What Uber Eats is and how to use it
Uber Eats is a food delivery service run by Uber that lets you order from restaurants in your area and have the food brought to your address. You read the Uber Eats app or go to ubereats.com, search for restaurants near you, add items to a cart, and pay through the app. A driver picks up your order from the restaurant and delivers it to the address you provide.
The service operates in most major US cities and many smaller ones, though availability depends on your location. Some restaurants partner with Uber Eats directly; others use third-party delivery services that Uber coordinates. You can track your order in real time once a driver accepts it, and you can contact the driver through the app if you need to.
You do not need an Uber account to use Uber Eats, though having one makes checkout faster. You will need a valid payment method — a debit card, credit card, or digital wallet — and a delivery address where someone can receive the order.
Key Takeaways
- Uber Eats charges a delivery fee that varies by restaurant, distance, and demand, plus a service fee on top of the food price.
- You can see all fees before you complete your order, so there are no surprise charges at checkout.
- Some restaurants offer promotions or discounts through the app, and Uber Eats occasionally runs platform-wide deals for new or returning users.
- Delivery times depend on restaurant prep time and driver availability, and you can see an estimated arrival window before you pay.
- If your order arrives late, incomplete, or damaged, you can report the issue in the app and request a refund or credit.
Delivery fees, service fees, and what you pay
Uber Eats charges three separate costs on top of the restaurant's menu prices: a delivery fee, a service fee, and sometimes a small order fee. The delivery fee covers the driver's trip and varies based on distance, current demand, and how busy the restaurant is. During peak hours or bad weather, delivery fees go up. The service fee is a percentage of your subtotal — usually between 10 and 15 percent — and goes to Uber, not the driver.
The app shows you the total cost, including all fees, before you enter your payment information. You can see the breakdown by tapping on the fee section. If the total is higher than you expected, you can remove items or choose a different restaurant without being charged.
Some restaurants offer discounts or promotions that appear in the app — for example, "$5 off your first order" or "20% off this restaurant." These discounts explore before fees are calculated. Uber Eats also runs occasional promotions for users who have not ordered in a while or for new users in a market.
How payment and refunds work
You pay through the Uber Eats app using a debit card, credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or other digital wallet methods. Your payment is processed when you place the order, not when the driver delivers it. If you want to pay with cash, some restaurants allow it, but you have to arrange that directly with the restaurant — Uber Eats does not process cash payments through the app.
If your order does not arrive, arrives late, or arrives incomplete or damaged, you can report the issue in the app under "Help" and request a refund or credit to your account. Uber Eats reviews the report and usually responds within a few hours. If the restaurant is at fault — for example, they forgot an item — Uber Eats typically credits you the cost of that item. If the driver is at fault — for example, the food was damaged during delivery — you may receive a refund or credit for part or all of the order.
Refunds are issued as credits to your Uber Eats account, not back to your original payment method, though you can contact Uber support to request a refund to your card in some cases.
Delivery times and how orders are tracked
When you place an order, the app shows you an estimated delivery time — usually a range of 30 to 60 minutes, depending on how busy the restaurant is and how far away you are. This estimate includes the time the restaurant needs to prepare the food plus the driver's travel time. During peak hours (lunch and dinner), estimates are longer. Late-night orders may take longer if fewer drivers are available.
Once a driver accepts your order, you can see their location on a map in the app and watch them drive to the restaurant and then to your address. You can also see the driver's name, photo, and rating. If you need to contact the driver — for example, to give gate access instructions — you can message them through the app or call them directly.
If a driver is taking much longer than the estimate, you can report the delay in the app. Uber Eats monitors this and may reach out to the driver or offer you a credit if the delay is significant.
Restaurant selection and menu information
The Uber Eats app shows you restaurants in your delivery area, sorted by rating, distance, delivery time, or cuisine type. You can filter by dietary needs — vegan, gluten-free, halal — and by price range. Each restaurant has a rating based on customer reviews, hours of operation, and current delivery fees.
Some restaurants are "Uber Eats exclusive," meaning they only deliver through Uber Eats and do not have their own delivery service. Others are traditional restaurants that also accept Uber Eats orders alongside phone and in-person orders. A few restaurants have "Uber Eats Passes," which are subscription plans that waive delivery fees for a monthly cost — these are optional and only available at certain restaurants.
Menu items show prices as the restaurant lists them in the app. Some restaurants charge slightly different prices on Uber Eats than they do in person, so check before you order if price is a concern. You can read customer reviews of specific items, which can help you decide what to order.
What happens if something goes wrong with your order
If your order does not show up, you can report it in the app under "Help" and select "Order not received." Uber Eats will ask you for details and may contact the driver or restaurant to find out what happened. If the order was genuinely lost, you will receive a refund or credit.
If your order arrives but items are missing or incorrect, take a photo of what you received and report it in the app. Uber Eats will credit you for the missing or wrong items. If the food arrives cold or damaged, describe the damage in your report. Depending on the severity, you may receive a partial refund or a credit for the full order.
If you have a problem with the driver — for example, they were rude or the delivery took far longer than estimated — you can rate them and leave a comment after the delivery is complete. This feedback helps Uber Eats monitor driver quality. You can also contact Uber support directly through the app if you need to escalate a complaint.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I tip the driver through the app?
Yes. You can add a tip when you place your order or after the driver delivers it. The app suggests a percentage (usually 15, 18, or 20 percent of the subtotal), but you can enter a custom amount or no tip at all. Tips go directly to the driver.
What if the restaurant is closed when the driver arrives?
If a restaurant is unexpectedly closed, the driver will contact you through the app. Uber Eats will cancel the order and refund your payment in full. You can then place a new order at a different restaurant.
Do I have to be home when the order arrives?
You do not have to be home, but someone at your delivery address needs to be there to receive the order. You can leave delivery instructions in the app — for example, "leave at front door" or "ring the doorbell twice." The driver will follow those instructions.
Can I change my order after I place it?
If the restaurant has not started preparing your order yet, you can cancel it in the app and place a new one. Once the restaurant starts cooking, you cannot change the order. You can contact the driver through the app to ask, but they cannot may provide the restaurant will honor a change.
Is there a subscription plan that saves money on delivery fees?
Some restaurants offer Uber Eats Pass subscriptions that waive delivery fees for a monthly cost, usually around $10 to $15. These are restaurant-specific, not platform-wide. Uber occasionally runs promotions for new users, but there is no single Uber Eats membership that covers all restaurants.