DoorDash Pay Calculator
The app shows gross — your car bills you the rest. This tool subtracts gas and vehicle costs so you see your true net $/hour.
TL;DR
- Most Dashers gross $15–$25/hr, net $11–$19/hr after costs in 2026.
- Typical delivery pays $6–$9 with tips; tips are roughly half of pay.
- Only accept orders above $1.50–$2 per mile — that one rule decides your hourly.
How the calculation works
Your net is gross (deliveries × base + tips) minus fuel (miles ÷ MPG × gas price) and other costs (maintenance, phone):
Net/hr = (Deliveries × (Base + Tip) − Fuel − Other) ÷ Hours
Enter a normal week — deliveries, hours, miles, and your car's MPG — and the calculator shows net hourly, per-delivery, per-mile, and monthly pay.
Gross vs net by driving style
2026 tracked-driver ranges (before vs after vehicle costs):
| Style | Gross/hr | Net/hr |
|---|---|---|
| Off-peak (20 deliveries) | $8–$11 | $9–$13 |
| Typical (60 deliveries) | $15–$20 | $12–$16 |
| Peak + cherry-pick | $20–$28 | $16–$22 |
Realistic example
60 deliveries, 20 hrs, 300 miles
$480 gross ($3.50 base + $4.50 tip) minus ~$38.57 fuel and $20 other costs nets about $421/week — roughly $21/hr gross, $18/hr net before taxes.
Pickup truck at 17 MPG instead of 28
Same week burns ~$63.53 in fuel instead of ~$38.57. That one vehicle choice costs about $25/week — over $1,200/year.
Frequently asked questions
Is DoorDash worth it in 2026?
Yes for Fri/Sat dinner rushes with cherry-picking — $18–$25/hr net is realistic. Random weekday daytime accepting everything often nets $11–$14/hr, which rarely beats a $15 minimum-wage shift once wear is counted.
Do I owe taxes on DoorDash pay?
Yes — you're a 1099 contractor, so nothing is withheld. Track every business mile (2026 IRS rate is 72.5¢ Jan–Jun, 76¢ from Jul 1) and set aside ~25–30% for income plus 15.3% self-employment tax.
DoorDash or Uber Eats — which pays more?
In H1 2026 tracked data DoorDash medians ran ~13% higher per hour ($15.95 vs $14.16 gross). Multi-apping both during dinner rush beats either one alone.
Methodology & sources
Pay ranges reflect H1 2026 tracked-driver datasets and driver guides (base $2–$10, tips ~50% of pay, $1–$4 Peak Pay). Mileage rates are IRS Notice 2026-10 and Announcement 2026-11. Treat all figures as estimates — your market, hours, and acceptance strategy decide your number. Informational only.
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