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How Much Does Deliveroo Pay?
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Working for Deliveroo can be a great option for anybody looking for flexible work who enjoys getting out and about. “Deliveroos”, as drivers and riders are often labelled, enjoy taking shifts when it suits them, not having a manager barking orders from above and being on the road, listening to their favourite album or podcast.
The UK food delivery and takeaway market is flourishing—up 23% year-on-year, no doubt impacted by people trying to stay at home as much as possible during the pandemic. And with Deliveroo aiming to double the number of delivery staff on its books late last year, powered by adding over 10,000 new restaurants since the onset of the pandemic, there may be no better time to sign up.
However, competition for shifts is fierce—there’s more ‘Roos delivering than ever and quieter days can leave you twiddling your thumbs or competing for journeys that hardly seem worth the effort.
What's in this article
How Much Does Deliveroo Pay UK?
NimbleFins research estimates a driver can expect to see between £7-£12 per hour while working for Deliveroo. Deliveroo pays for every completed “drop” (delivery), so earnings will naturally vary depending on the number of drops a driver is able to complete.
Deliveroo previously offered two methods of earning, a base wage of £7 with small bonuses per drop (£1-£2) or a purely pay-per-drop (between £3-£4.50). There are conflicting reports online, but our interviews with drivers indicated there was no option to select your wage preference, and that as of 2022 Deliveroo’s pay rates were only paid per drop, with no guaranteed earnings per hour. Here are estimates of pay with Deliveroo:
| Deliveries per hour | Pay per hour |
|---|---|
| 0 | £0 |
| 1 | £3-£4.50 |
| 2 | £6-£9 |
| 3 | £9-£13.50 |
| 4 | £12-£18 |
| 5 | £15-£22.50 |
Deliveroo's pay to you depends on a number of variables, primarily the distance you’re expected to travel and the number of orders you’re collecting. Deliveroo’s algorithm will cleverly package multiple orders from the same restaurant together if their destinations are within a reasonable distance of each other—these journeys are especially lucrative, saving you trips back and forth between restaurant and customer.
Tips from customers can help supplement your income as well, although drivers told us these were few and far between. Most indicated that Deliveroo customers were slightly more generous than competitors JustEat or UberEats, however, perhaps owing to Deliveroo’s partnership with more “upmarket” restaurants such as Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Wagamama’s and Pizza Express.
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How Much Can You Earn With Deliveroo Per Day?
An average day with Deliveroo will likely see you earning between £25-£70, depending on the number of hours you work and the number of deliveries you’re able to complete. The table below approximates what a driver could potentially earn with Deliveroo:
| Number of drops per hour | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hours worked | 1 (bad) | 2 (average) | 3 (good) | 5 (excellent) |
| 2 | £7.50 | £15.00 | £22.50 | £37.50 |
| 3 | £11.25 | £22.50 | £33.75 | £56.25 |
| 4 | £15.00 | £30.00 | £45.00 | £75.00 |
| 5 | £18.75 | £37.50 | £56.25 | £93.75 |
| 6 | £22.50 | £45.00 | £67.50 | £112.50 |
| 8 | £30.00 | £60.00 | £90.00 | £150.00 |
| 10 | £37.50 | £75.00 | £112.50 | £187.50 |
Remember your pay with Deliveroo isn’t guaranteed and is dependent on you completing drops, so quieter days may see you earning considerably less—drivers reported to us it wasn’t uncommon to earn well below minimum wage on some shifts.
Many couriers are signed up to more than one app, with JustEat and UberEats naturally proving popular for those working for Deliveroo. There’s nothing stopping you from checking demand on all 3 while working, provided you don’t accept deliveries from multiple apps at the same time (each specifies in their terms of service that you can't do this, and it may lead to account suspension/termination). Keeping yourself busy is the best way to maximise the amount you make on any given day.
We compared your earning potential on all 3 deliver apps, and you may be interested to know that JustEat is in the process of rolling out its new wage guarantee, promising (at least) minimum or living wage to all its drivers/riders in the UK. It doesn't mean you'll definitely earn more driving for them, but could be good for anyone looking for a safe option.
