Delivery App Commission Calculator
A $40 delivery order isn't $40. The app keeps its commission, you still pay for the food and the packaging, and the order doesn't carry the card fee an in-store sale does. Enter your numbers to see what an app order leaves you compared with the same order in your restaurant, and how much higher your app prices would need to be to close the gap.
Compares the money left after food, packaging and fees. Rent, labor and other costs are the same either way, so they are left out. The in-store order is the same food at your in-store price, paid by card. Estimates only. This calculator is for educational purposes and is not financial, tax or legal advice.
How the math works
Start with what the customer pays for the food on the app. The app keeps its commission plus any other fees. What's left is paid to you, and from that you still pay for the food and the packaging.
The fair comparison is the same food sold in your restaurant. There's no commission, but there is a card fee, usually a few percent. The difference between the two is what each app order really costs you.
A worked example
A $40 order with no app markup and a 25% commission pays you $30. The food costs $12 (30%) and the packaging $1, so the order leaves $17. The same order in-store leaves $40 − $1.20 card fee − $12 − $1 = $25.80. Each app order earns $8.80 less, which is $3,520 a month at 400 orders.
To make up the difference, app prices would need to be about 29% higher than your menu: 0.97 ÷ 0.75 = 1.293. Many restaurants mark up app prices for exactly this reason.
Choosing a plan
Delivery apps sell several plans at different commission rates. DoorDash's U.S. plans charge 15%, 25% or 30% on delivered orders depending on the plan, and 6% on pickup orders (DoorDash). Higher plans buy more visibility and perks; the calculator shows whether the extra orders can cover the higher rate. Check your current plan in the app's merchant portal; rates differ by app and change over time.
The courier's side
The delivery fee the customer pays goes toward the courier and the app, not to you. If you're curious what the driver actually makes after gas and car costs, the delivery driver pay calculator shows it.
Sources: DoorDash, Merchant pricing (U.S.). The rest is arithmetic on your inputs; the example numbers are made up for illustration.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does DoorDash charge restaurants?
DoorDash's U.S. plans charge a commission of 15%, 25% or 30% on delivered orders, depending on the plan, and 6% on pickup orders. Check your merchant portal for your current plan.
How do I calculate what a delivery order really earns?
Take the food subtotal, subtract the app's commission and fees to get what you're paid, then subtract the food cost and packaging. Compare that with the same order in-store, after the card fee.
How much should I mark up prices on delivery apps?
Enough that an app order leaves the same as an in-store order. With a 25% commission and a 3% card fee in-store, app prices about 29% higher than your menu break even. The calculator works it out for your numbers.
Are delivery orders worth it for a restaurant?
They can be when they add orders you would not otherwise get and the kitchen has room. They hurt when they replace in-store orders at a lower profit. Knowing your profit per app order is the first step.