Tipping the Pizza Guy

You've gotten some good feedback already, and I'd like to echo it.
My hubby delivered pizza for a couple years while we were finishing our bachelor's degrees. Only a small fraction of the service charge goes to the driver and is considered compensation for gasoline. Otherwise he was making minimum wage.
Back then and even now, years later, my husband can tell you every house in that town that gave good tips and the ones who stiffed him. It mattered a lot to us since we paid for everything with $1 bills from tip money, and he tried to be fast and courteous. We always thought it was interesting that the people who gave the most generous tips were the ones living in the poorest neighborhoods. $2 was good, $3 was nice, and $5 was really appreciated, especially if the weather was bad or the house was far or tricky to find. For enormous corporate orders of $100 or more, a $10 tip was very exciting.
BTW, please tip your dog groomer a little bit, too! (That was my job through college and I was always thrilled to get a couple extra bucks, since only a part of the price of the grooming job was mine to keep.)
We now tip generously because we remember our delivery and grooming days all too well. It was character-building for sure, but it is thanks to work and kindness that we are out of that phase now. I wish the same opportunities for everyone. ;)

1 mom found this helpful

i never thought of tipping the pizza guy until my brother became one and told me how much he appreciated the tips. but that was for a place that didn't charge for delivery. i often just told the delivery guy he could keep the change, and paying with larger bills instead of 1's, that could be up to $5. now that we live in a different town, our favorite pizza place is more expensive and charges a delivery fee as well. finances are tighter for us now, so i don't tip unless it's a friend of mine delivering.

My husband delivered pizzas when we were in college. He said $3 was standard, but we always tip more, especially if the weather is bad or they have to travel farther. Every tip they don't get is felt, since the base pay is so little. The delivery/service charge doesn't go to the driver, at least not at Papa John's. Hope that helps!

3-5 is average. But put yourself on the flip side and only making what you get off of tips. My husband had to deliver pizzas full time after being laid off. For us every dollar helped. Something to think about...

Delivery drivers make under minimum wage pay with no potential for a raise. 2/3rd of pay is from tips. With any transportation job its High risk/hazardous job.
No health benefits, no sick pay, no vacation pay AND Higher auto insurance rates. Lets not forget Auto repairs.

The delivery cost usually goes toward fuel. We tip about five bucks as well.

It is nice to see someone ask this question instead of just not really caring about it. When you work mainly for tips it is what you live off of and they really do mean alot! If the pizza place charges for delivery, say Pizza Hut, the driver only gets a small fraction of that delivery charge, the rest of it goes to the resturant. Also keep in mind, that these drivers have to use their own vehicles and pay for their own gas with no recomp from their employers. Best way to tip is to give them at least two dollars. If your order is large, give them more.

My husband used to deliver pizzas for extra cash and if they add a service charge, that does NOT go to the delivery guy. I recommend 15% just like you would tip a wait person- keep in mind the wear and tear, oil changes, AND gas the vehicle they use goes through.

I try to tip $1.00 per box; but if I only have one box delivered I tip $2.00. The tip is money for the delivery person. The delivery charge is made by the company to cover the costs they pay to their delivery people.

Hi C.. I own a pizzaria so I have some insight. Typically a 3$ tip satisfies a driver. A 5$ tip makes their night. I always tell myself that the difference of the 2$ is much less significant to me than it is to them so go with 5$. They often don't get any tip from people so also giving the 5$ allows for them to make up for those who don't tip. At my shop they only make 5$/hour so their tips is what allows them to pay the bills. If you can afford it 5$ is great!!

when we get pizza delivered, it typically costs between 25 and 35 dollars, and we usually tip 5 bucks. It's pretty standard. Some places add a delivery fee, but the drivers see very little of that money.