We’ve also got a useful guide on the best ways to make more money as a delivery driver in the UK, so check that out if you’d like some tips on making the most of your time on the road.
How Much Does Deliveroo Pay Per Delivery?
Deliveroo pays between £2.90 and £6.00 per delivery. You may earn more than this on a single journey, however, as Deliveroo allows you to collect multiple deliveries from a single restaurant.
While Deliveroo doesn’t publish the algorithm it uses to work out how much you’ll earn per delivery, drivers we spoke to told us that while it can be confusing (and even insulting at times, expecting them to travel 4+ round miles for the same pay as a journey under 2 miles), how much Deliveroo pay you seemed to mostly come down to two factors: the length (distance, time) of the journey and the number of orders you were able to collect in one go.
How Often Does Deliveroo Pay?
Deliveroo currently pays drivers and riders weekly. As of writing, Deliveroo pay dates are every Tuesday, according to drivers and riders Nimblefins spoke with. You’ll also have the option to be paid immediately for any work completed if you need the money sooner, however this comes with a 50p service charge. If you do this, you'll usually be paid the same day, provided you submit the request before 9pm on a Monday to Friday.
Here’s the page you use to ask Deliveroo to pay you immediately. It’s easily accessible through your app.
How Does Deliveroo Pay?
Deliveroo pays you weekly, directly into your bank account on a Tuesday, for any work completed during the prior week (Monday-Monday). You’re also able to request pay for any work completed immediately, but this comes with a 50p charge. As long as you submit your request before 9pm on a weekday (you may need to request earlier on weekends) you should be paid the same day. Requests afterwards may roll into the next morning.
Does Deliveroo Pay By Cash?
No, Deliveroo does not pay its drivers or riders in cash. They’ll pay you weekly directly to the bank account you gave them during your registration. This doesn’t mean you won’t make any cash during your shifts, though—you’ll keep any tips you receive, although after interviewing a number of drivers and riders you probably shouldn’t expect this—more of a nice surprise when it does happen.
Deliveroo Driver Pay vs Deliveroo Rider Pay
After interviewing riders and drivers for Deliveroo UK, we don’t believe there is any difference in the amount you are paid for a delivery, whether you’re riding a bike or driving your car.
That being said, Deliveroo does seem to prefer to give shorter journeys (< 2 miles) to those on a bike, with longer trips going to those with an engine, either car or motorbike. Although our evidence for this is purely anecdotal, it does make sense, considering how important it is to make sure the food arrives warm and fresh. As a driver this should benefit you, but many drivers spoke about also receiving shorter trips too, especially during periods there weren't a lot of bikes about (night time, poor weather).
How To Increase Deliveroo Driver Pay
The best way to earn more with Deliveroo is to make sure you’re always busy. Deliveroo’s driver/rider app has a useful “heatmap”, letting you know which areas nearby are busier than others. Purple areas indicate regions where you’re in higher demand, and while not included in the image you may also occasionally find blue sectors where demand is so high that Deliveroo is offering increased pay.
We’ve also put together a guide to the easiest ways to earn more as a delivery driver, so if you’re looking to improve your driving income have a read.
Costs Of Driving For Deliveroo
While there’s no doubt Deliveroo pay can be pretty good, especially during busy periods, there are a few costs you might not have immediately considered.
1. Courier/Delivery Insurance
2. Fuel
3. Vehicle Depreciation
1. Courier/Delivery Insurance
It’s important to make sure you’re properly insured to deliver for Deliveroo by taking out a delivery driver insurance policy. As part of their sign up process, they’ll need to confirm you’ve signed up for a form of Courier Insurance or Hire and Reward.
Our research indicated many drivers opt to go with Deliveroo’s insurance partner, Zego. Their insurance automatically syncs with the Deliveroo app, so you’re covered whenever you're online. It “tops up” your existing Social, Domestic & Pleasure insurance policy and covers you for the extra risks delivery driving can expose you too.
