What Uber Delivery Is and How to Use It
Uber Delivery is Uber's service for ordering food and goods from restaurants and stores to your home or office. You read the Uber Eats app (or use the website), search for a restaurant or store, add items to your cart, pay through the app, and a driver picks up your order and brings it to you. The driver is paid by Uber, not by you directly — your payment covers the food or goods, a delivery fee, and sometimes a service fee.
The process takes about 15 to 45 minutes from order to delivery, depending on how busy the restaurant is, how far away it is, and traffic in your area. You can track the driver's location in real time once they pick up your order. If something goes wrong — the order arrives cold, items are missing, or the driver doesn't show up — you can report it in the app and Uber will usually refund you or send a replacement.
Uber Delivery is available in most U.S. cities and many countries worldwide, but not everywhere. You can check whether it works at your address by opening the app and entering your location. If no restaurants appear, the service does not operate in that area yet.
Key Takeaways
- Uber Delivery charges three separate fees: the cost of the food or goods, a delivery fee (usually $2 to $5), and a service fee (a percentage of your order total).
- You need a valid payment method in the app — a debit card, credit card, or linked bank account — before you can place an order.
- Drivers are independent contractors hired by Uber, not restaurant employees, so they do not know your special requests unless you type them in the app.
- If your order arrives incomplete, cold, or wrong, you can report it in the app within a short window and receive a refund or replacement.
- Uber Eats Pass is a paid membership that reduces delivery fees and service fees if you order frequently, but it costs money upfront.
Understanding the Fees You Pay
When you place an Uber Delivery order, your total bill includes four separate charges. First is the subtotal — the actual price of the food or goods you ordered. Second is the delivery fee, which Uber sets based on distance and demand. During busy times or in areas far from restaurants, this fee can rise. Third is the service fee, which is a percentage of your subtotal (usually 10 to 15 percent). Fourth is tax, which your city or state requires.
Some restaurants also add a small order fee if your subtotal is below a certain amount — often $10 or $15. This is set by the restaurant, not Uber. You can see all these fees before you pay, so there are no surprises at checkout.
If you order frequently, Uber Eats Pass is a monthly subscription that waives delivery fees and reduces service fees on orders over a certain amount. The membership costs money each month, so it only saves you money if you order often enough to offset that cost. You can cancel anytime.
How Payment and Account Setup Work
To order through Uber Delivery, you need to create an account in the app or on the website. You provide your name, email address, phone number, and delivery address. Uber will send you a verification code by text or email to confirm you own that phone number or email.
Next, you add a payment method. Uber accepts most major credit cards, debit cards, and linked bank accounts. Some areas also allow payment through digital wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay. Your payment information is encrypted and stored securely — Uber does not share it with restaurants or drivers.
Once your account is set up, you can place orders when ready. If you want to order to a different address than the one on your account, you can change it before checkout. Some restaurants and stores have minimum order amounts, so if your cart is below that, you will not be able to complete the purchase.
What Happens After You Place Your Order
After you pay, the restaurant or store begins preparing your order. You will see a status in the app: "Confirming order," then "Preparing," then "Ready for pickup." Once it is ready, Uber sends a driver to pick it up. The app shows you the driver's name, photo, and vehicle, and you can watch their location on a map as they drive to the restaurant and then to you.
The driver does not know what is in your order unless you tell them in the app's notes section. If you have special requests — "no onions," "extra sauce on the side," "ring the doorbell twice" — type them before you pay. The restaurant sees these notes, and the driver can read them too. Calling or texting the driver directly is not reliable because they may not see the message while driving.
When the driver arrives, they will knock or ring the doorbell. You can ask them to leave the order at your door if you prefer not to answer. Once they mark the delivery complete in the app, you can rate them and the restaurant. If something is wrong with your order, report it when ready in the app — Uber has a time limit for refund requests, usually a few hours after delivery.
What to Do If Something Goes Wrong
If your order arrives incomplete, cold, or with wrong items, open the Uber Eats app, go to your order history, and tap the order. You will see a "Report an issue" button. Select the problem — missing items, wrong items, food quality, or driver behavior — and Uber will ask for details. You can upload a photo if needed.
Uber usually refunds the cost of missing or wrong items within a few hours. If the entire order was wrong or inedible, you can request a full refund. Uber may also offer you a credit toward your next order instead of a refund. If the driver was rude, unsafe, or stole your order, report that separately under "Driver behavior" — Uber takes these reports seriously and may deactivate the driver.
If you never received your order at all, check your delivery address in the app. If it is correct, report it as "Order not received" and Uber will investigate. They may contact the driver to confirm whether they delivered it, or they may refund you when ready. Keep your app open and watch for the driver's arrival — if you miss them and they mark it delivered, it becomes harder to prove you did not receive it.
Restaurants and Stores Available on Uber Delivery
Uber Delivery includes thousands of restaurants and stores in most cities — from fast food chains to local independent restaurants to grocery stores and convenience stores. Not every restaurant in your area is on Uber Delivery. Some choose not to use the service because Uber takes a commission (usually 15 to 30 percent of each order). Others use competing services like DoorDash or Grubhub instead.
When you open the app, you see only restaurants and stores that deliver to your address. If a restaurant is closed, you cannot order from it. If a restaurant is very busy, they may temporarily stop accepting orders until they catch up. You can search by cuisine type, restaurant name, or specific dishes. You can also filter by delivery time, price, or rating.
Prices on Uber Delivery are sometimes higher than the restaurant's in-person menu because the restaurant raises prices to offset Uber's commission. Some restaurants mark up items by 10 to 20 percent. This is legal and common, so compare prices if you are ordering from a place you know.
Uber Eats Pass and Other Ways to Save
Uber Eats Pass is a monthly membership that costs between $9.99 and $14.99 depending on your location. Members get free delivery on orders over a certain amount (usually $15) and a reduced service fee. If you order three or four times a month, the membership often pays for itself. You can cancel anytime without penalty.
Outside of a membership, you can save money by ordering during off-peak hours — delivery fees are lower when demand is low. Some restaurants offer promotions or discounts through the app, especially if you are a new customer. You can also look for Uber Eats gift cards, which some retailers sell at a discount.
Certain credit cards offer cash back or points on Uber Eats purchases. Check your card's rewards program to see if Uber Eats is included. Some employers and schools also offer discounts on Uber Eats through their benefits programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I tip the driver through the app?
Yes. You can tip when you place your order, or you can add a tip after delivery. Most drivers depend on tips because Uber's base pay is low. Tipping is not required, but it is customary — most people tip 15 to 20 percent of the order total, or a flat $2 to $5 for small orders.
What if the driver goes to the wrong address?
Open the app when ready and contact the driver through the in-app chat. If they do not respond or cannot fix it, report it as "Order not received" and Uber will refund you. If the driver delivered to a neighbor's address, try asking that neighbor if they received your order by mistake.
Can I change my order after I place it?
Only if the restaurant has not started preparing it yet. Open the app, go to your active order, and look for a "Cancel" or "Edit" button. If the restaurant has already started, you cannot change it. You can cancel the entire order and place a new one, but you will lose your payment on the first order.
Do I need to be home when the driver arrives?
No. You can ask the driver to leave the order at your door, in a mailbox, or with a doorman. Type these instructions in the app's notes section before you pay. If you are not home and the driver cannot leave it safely, they may return it to the restaurant.
What happens if my payment method is declined?
The app will tell you when ready that the payment failed. Update your payment method and try again. If your card is declined, try a different card or a linked bank account. If all your payment methods fail, you cannot place an order until you add a working one.