How Uber Eats works for drivers: Requirements, pay, and a guide to delivering
By Doug H, Updated April 12, 2023 599 Comments

Delivering for Uber Eats has quickly become one of the most popular delivery gigs.

Uber Eats delivery drivers enjoy the flexibility of working without a schedule and the freedom to accept or decline any order request.

The easy requirements to apply also make Uber Eats an attractive option: You can use just about any vehicle, and you only have to be 19 or older.

If you’ve ever thought about delivering for Uber Eats, here is a complete guide to applying, getting started, and doing your first deliveries.

What you need to know about delivering for Uber Eats

Uber Eats drivers pick up & deliver orders from local restaurants & stores
Uber Eats drivers are paid per delivery and earn around $15–$20 per hour
Drivers must be 19 years or older
Bicycle riders can be 18 or older
Any vehicle model year qualifies
Some cities require 20 years old or newer
You can also do Uber ridesharing rides if your vehicle qualifies
Deliver with Uber Eats! Click here to apply


Article Contents:

What do Uber Eats delivery drivers do?
Uber Eats driver requirements
How much do Uber Eats drivers make?
What it’s like to deliver for Uber Eats
Is Uber Eats worth your time?
Uber app logo with text 'deliver for uber eats'
What do Uber Eats delivery drivers do?
In simple terms, Uber Eats delivery drivers pick up and deliver orders from local restaurants and stores.

Most orders on Uber Eats are for restaurant delivery, but Uber Eats customers can also order from convenience stores, grocery stores, and other retailers.

Uber Eats drivers start delivering by signing into the Uber Driver app and waiting for order requests.

When a request comes in, you’ll see the estimated payout, restaurant name, customer location, and overall mileage. You are free to accept or decline any order request.


Most Uber Eats drivers use a vehicle to do deliveries, but some deliver on bicycles or scooters.

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How to sign up for Uber Eats: The application process
Apply online or in the Uber driver app
If you plan to drive, upload your driver’s license and other vehicle info
Consent to a background screening
Wait to hear if Uber accepts your application. Typically takes 3–10 days
When you are accepted, sign into the Uber driver app and start taking delivery requests
Uber Eats Delivery Driver Requirements
You must be 19 years old or older (21 years old in Canada)
Bicycle couriers must be 18 years or older
You must have a driver’s license, insurance, and proof of vehicle registration
Have access to a 2-door or 4-door vehicle
Bicycle and scooter delivery is available in some cities
Must be able to lift up to 30 pounds
Sign up with Uber Eats here!

Already an Uber driver? How to opt into Uber Eats deliveries
If you’re already an Uber driver, you can opt into eats deliveries in the “Work Hub” of the Uber Driver app.

In the Uber Driver app: Tap Menu > Account > Work Hub, and select “deliver food with Uber Eats. From there, tap “Turn on deliveries.”

App instructions to turn on Uber Eats deliveries in the app Work Hub
Turn on deliveries in the Work Hub, found in Account


How to turn on Uber Eats delivery requests in the app
You can enable or disable deliveries if you are eligible to do Uber rides and Uber Eats deliveries.

To turn delivery requests on or off: On the bottom of the home screen, tap on the icon with two lines to bring up your Driving Preferences. Then tap on Deliveries to enable or disable the option and tap Save.

You will get ride and delivery requests if you enable both at the same time.

An image that shows how to adjust Driving Preferences in the Uber driver app
Turn delivery requests on or off by changing your Driving Preferences


How Uber Eats drivers can switch to rideshare
If you began as an Uber Eats driver and want to give rides for Uber’s ridesharing services, you have to contact Uber and ask to add rideshare to your driver profile.

Currently, there is no direct way to make the switch to rideshare. You have to contact Uber.

How Uber Eats drivers can switch to rideshare
How much do Uber Eats drivers make?
According to the top employment data sources online, Uber Eats drivers can expect to make around $15–$20 per hour.

Drivers are paid per delivery, so your actual pay depends on the deliveries you do, the days and times you work, and the local conditions in your market.

Tips from customers make up a large percentage of your pay on Uber Eats. The most profitable drivers learn to accept delivery requests that are likely to include a tip.

Pay for Uber Eats deliveries is generally lower than the pay for Uber rideshare drivers, which is closer to $15–$25 per hour after accounting for expenses.

The tradeoff is that ridesharing drivers tend to put more miles on their cars and have the added stress of dealing with passengers inside their car.

How Uber Eats delivery drivers get paid: Earnings calculation for each delivery
Uber Eats delivery drivers are paid for each completed delivery.

Order requests pop up in the driver app and show an estimated payout, the restaurant or store location, the customer’s location, and the estimated mileage to complete the delivery.



The payout for each delivery is based on this equation: Base fare + trip supplement + promotions + tips.

Uber does not share how they calculate base fare, but the upfront information will typically give you enough information to tell you if the order is worth your time.

Base fare: Pay for pickup, drop-off, time, and distance
Trip supplement: Added to base fare to account for extra time, distance, demand
Promotions: Boost, Quest, and surge earnings (Read more below)
Tips: Drivers keep 100% of tips. Customers can tip in the app before or after an order
Uber Eats payout = Base fare + trip supplement + promotions + tips

Sample uber eats delivery payout showing base fare, trip supplement, and tips
A sample payout: Base fare, trip supplement, and a tip


The new pay model shows estimated earnings and the customer’s drop-off location




Uber’s graphic explaining the current pay model

How drivers get paid: Weekly direct deposits or cash out with Instant Pay
Uber Eats earnings are paid every Thursday via direct deposit.

You can also cash out your earnings up to 5 times daily with the Instant Pay feature. Each Instant Pay withdrawal costs $1.25.



Sign up for the Uber Pro debit card to get free Instant Pay withdrawals. Your earnings are automatically transferred to the card after each delivery, and you can get other perks like cash back on gas.

Which Uber Pro rewards are worth it?
How tips work for Uber Eats drivers
The Uber Eats app allows customers to tip delivery drivers, and drivers keep 100% of tips.

Customers can leave a tip when they place their order or after the order is complete.

Uber Eats includes some tipping info in the upfront payout estimate, but not necessarily all of it.

Selecting orders with tips is the best way to maximize your income. You’ll know a customer didn’t tip when the up-front estimate is low. And most drivers report that tipping after the delivery is rare.

“Includes expected tip” and tip baiting
The order request screen may say “Includes expected tip” beneath the estimated payout. That means the estimate you see includes some or all of the tips the customer left during checkout.

If a customer doesn’t tip in the app, the estimated payout will be low, and you’ll know the order might not be worth it.

One issue: Customers can change the