How much do Uber Eats drivers make? It’s a big question, as using food delivery services to bring restaurant meals right to the front door has grown in popularity over the past few years.
This has created job opportunities for people who want to set their own hours, work as their own boss, and have more control over how much money they can potentially make.
While the amount an Uber Eats driver makes can vary greatly from delivery to delivery, many drivers have found ways to increase their income to earn between $20 to $25 per hour.
How is Uber Eats Pay Calculated?
Uber Eats uses a combination of algorithms, promotions, and proposed tips to calculate how much each delivery will pay. Let’s take a look at each:
- Base Fare: This is the fixed amount a driver can expect to make when they choose to accept a delivery. To arrive at a base fare, the algorithm the company uses takes into account several factors listed below:
- Pickup: You will be paid a flat fee for picking up an order from a restaurant.
- Dropoff: You will be paid a flat fee for delivery.
- Distance: You will be paid a per-mile rate from the restaurant’s location to the customer’s location.
- Time: In certain cities, you will be paid a per-minute rate based on the time it is expected to finish a trip (from arrival at the restaurant to completing delivery).
- Trip Supplement: The trip supplement is an additional benefit paid to the driver to make a delivery worth the driver’s time. The algorithm considers things that could affect the delivery, most notably when it could take a longer time than usual to make the delivery, or when a driver must drive a greater distance when initially traveling to the restaurant.
- Promotions: Uber Eats offers several different types of promotions, which are used both as an incentive and a bonus for drivers who want to increase their pay.
- Boost: Allows drivers to make more per trip during specific times or places
- Surge: Additional pay offered to drivers when restaurants have a high demand for deliveries. Surge promotions are not offered in advance. Instead, they are used during times when there are not enough drivers to make deliveries. Surge promotions are only offered in select cities, so the offer is not available everywhere.
- Quest Goals: Quest Goals are ways to earn extra cash on top of our base far and other offers. If you complete the Quest goal in a certain time, you’ll earn the extra cash.
- Tips: Uber Eats drivers receive 100% of the tips that they make.
As you can see, how much you can make with Uber Eats depends on a variety of factors, one of the most important being when and where you drive. On average, however, Uber Eats driver’s hourly pay is around $20-$25 per hour.
How to Make the Most Money With Uber Eats
All you have to do to make money with Uber Eats is make the deliveries, but there are ways you can increase the amount you make. You don’t even have to work long hours. You just need to know how to work smarter.
1. Focus on Short, Quick Trips
If you notice how your pay is calculated, you’ll often find that you can make more by taking two short, quick trips instead of one long one.
Most drivers find they do best by only accepting trips that are within a six to 10-mile radius of the area they are currently working in.
2. Decline Low-Paying Deliveries During Peak Hours
Low pay is better than no pay, but during peak hours it’s usually better to decline lower-paying trips if you feel certain you’ll get a higher-paying one soon.
Uber Eats doesn’t care if you decline an order, but try to avoid canceling an order once you accept it.
3. Hang Out Where The Action Is
When you go online, the Uber Eats map will show you the areas where the most deliveries are currently occurring.
By hanging out in that area during peak hours, you can respond faster and you will also have less distance to drive to the restaurant once you accept an order.
4. Combine Promotions When Available
One of the easiest ways to increase your income is to combine promotions so that each delivery will earn you extra pay.
As an example, if you are taking part in a Quest, making the deliveries during an ongoing Boost or Surge promotion could easily double your pay.
Related:
Best Time to Deliver for Uber Eats
The best time to deliver with Uber Eats is when people are hungry! These times are usually:
- Lunch Rush: 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
- Dinner: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
There is also higher demand for Uber Eats deliveries on the weekends, during big events (Super Bowl, the Oscars, etc.), and when the weather outside is bad (rain, snow). Just be sure to drive safely!
Related:
Takeaways for Drivers
While there is no guarantee as to how much an Uber Eats delivery driver can make, using the tips above can help you increase your potential income. Make sure to check out our other articles as well to learn even more ways to maximize your income and boost your earnings.
Sign up to deliver with Uber Eats here!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Uber Eats drivers get paid?
Similar to Uber driver pay, Uber Eats drivers get paid via Instant Pay (as long as you have at least a $1 balance) or via bank transfer.
Does Uber Eats pay for gas?
Uber Eats does not pay or reimburse drivers for gas.
⭐️ Never Pay Full Price for Gas Again – Download the Upside App
Use promo code RSG25 in the Upside app for an extra 25¢/gal signup bonus on your first fill-up.
How do I get more Uber Eats orders?
The best way to get more Uber Eats orders is to position yourself near clusters of popular local restaurants and drive during the busiest hours, like lunch, dinner, and the weekends.
Consider heading to your local downtown, or part of the city where there are several popular restaurants. By positioning yourself there during busy times of the week, Uber Eats will see you’re the closest driver available and continue to feed you requests.
