How Much Do Delivery Drivers Really Make Per Hour After Gas and Taxes?
The short answer: less than the app shows. Real hourly pay counts every hour online, including waiting, and subtracts car costs (often 30–45¢ a mile) and taxes. A shift the app shows as $40 an hour can come out near $28 once those are counted. Your real number depends on your market, car and the offers you accept, so calculate your own.
Real hourly pay calculator
Why real pay is lower than app pay
- Waiting time: time online between orders is unpaid but still your time.
- Unpaid miles: the drive to pickups and back to busy areas often isn't in the offer distance. See how to calculate pay per mile.
- Car costs: gas plus wear and value loss. Work out what your car costs per mile.
- Taxes: nothing is withheld; drivers often set aside 15–25%. See gig worker taxes.
Example: one shift
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| App pay + tips (6 hours online) | $240 |
| What the app suggests | $40.00/hr |
| Car costs (90 miles × 35¢) | −$31.50 |
| Tax set-aside (18%) | −$37.53 |
| You keep | $170.97 |
| Real hourly pay | $28.50/hr |
What about averages?
Tracking apps such as Gridwise publish averages from their users, and they're useful for context. But pay varies a lot by city, time of day and which offers you take, so your own numbers are the only ones that tell you whether driving pays for you.
How to raise your real hourly pay
- Set minimums and skip offers below them (the dollar-per-mile rule).
- Drive your best-paying hours and areas.
- Compare your apps on the same days and times.
- Cut waiting time by running two apps where allowed.
- Log every business mile; it lowers your taxes (mileage deduction).
FAQ
How much do DoorDash drivers make per hour after expenses?
It varies widely by market and strategy. Count all hours online, subtract car costs and taxes, and many drivers find their real pay is well below the app's figure. Use the calculator for your own number.
What expenses should drivers subtract from pay?
Gas and car wear (your cost per mile), other costs like parking and tolls, and a tax set-aside.
Does waiting time count in hourly pay?
For your real hourly pay, yes. Time online waiting for orders is time you're working.
Sources: IRS 2026 mileage rates · IRS Gig Economy Tax Center. General information for planning, not tax, legal or financial advice.
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