Grocery Delivery, how much do you tip?

Usually $5.

I think $5 is a fair amount. They try to get you to tip a percentage, but that ends up being pretty ridiculous.

It depends on what I order. If it's just a couple bags, $5. I once ordered a bunch of cans of sparkling water, soda, etc. for a party and tipped $20. They carried it all into my kitchen and had to make like 5 trips to and from their car.

I know a couple people who have done Instacart and it's hard work. They definitely earn those tips.

I would tip $5 in cash.

I know a young adult (college kid) who does  grocery delivery, and the on paper(receipts) tips are added up and divided between all the delivery drivers that are on the schedule for that day. The managers reasoning is, it's easier to it that way, than to have to do the paperwork and see who gets what amount. If the tip is cash, then the driver gets it and it's not included in the "group division". So cash is appreciated.

Makes no sense, in my opinion. That would be like saying all food servers on a shift pool "on paper" tips, and divide it equally. Meaning a server who hustles and provides excellent service gets the same amount as the server who does the bare minimum and provide average service.

But, going above the grocery managers head, would risk losing the job, so it is what it is. Hence the reason cash tips are preferred, they are received directly by the delivery driver.

The only grocery delivery i use is Whole Foods through Prime. It suggests a tip (typically between $5-$8), and I usually go by that. However, like busy if I have an unusually heavy order, I’ll tip more. I live in a condo and there are two flights of stairs to get to my place, so weight and trips up and down the stairs definitely are a factor. Most of the time though my order will fit into 2 bags easy peasy.

I only order from places that don’t accept tips.

It depends on where you order from. Instacart shoppers definitely accept tips. 

I also tip differently depending on the weight of the order, weather, etc.

I always tip, I know how hard they work and what they make. I have a friend that works for Shipt. I usually tip between $5-$10 depending on how large of an order.

They have to drive to the store, do the shopping then drive to your home under a certain amount of time. If they do not meet the time constraints they get a bad rating. They also pay their own gas. Without a tip, it can be as low as $8 an hour and that does not include the gas they spent driving.


It astounds me if you do not tip.  This is a service.

It depends on the weather...between $3-5 usually.

$5 I tip as part of the payment on the website, so I can't control for weather. The guys bring my order up on a dolly. I have an elevator, and i have them drop it right inside my apartment door - no schlepping bags/boxes to the kitchen. The worst part for them is being woofed at by a chihuahua for the 15 seconds they're in my house. LOL

I would not tip. I do the grocery pick up when they bring it to my car for $4.95. I am pretty anti tipping, though, as I feel it’s out of control. It annoys me to tip in restaurants because my state pays servers minimum wage (and we have one of the highest minimum wages in the country. 11.50 in state, 15.00 in Seattle). Kind of defeats the “reason” we are supposedly tipping them... I do it anyway because I heard once that servers get taxed on the amount they are estimated to bring in tips and I don’t want anyone to lose money due to me.

I also tip my hairdresser but I only go twice a year...I tip my nail people because they seriously undercharge and do a great job.

When we go on vacation we tip people that store your bags, etc a small amount. But other than that, I don’t tip. I also avoid some situations where it’s expected to tip (We pick up pizza rather than delivery, we don’t have housekeeping service our hotel room).
Apparently I am a monster. I’m fine with that. 😂

I tip them cash and they have no problem accepting.

Marcy