Delivery App Markup Calculator
Compare the real cost of food delivery with pickup, including fees, tips, and app markups.
What you'd pay ordering directly from the restaurant
The price shown in the app (may be inflated)
Pickup Cost
$22.00
Delivery Total
$37.84
Extra Paid
$15.84
Markup
72.0%
Menu Inflation
$2.50
All Fees + Tip
$13.34
These results are estimates for informational purposes only. Actual costs may vary.
What this calculator tells you
Delivery apps can include delivery fees, service fees, small order fees, tips, and higher menu prices. This calculator compares the true cost of ordering through a delivery app with the cost of picking up the same food yourself.
Issues With calculators are deterministic tools, not AI guesses. Your result is calculated from the numbers you enter using the formula shown below, and the inputs stay in your browser.
How this calculator works
Enter the restaurant's direct menu price alongside what the same order costs through the delivery app — including the app's listed price (which is often inflated 10–30% above the restaurant's own menu), delivery fee, service fee, small order fee, tip, and taxes.
The calculator shows your pickup cost versus your delivery total, the extra you paid, and the true markup percentage. Use it to decide whether the convenience is worth the cost on any given order.
The formula
Pickup Total = Restaurant Menu Price
Delivery Total = App Listed Price + Delivery Fee + Service Fee + Small Order Fee + Tip + Taxes
Extra Paid = Delivery Total − Pickup Total
Markup % = (Extra Paid ÷ Pickup Total) × 100
Menu Inflation = App Listed Price − Restaurant Menu Price
Example
A pizza that costs $22.00 ordered directly:
- App listed price: $24.50 (+$2.50 menu inflation)
- Delivery fee: $3.99
- Service fee: $3.25
- Tip: $4.00
- Taxes: $2.10
Delivery total: $37.84 — you paid $15.84 more than the menu price, a 72% markup for the convenience.
Frequently asked questions
Why are delivery app prices higher than the restaurant menu? +
Delivery apps charge restaurants 15–30% commission. Many restaurants offset this by listing higher prices on the app. You're effectively paying the restaurant's commission as a customer.
What is a service fee vs. a delivery fee? +
The delivery fee pays the driver. The service fee (usually 10–15% of your order) goes to the app platform itself. Both are charged on top of the food cost.
Is a subscription like DashPass worth it? +
It depends on order frequency. A $9.99/month subscription that waives the delivery fee saves money if you order 2–3 times per month. But service fees and menu inflation still apply even with a subscription.
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