We recommend tipping a grocery delivery driver 15–20% of the order subtotal, with a $3 minimum on every order.
Do you tip grocery delivery drivers?
Yes. We recommend a tip on every grocery delivery, whichever app you order from, including Instacart.
How much to tip a grocery delivery driver
One rule covers the shop-and-deliver trip, whichever app you used. Take 15–20% of the grocery subtotal. If that amount is under $3, tip $3.
The subtotal is the price of the groceries before tax, service fees, and any delivery fee. A delivery fee on the receipt is not the tip. Put the tip in the tip field.
Quick presets
Tip Amount
$5.40
Total
$35.40
Effective tip
18%
The calculator starts at 18% and never shows less than $3. Leave Delivery Distance on Medium and Weather on Normal, because the other settings add 2 to 5 percentage points. The rows below use the same rule. They are worked examples, not store prices.
| Order subtotal | At 15% | At 18% | At 20% |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15 | $3.00 (minimum) | $3.00 (minimum) | $3.00 |
| $20 | $3.00 | $3.60 | $4.00 |
| $40 | $6.00 | $7.20 | $8.00 |
| $75 | $11.25 | $13.50 | $15.00 |
| $120 | $18.00 | $21.60 | $24.00 |
On a $15 order, 15% is $2.25 and 20% is $3.00. The $3 floor raises the 15% result. On a $40 order, 18% is $7.20.
One rule for every grocery app
Walmart grocery delivery and Shipt each have their own page. The percentage and the $3 floor match this page.
Use this page for any other grocery app, such as Instacart. The rule is the same for every app.
When to use the top of the range
Use 20%, still with the $3 floor, when the driver:
- carries cases of water, pet food, or other heavy items
- walks the order up stairs
- shops a long list or makes a substitution you approved
- delivers in rain, snow, or extreme heat
Use 15% for a small, easy drop-off at the door, and raise it to $3 if 15% is less than that. If an item is missing, report it in the app. We do not recommend tipping below 15% because of it.
Cash or in the app
Add the tip in the app's tip field, or hand the driver cash if you are there at delivery. Do not add the tip on top of a line that is already labeled as a tip. If you cannot tell a fee from a tip on the receipt, treat only a line named tip or gratuity as the tip, and add your 15–20% if that line is empty.
The same calculator lives on the Delivery tip calculator page.
A parcel or a large item booked through a courier app is on how much to tip for package delivery.