Food Delivery Commission Calculator: Platform Cut and Restaurant Net
Work out the commission a food delivery platform takes from a restaurant on each order, and what the restaurant actually keeps — before food cost even comes out.
Adjust the inputs and select Calculate for a full breakdown.
Compare Common Scenarios
How the numbers shift across typical situations for this calculator:
| Scenario | Platform commission | Net to restaurant |
|---|---|---|
| 25% of $40 | 10 | 30 |
| 30% of $25 | 7.5 | 17.5 |
| 15% of $60 (pickup tier) | 9 | 51 |
| 28% of $80 (large order) | 22.4 | 57.6 |
How This Calculator Works
Enter the platform commission rate (DoorDash/Uber Eats/Grubhub charge 15% to 30%) and the order total. The calculator multiplies the two to give the platform commission and shows the net to the restaurant before food cost.
The Formula
Percentage of an Amount
Amount is the base value, Percentage is the rate applied to it
Worked Example
On a $40 order at a 25% commission rate, the platform takes $10 and the restaurant nets $30 — before food cost. If food cost is 30% of the order ($12), the restaurant's actual margin on that $40 delivery order is just $18, versus $28 on the same order made in-house. Delivery platforms can turn a profitable dine-in order into a break-even or loss delivery order.
Key Insight
Food delivery commission is the single biggest threat to restaurant margins in the delivery era. A restaurant running a healthy 15% dine-in net margin can hit negative margins on delivery orders once a 25% to 30% platform commission stacks on top of food cost and labor. Survival strategies: raise delivery menu prices 15% to 25% to offset commission, push customers to direct ordering (own website/app), or use the cheaper pickup-only commission tier. Many restaurants treat delivery as marketing rather than profit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is food delivery commission calculated?
Multiply the order total by the platform commission rate. A 25% commission on a $40 order is $10 to the platform, $30 to the restaurant before food cost.
What commission do the major platforms charge?
DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub charge tiered rates: ~15% for pickup or basic plans, ~25% for standard delivery, up to ~30% for premium plans with enhanced marketing placement. Payment processing and ad fees may stack on top.
Should I raise delivery prices to offset commission?
Most restaurants do — typically 15% to 25% markup on the delivery menu versus dine-in. This is legal and common (platforms allow restaurant-set prices). The risk: visibly higher prices can reduce delivery order volume.
Is direct ordering cheaper?
Much. Own-website ordering (via Toast, Square, ChowNow, or similar) costs 3% to 10% all-in versus 25% to 30% platform commission. The challenge is driving customers to direct ordering when the platforms own the discovery and convenience. Many restaurants insert flyers in delivery bags to encourage direct reorders.
Why do restaurants accept high commissions?
Platform reach and convenience drive incremental orders that wouldn't otherwise happen. For restaurants with excess kitchen capacity, even break-even delivery orders contribute to fixed-cost coverage. The danger is treating delivery as core profit rather than incremental volume.
Related Calculators
Methodology & Review
Commission is the order total multiplied by the platform commission rate; the remainder is the net to the restaurant before food cost. DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub charge 15% to 30% commission depending on the tier the restaurant selects (delivery, pickup, marketing add-ons). Payment processing and marketing fees stack on top in some plans.
Written by Ugo Candido · Last updated May 17, 2026.