What Uber Eats takes from each order and how you get paid
Uber Eats charges restaurants a commission on every order, typically between 15% and 30% depending on your location and the services you use. The platform also charges a delivery fee to customers, but that money does not go to the restaurant — it covers Uber's driver payments and operating costs. You receive payment for the food price minus Uber's commission, usually deposited to your bank account twice weekly.
The exact percentage Uber takes varies by city and by whether you use Uber's delivery service or arrange your own. If you handle pickups only (customers collect food themselves), your commission is lower than if Uber dispatches a driver. Some cities have price caps set by local law that limit how much Uber can charge you, which means your commission may be different from a restaurant in another state.
Understanding these fees matters because they directly affect your profit on each order. A $100 order with a 30% commission costs you $30 before you account for food costs, labor, or rent. Many restaurants factor the commission into their menu prices on the Uber Eats platform, pricing items higher than they do in-store.
Key Takeaways
- Uber Eats commissions range from 15% to 30% per order and vary by location and whether you use Uber's delivery service.
- You set your own menu prices on Uber Eats, and many restaurants charge more on the platform to offset commission costs.
- Payments are deposited to your bank account twice weekly, minus the commission and any other fees Uber deducts.
- Some cities cap how much Uber can charge restaurants, so your commission may be lower than in other areas.
- Delivery fees charged to customers go to Uber and its drivers, not to your restaurant.
How commission is calculated on your orders
Uber calculates commission as a percentage of the subtotal — the food price before tax and delivery fees. If a customer orders $50 in food and Uber's commission is 25%, you lose $12.50 from that order. Tax is not included in the commission calculation, so you keep the full tax amount.
The commission percentage depends on three things: your city, whether you provide your own delivery, and whether you use Uber's marketing tools. Restaurants that use Uber's delivery service pay a higher commission than those that handle their own pickups. Some cities allow Uber to charge 30% or more; others cap it at 15% or 20%. You can see your specific commission rate in your Uber Eats merchant dashboard under "Financials" or "Commissions."
Uber also deducts other fees before you see the payment. These may include payment processing fees (usually 2% to 3%), fees for using Uber's point-of-sale system if you have one, and fees for promotional credits you offer customers. These stack on top of the base commission, so your total take-home can be 5 to 10 percentage points lower than the headline commission rate.
When and how you receive payment
Uber deposits earnings to your bank account twice per week, usually on Tuesday and Friday, though the exact days vary by location. The deposit includes all orders from the previous week, minus commissions and fees. You can see pending deposits and past payment history in your merchant dashboard under "Payouts" or "Earnings."
The bank transfer itself takes one to three business days after Uber initiates it, depending on your bank. Some banks process Uber transfers faster than others. If you do not see a deposit on the expected day, check your merchant dashboard first to confirm Uber sent it; if it shows as sent, contact your bank to ask where the transfer is.
You can change your bank account information in your merchant dashboard settings. If you close the account linked to Uber Eats, Uber will hold your next payment until you add a new account. Payments are not held indefinitely — contact Uber Eats merchant support if a payment has been pending for more than a week.
Fees beyond the base commission
The commission percentage is only part of what Uber takes. Payment processing fees typically run 2% to 3% of each order and are deducted before your deposit. If you use Uber's point-of-sale system (the tablet or register Uber provides), there may be a monthly fee ranging from $0 to $50 depending on your plan.
Promotional credits you offer — such as "$5 off your next order" — are deducted from your payout. If a customer uses a $5 credit on a $30 order, Uber deducts the full $5 from your payment, even though you still made the food. Uber also deducts chargebacks and refunds you issue, which can take several days to process.
Some restaurants are charged a "marketing fee" if they use Uber's advertising tools to promote their restaurant within the app. This is separate from the base commission and is optional — you only pay it if you choose to run ads. Check your merchant dashboard to see which fees explore to your account.
