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I started DoorDashing on November 4th, 2024.
And while I’ve heard plenty of mixed opinions about it, some valid, some exaggerated, I wanted to write this for the people who might be in the same boat I was: needing extra income, curious about dashing, but unsure what to expect.
So here’s my honest take, including what I learned, what worked well, and why I stopped (even though I still recommend it).
What DoorDashing Actually Is (For Anyone Who’s Never Tried It)
Dashing is simple in theory:
You get offers through the DoorDash app that include details like the restaurant, offer amount, and total distance.
You can choose to accept or decline each one, but high acceptance rates (above 70%) are rewarded, which I found to be definitely worth aiming for.
Once you accept:
- You drive to the restaurant
- Pick up the food
- Deliver it to the customer’s location (with directions built right into the app)
- Take a photo at drop-off (or hand it to them, if requested)
- Then move on to the next order or head back to the busy zone
That’s it. You repeat it as long as you want.
One of the Best Parts: You Choose Your Own Schedule
If you build up a good rank (DoorDash uses Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels), you don’t even need to be scheduled. You can just open the app and go, especially helpful if you want flexibility.
To maintain the highest rank (Platinum):
- Keep a high customer rating at or above 4.7/5
- Accept more than 70% of offers
- And deliver reliably with a completion rate of 95% or higher
Pro tip: if you're using your phone for directions (which you will be), do yourself a favor and get a car phone holder, that's the link to the one I use.
It kept my phone in sight but out of the way enough so that I could keep my eyes on the road while easily following the map and managing my deliveries. It also kept my phone charged so it wouldn't die on me while I was working.
What the Pay Looks Like
This will vary depending on where you live, so my experience might not match yours, but here’s how it went for me:
- If I wanted to, I made $100 a night in about 5 hours of dashing, but sometimes my goal was only $70 a night so I could go home earlier
- Gas took up only 15–20% of what I earned
- In my area, gas is cheap and the customer base is generous with tips
So overall, the return was absolutely worth it.
If you live in a small town with long distances between homes and restaurants, your gas costs might be higher. But if you live in or near a wealthier area, or anywhere with high-volume food delivery, the numbers can work out even better than they did for me.
Hourly Pay vs. Commission Pay
You can choose how you get paid:
-
Commission-Based Pay (what I used):
You earn a base of $2–$4 per delivery from DoorDash, plus the customer’s tip. This is where high-rank drivers shine, you get priority access to better-paying orders. -
Hourly Pay:
A flat hourly rate plus tips, but only while you’re actively delivering, not while waiting between orders. You don’t get priority access to higher-paying dashes like commission drivers do.
For me, commission was better, but again, it depends on your area and how busy it is. Hourly is better to reduce stress, knowing that you're getting paid accurately for your time even when there are delays.
When to Dash
This also depends on where you live, but I noticed:
- Dinner time is always the busiest and most profitable
- Weekends are good, but mostly after 5 PM
- Mornings and lunch? Basically dead in my area, especially weekdays, and no one likes to tip during these hours
If you're considering giving it a shot, you’ll start learning your area’s rhythm pretty quickly.
Why I Stopped (And Why I Still Recommend It)
I dashed consistently for two months, and then I burned out.
It wasn’t the job that wore me down, it was the fact that I was pushing myself too hard, every single night, trying to make as much as I could. It became exhausting.
But I didn’t stop because of any huge con or awful experience. In fact, I still keep the app on my phone.
Every now and then, when the dinner rush hits and it’s busy enough, I can hop on and make a little extra.
If you’re in a financial pinch, it’s a solid backup.
Quick Math: What This Could Look Like for You
Let’s say you make:
- $70 a night, 5 nights a week = $1,400/month
- $100 a night, 5 nights a week = $2,000/month
That’s solid side hustle money, especially for something that lets you listen to music, explore your town, and be on your own schedule.
Just don’t push yourself to the point of burnout like I did.
Final Thoughts
I know DoorDashing gets a bad rap sometimes.
And like I said at the start, everyone’s experience is different.
But for me, it was a practical way to earn extra money without a strict schedule or a ton of overhead. And even though I don’t do it regularly anymore, I’ll always be glad I gave it a try.
If you're even a little curious, I recommend signing up sooner rather than later, in some areas, it can take months to get approved. (For me, it took three.)
So why not get a head start?
It might be your next income stream, or maybe just a way to make expenses a little easier next month.
Either way, it's always good to have options.