Restaurant Delivery Fees & App Pricing (2026)
That $25 meal can cost $40 by the time it reaches your door. Here's what delivery apps really add — and how to order direct and keep the savings.
What Delivery Really Costs
A delivery order is priced in four layers. Most people only notice the last two.
Menu markup
Delivery apps charge restaurants 15-30% per order, so the app menu is priced higher than in-store — typically 15-30% more per item.
Service fee
A marketplace fee of roughly 10-15% of your order total, added at checkout. Subscription members often get this reduced or waived.
Delivery fee
A per-order fee of $1.99-$7.99 depending on distance, demand, and whether you hold a subscription. Often higher during peak hours.
Tip
Drivers rely on tips. Combined with everything above, an $25 order commonly totals $35-40 before tip.
Delivery Platforms Compared
Typical national figures as of 2026 — fees vary by city and order, so always compare at checkout.
| Platform | Menu Markup | Service Fee | Delivery Fee | Subscription |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DoorDashLargest US coverage; DashPass subscription | 15-30% | ~10-15% (varies by order) | $1.99-$7.99 | DashPass — $9.99/mo ($0 delivery over $12) |
| Uber EatsSecond-largest; Uber One subscription | 15-30% | ~10-15% (varies by order) | $1.99-$7.99 | Uber One — $9.99/mo ($0 delivery over $15) |
| GrubhubStrong in select metros; Grubhub+ | 15-30% | ~10% (varies by order) | $1.99-$7.99 | Grubhub+ — $9.99/mo ($0 delivery over $12) |
| Restaurant app or siteOrder direct — most chains offer it | None (in-store prices) | None | $0 (pickup) or chain's own fee | Rewards points instead |
Delivery Price Calculator
See what your order would cost through a delivery app before you check out.
Most delivery apps raise menu prices 15-30% above in-store. Drag the sliders to match what you see in your local app.
Estimated Delivery Order Total
- In-store menu price
- $25.00
- Marked-up menu price (+22.5%)
- $30.63
- Service fee (~10%)
- $3.06
- Delivery fee (typical)
- $3.99
- Estimated total (before tip)
- $37.68
That's about $12.68 more than ordering in-store — before tip. Ordering direct from the restaurant app usually avoids the markup and service fee.
Estimates only — fees vary by platform, city, and restaurant. Always compare at checkout.
Order Direct and Skip the Fees
Every one of the 76 chains we track offers direct ordering through their own app or website — in-store prices, no marketplace markup or service fee, and rewards points on every order.
How to Save on Delivery
Order direct from the chain
Restaurant apps use in-store prices and skip marketplace fees. Most chains also run app-only deals that beat both the store and DoorDash.
Choose pickup when possible
Pickup is free at nearly every chain and uses in-store prices — you only lose the convenience of delivery, not the savings.
Add a subscription only if you order often
DashPass, Uber One, or Grubhub+ pay for themselves around 2-3 orders per month. Below that, paying per-order delivery fees is cheaper.
Stack rewards with deals
Join the chain's rewards program and combine birthday rewards and app deals with delivery for the lowest total.