How to see your commission rate and payment breakdown
Log into your Uber Eats merchant dashboard and go to "Financials" or "Account Settings." Look for a section labeled "Commission" or "Fees" — this shows your base commission percentage for your location. The rate may be listed as a single number (for example, 25%) or broken down by service type (delivery, pickup, catering).
To see the full breakdown of what was deducted from a specific order, find that order in your "Orders" or "Sales" history and click on it. The order detail page shows the food subtotal, the commission amount, any promotional credits applied, and the net amount you received. This is the clearest way to understand exactly what Uber took.
Your "Payouts" or "Earnings" page shows every deposit Uber sent you, the date it was sent, and the total amount. Click on a payout to see all the orders included in that deposit and their individual deductions. If a number looks wrong, take a screenshot and contact Uber Eats merchant support with the order number.
What affects your commission rate
Your location is the biggest factor. Cities with price caps (set by local government) have lower maximum commissions — often 15% to 20%. Cities without caps may see commissions of 25% to 30% or higher. If you operate in multiple cities, you may have different commission rates for each location.
Whether you use Uber's delivery service also changes your rate. If customers pick up their own food, Uber's commission is lower because the company is not paying a driver. If Uber delivers, the commission is higher. Some restaurants use a hybrid model: they offer both pickup and delivery, and Uber applies different commission rates to each order type.
Your restaurant's performance and history with Uber can affect your rate in some cases. Restaurants with high cancellation rates or customer complaints may be offered less favorable terms. Conversely, high-performing restaurants sometimes negotiate lower commissions. This is not automatic — you would need to contact Uber Eats merchant support to discuss your specific situation.
Pricing your menu on Uber Eats versus in-store
You set your own prices on Uber Eats, and they do not have to match your in-store prices. Many restaurants charge 10% to 20% more on Uber Eats to offset the commission. For example, if a burger costs $12 in your restaurant and your Uber commission is 25%, you might price it at $14 or $15 on the app to maintain the same profit margin.
Customers see the higher price and may compare it to your in-store menu or competitors on the app. Some restaurants use this as a reason to encourage customers to order directly from their website or call the restaurant instead. Others accept the lower margin as the cost of reaching customers through Uber's platform.
You can change your Uber Eats menu prices at any time through your merchant dashboard. Changes take effect when ready. Many restaurants adjust prices seasonally or when ingredient costs change, and they do this separately for Uber Eats and their in-store menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I negotiate my commission rate with Uber Eats?
You can contact Uber Eats merchant support to discuss your rate, especially if you have been on the platform for a long time or operate multiple locations. Uber may offer lower rates to retain high-performing restaurants, but there is no may provide. Rates are also set partly by local law in some cities, so your negotiating room may be limited.
What happens if a customer disputes a charge or requests a refund?
If a customer requests a refund through the Uber Eats app, Uber deducts the full order amount from your next payout. You do not get to keep the commission on refunded orders. If the refund is due to a mistake on your part (wrong order, missing items), this is a cost of doing business. If you believe the refund was unfair, you can contact merchant support to dispute it.
Do I have to use Uber's delivery service, or can I arrange my own?
You can choose "pickup only" or "delivery by restaurant" when you set up your Uber Eats account, and your commission will be lower than if you use Uber's drivers. However, not all cities allow this option — some require you to use Uber's delivery service. Check your merchant dashboard to see which options are available in your area.
How long does it take to get paid after an order is placed?
Orders are grouped into weekly payouts that are deposited twice per week, usually Tuesday and Friday. An order placed on Monday might not be paid out until the following Tuesday or Friday, so there can be a 3 to 10 day delay between when the customer orders and when you receive the money. The bank transfer itself takes 1 to 3 additional business days.
What if I want to stop using Uber Eats?
You can deactivate your restaurant on Uber Eats through your merchant dashboard. Your account will be paused, and new orders will not come through. You will still receive payment for any orders that were placed before deactivation. If you want to reactivate later, you can do so through the same dashboard, though Uber may require you to update your menu and restaurant information.