The deepest DoorDash & Grubhub pay calculator for US drivers. We subtract fuel, maintenance, self-employment tax, and income tax — and we use the correct 2026 IRS mileage rate (including the mid-year jump to 76¢/mile), state gas prices, and local legal pay floors in Seattle, NYC, Minneapolis, and California.
Defaults reflect a typical United States (avg) delivery week. Edit every field — the math updates live.
Most competitors ignore this entirely. A handful of jurisdictions set a legal minimum payment for app-based delivery and rideshare workers — if your platform pay falls below the floor, the platform must make up the difference. These rates are adjusted periodically; always confirm with the official source.
Both platforms classify drivers as independent contractors, so there is no hourly wage or paycheck — your pay is built from per-delivery components. The structure is similar on both, but the details differ enough to matter for your bottom line.
Base Pay ($2–$10/delivery by distance, time, desirability) + 100% of tips + Peak Pay ($1–$8/delivery in high-demand windows). DoorDash earns from restaurant commissions and customer fees — it does not take a cut of your pay.
Base pay (calculated from distance + delivery type + time) + 100% of tips + Perks Program incentives for hitting mileage thresholds. Instant Cash Out is available.
Gross pay is only half the story. As an independent contractor you cover your own vehicle costs and set aside your own taxes. Our calculator subtracts these line items so you see true take-home, not just the deposit.
Every state has its own gas price, tax situation, and — in a few cases — local legal pay floors. Pick your state for a pre-filled calculator and state-specific FAQ.
For 2026 the IRS standard mileage rate is $0.725/mile from January 1 to June 30, and $0.76/mile from July 1 to December 31 — a rare mid-year increase (Announcement 2026-11) driven by rising fuel costs. Our calculator automatically applies the correct rate based on the delivery date you enter. Most competitor calculators still show a single outdated figure.
DoorDash Base Pay ranges from $2 to $10 per delivery, determined by distance, estimated time, and order desirability. On top of that, drivers keep 100% of tips and can earn Peak Pay ($1–$8 per delivery) during high-demand windows. DoorDash does not take a cut of driver pay — its revenue comes from restaurant commissions and customer delivery fees.
Grubhub base pay is calculated from distance, delivery type, and time. Drivers keep 100% of tips and can earn additional incentives through the Grubhub Perks Program for hitting mileage thresholds. Instant Cash Out is available. Total per-delivery pay varies widely by market and order mix.
Yes. As independent contractors, drivers pay self-employment tax of 15.3% (12.4% Social Security + 2.9% Medicare) on 92.35% of net business earnings, plus federal and (in most states) state income tax. You can deduct vehicle expenses using the IRS standard mileage rate ($0.76/mile for Jul–Dec 2026). Plan to pay quarterly estimated taxes.
Seattle, New York City, and California (statewide, via Proposition 22) all have specific legal pay floors or minimum earnings guarantees for app-based delivery and rideshare drivers. Our state pages for Washington, New York, and California highlight the current figures and official sources. These rates are adjusted periodically — always verify before relying on them.
It depends on your market. DoorDash generally has higher order volume in most U.S. cities, while Grubhub can pay better in markets where it has strong restaurant partnerships and where its Perks Program mileage incentives kick in. Most experienced drivers run both apps at once to minimize downtime. Our DoorDash vs Grubhub pay comparison breaks down the differences in detail.
No. This calculator provides estimates for planning purposes only. Tax figures use simplified 2026 single-filer brackets and a rough state estimate. Legal pay floors are summarized from public sources and may have changed. Consult a licensed tax professional and your local labor standards office before making financial or legal decisions.
Is There a Minimum Pay for DoorDash Drivers? California vs New York City in 2026 →
How California’s Prop 22 floor and NYC’s $22.13/hr rule actually work, with worked examples.
Your estimate starts from your weekly payout and subtracts fuel, maintenance, and other weekly costs, then applies self-employment tax and federal and state income tax using the 2026 IRS mileage rates (72.5¢ per mile January–June, 76¢ from July 1). The result is your true net weekly and hourly take-home.