How much to tip a grocery delivery driver in the United States (2026 Guide)
15–20% of subtotal, $5 minimum
15–20% of the bill is the typical range.
Tipping calculator
Cultural notes
Instacart and Shipt shoppers do meaningfully more work than food delivery drivers — they shop, select produce, communicate about substitutions, and deliver. Instacart’s default 5% tip suggestion is widely considered insufficient by shoppers; 15–20% is the etiquette standard, with a $5 minimum. Add $5–$10 extra for heavy orders (cases of water, pet food, soda), bad weather, or walk-up apartments. 100% of in-app tips go to the shopper. Tipping below 5% or zero often means professional shoppers will decline the order, leaving it to circulate to lower-tier shoppers.
Common mistakes
Accepting the platform’s 5% default. Forgetting to tip extra for heavy orders or stairs — shopper apps make this easy with a "tip extra" button after delivery.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Instacart’s default 5% tip considered too low?
Shoppers do roughly twice the work of food delivery drivers (shop, communicate, deliver) for a base pay of $5–$10 per order. Etiquette guidance and shopper communities both recommend 15–20% minimum, with a $5 floor on small orders.
Do I tip on the cost of groceries or the total with fees?
On the grocery subtotal. Service and delivery fees go to Instacart, not the shopper. Calculate 15–20% on what you would have paid in-store.
Should I tip more for heavy or complicated orders?
Yes. Cases of water, large pet food bags, walk-up apartments, or orders with many produce substitutions all warrant an extra $5–$10. Most apps let you increase the tip for up to 72 hours after delivery.
Tipping other services in the United States
- Sit-down restaurant18–20% of the pre-tax bill (15% is the floor)
- Counter / takeawayOptional — $1–$2 or up to 10% if you tip
- Café$0.50–$1 per drink, or skip the prompt
- Bar$1–$2 per drink, or 18–20% on a tab
- Housekeeping$1–$5 per night, left daily
- Porter$2 per bag ($4–$5 heavy or oversized)
- Concierge$5–$20 for reservations; $50+ for hard-to-get bookings
- Taxi15–20% of fare, $2 minimum
- Rideshare15–20% of fare, $2–$3 minimum
- Food delivery15–20% of subtotal, $5 minimum
- Hairdresser18–20% of service cost
- Spa18–20% of service cost
- Tour guide$5–$20 per person for group tours; 15–20% for private tours
- Tattoo artist20–25% of the total price
- Valet$3–$5 at retrieval; $5–$10 at luxury hotels
- Airport baggage$2 per bag standard, $3–$5 for heavy/oversized
- Busker$1–$5 if you stopped to listen
- Movers$20–$60 per mover, or 15–20% of total bill
- TradespersonNot expected; $20–$50 cash for exceptional or emergency work
Tipping a grocery delivery driver in nearby countries
Last verified: · Sources: instacart.com, cluballiance.aaa.com, emilypost.com