player, is a great way to make extra money fast. If you’re ready to “Dash” but want the nitty gritty details like what day DoorDash pays, how they pay, and how to make the most money with them, we’ve got the intel below.
You can also read our DoorDash driver review and our article about which food delivery apps are best to work for in 2024. The good news is DoorDash gives drivers a ton of choices to make getting paid fast and convenient.
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When Does DoorDash Pay?
DoorDash pays weekly on Mondays. But did you know you can get paid more frequently? Dashers, the DoorDash nickname for drivers, can choose from the following payout options, and only the first option links your pay to a specific day of the week.
- Direct Deposit on Mondays: Through this weekly method, DoorDash sends a direct deposit to your bank on Mondays. They’re paying you for orders you completed the preceding Monday through Sunday. Depending on your bank’s processing time, you will see the funds in your account within 2 to 3 business days, usually by Wednesday.
Be your own boss
Working for DoorDash is a flexible side hustle, and you can make extra money driving in your spare time.
DoorDash Additional Pay Options
As long as you’ve got direct deposit set up, you can select one of the following methods anytime using the Dasher app:
- Fast Pay: If you are already set up for direct deposit, you can choose Fast Pay to get your daily earnings transferred over to your bank account for a small fee (In Australia, there’s no fee). You’ll need to link a debit card to your Dasher account for this option.
- DasherDirect: The DasherDirect option lets you direct your earnings to a Dasher debit card after every completed order. So, after you dash, you click a button on the app to get the payout loaded to the DasherDirect card for free. Link this debit card to your Google Pay or Apple Pay account and you can then use the funds to pay for goods and services.
Does DoorDash Accept Cash?
Yes, it makes that option available to customers, but you’re in control of whether you personally take cash. When you first sign up for DoorDash, you’ll be asked if you prefer to accept cash or not. You can change your decision anytime in the Settings section of the app.
Here’s how accepting cash from customers works:
- Cash on Delivery: First, opt in to accepting cash orders through the app. You keep the cash for the order and the amount the customer owes for the order is deducted from your next payout. But you keep 100% of your tips, no matter which payout option you choose.
DasherDirect, Fast Pay, or Cash on Delivery options mean you don’t have to wait for a certain day for DoorDash to pay you. This kind of flexibility has helped DoorDash become the biggest food delivery service and one of the best side hustles to earn extra money.
How Does DoorDash Determine Pay?
Unlike traditional part-time jobs, DoorDash drivers get paid by the delivery rather than a flat hourly rate. Each order pays a different amount based on several factors like complexity, time, and location.
DoorDash pays you for completed orders using this formula: base pay + promotions + tips. Base pay can range from $2-$10 per order depending on the size and complexity of the order.
The app will notify you when orders are available for you to either accept or ignore, and you have about one minute to decide. You can see what an order pays before you choose to accept it.
To understand how much drivers make, it helps first to understand the additional ways to make money while you Dash. More on that later.
DoorDash Pays Tips
Dashers keep 100% of their tips no matter what, whether you get paid weekly or you choose DasherDirect, Fast Pay, or accepting cash orders. Going that extra mile in your customer service can earn you high ratings and encourage higher tips. High ratings can also make you eligible for bonuses and challenges.
DoorDash Pays Bonuses
DoorDash may offer promotions for drivers who complete a specific number of deliveries within a certain time frame. Or they’ll have incentives for delivering in certain locations during peak hours. Check the Promos button on the home screen of the app, also called the Dash tab.
A typical DoorDash promo would be to earn an extra $1 per completed delivery between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in a certain location.
In addition to peak pay and bonuses, DoorDash may pay referral bonuses for recruiting new drivers. They also offer special challenges that pay extra money for completing a certain number of deliveries or tasks in a set amount of time.
In some markets, Delivery Streaks allow Dashers to make more money by accepting and completing offers consecutively while on a dash during the promotion time frame.
DoorDash Guaranteed Earnings
New Dashers in certain geographical areas may qualify for Guaranteed Earnings incentives. This is DoorDash’s promise to pay a certain amount of money for a set amount of deliveries in a specific time frame.
Let’s say DoorDash guarantees $1,000 to new Dashers who complete 100 deliveries in their first 30 days. If the base pay for the 100 orders you complete in the first 30 days is $800, then you would receive $1,000. But if the total value of the 100 orders you complete during the first 30 days is over $1,000, you won’t earn extra.
When you sign up, the Dasher app will notify you if you qualify for a Guaranteed Earnings offer.
How To Become a DoorDash Driver
Side hustlers love food delivery because it’s so easy to become a DoorDash driver and requires no experience. Using the Dasher app, you can sign up in about five minutes on the Dasher app. Be sure to have your driver’s license nearby, and you’ll need to provide your social security number.
DoorDash will complete a background check, which takes a couple of days on average. In most markets, you can start dashing as soon as you’re approved, and they will notify you via the app, text, and email.
To get started, you’ll need to meet these minimum requirements:
- You must be at least 18 years old to drive for DoorDash.
- You need a mode of transportation, such as a car, scooter, motorcycle, or bike to make deliveries.
- Download the Dasher app on your smartphone (iOS or Android) to receive delivery requests and manage your Dasher experience.
- All drivers must pass a background check.
- All drivers must have active car insurance.
DoorDash drivers can decide when they drive, but to make the most money, make sure you can drive at least some of the time during peak hours. Peak times vary by market, but think lunch and dinner hours.
Want a flexible side hustle?
DoorDash is the nation’s largest food delivery service. Drivers can schedule their hours in advance and get paid weekly.
Final Words
DoorDash pays weekly via direct deposit on Mondays, and that deposit usually shows in your bank account in two business days. But you can access your pay faster using the DasherDirect debit card, Fast Pay, or by accepting cash orders.
DoorDash doesn’t limit you to a single payout option. For example, you can get your direct deposit on Mondays and still choose Fast Pay throughout the week. Or load funds to your DasherDirect card to avoid fees and faster access to your money.
With so many options, you can pretty much choose the day you get paid when you drive for DoorDash.
FAQs
No. DoorDash drivers are independent contractors, so you’ll need to set aside money for income tax just as any business owner does.
DoorDash sends the direct deposit to your bank on Mondays, which typically means you’ll be able to access it by Wednesdays. For a fee of $1.99 in the U.S. and Canada, Fast Pay allows Dashers to get access to their earnings daily.
DoorDash pay varies per order. It entirely depends on the number of deliveries you decide to do during your own time. Many people have been able to deliver with DoorDash as part-time and full-time contractors.
DoorDash disclaimer:
- Earning more on certain types of orders (ex. alcohol): Earn more per order as compared to restaurant orders. Actual earnings may differ and depend on factors like number of deliveries you accept and complete, time of day, location, and any costs. Hourly pay is calculated using average Dasher payouts while on a delivery (from the time you accept an order until the time you drop it off) over a 90-day period and includes compensation from tips, peak pay, and other incentives.
- Get paid instantly (DasherDirect): Subject to approval
- Cash out daily (Fast Pay): Fees apply
- Start dashing today: Subject to background check and availability
- Dash anytime: Subject to availability