It starts from just £1 per hour, so is pretty good value for money (but does pinch your hourly earnings, especially in quieter periods) and considering an annual policy starts at almost £2,000 per year it definitely makes more sense for part-time drivers.
However, you need to be careful here—many of the UK’s largest car insurers will not accept Zego’s top-up cover as valid, so if you’re in an accident you may be liable for any legal costs/compensation even if you think you’re covered, and might even receive fines, license points or driving suspensions for driving while not appropriately insured.
Our partners at QuoteZone work with some of the UK’s leading Courier insurance businesses, making sure you’re covered at all times, whether you’re working or not. Fill out a quote form and they’ll connect you with some of the UK’s leading insurers for Deliveroo drivers.
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2. Does Deliveroo pay for petrol?
Deliveroo doesn’t currently cover the cost of fuel for its drivers, so you’ll need to account for this when calculating your net earnings while working for them. While most journeys are no longer than 5 miles, working for 5+ hours could easily see you clocking in over 50 miles travelling back and forth between customers and restaurants—which as of writing would set you back over £7 (50 miles) by itself.
3. Vehicle Depreciation
It’s safe to say you’ll probably be driving a lot more than usual when you begin working as a courier/delivery driver. The average driver in the UK clocks under 20 miles each day—you’ll probably be topping this within 3 or 4 hours of starting your shift.
Wear and tear can be expensive, and things like your oil or brakes may need replacing a lot sooner than you originally anticipated. Also consider the cost of the mileage when it comes to selling or trading in your vehicle—it will inevitably be worth less with the extra journeys on it.
What Next?
We compared your earnings potential with the UK’s 3 largest food delivery apps—JustEat, UberEats and Deliveroo: check out our comparison and see which one you can earn the most on.
Our guide to everything you need to know about Deliveroo Insurance might prove useful too, if you’re wondering if you’re getting the best deal possible or if there might be something you’ve missed.
If you’re considering driving for multiple apps, we’ve got you covered too—check out our guides to getting correctly insured for each one.
Deliveroo Driver Reviews
During our interviews with Deliveroo drivers, one topic dominated earnings discussions—how much you earned on a given day was mostly dependent on how lucky you got with orders. Order volume and value change from day-to-day, and it’s tough to predict where will/won’t be busy on any given day. Consider also that the busiest regions are often already occupied by dozens of drivers with the same idea.
That being said, there are plenty of benefits to the work. Drivers enjoy the company of a great soundtrack, radio station or podcast, and many do it just as an excuse to get out of the house, not so bothered about their earnings as long as they cover their costs and then some.
“I enjoy it, it’s fun just getting out and getting paid for doing little work”
“Over £10 [per hour] on a busy night”
“Allowed me to have a good balance with my social life and work… being able to be my own boss… work when it was best for me”
Similarly, there are negatives to the work. Quieter days can see you barely breaking even financially, and some drivers/riders feel support from restaurants and Deliveroo can be extremely poor at times.
“lots of £2.90 orders every shift”
“difficult to earn living wage in delivery… everyone waiting for an order for almost 1 hour”
“made it impossible for me to make any money… I don’t recommend working for them”
Ultimately, the best way to find out if to try a few shifts for yourself—as you’re not contracted for a minimum number of hours per week you can come and go as you please, and if you discover it isn’t for you then there’s nothing stopping you from leaving.
FAQ's
Does Deliveroo cyclist pay match Deliveroo driver pay?
While Deliveroo hasn't officially confirmed that riders generally earn less than drivers, discussions online suggest that Deliveroo prefers to offer longer (and more lucrative) journeys to those in a car to avoid food from going cold on a long bike ride.
While a cyclist might earn less than a driver, they'll also avoid the costs of petrol, insurance and vehicle maintenance, so it can still be a lucrative endeavour even if you are earning a little less than those behind the wheel.
Deliveroo vs UberEats pay, Deliveroo vs JustEat pay
Check out our in-depth Deliveroo vs UberEats vs JustEat pay comparison to see which pays best—the result might surprise you!