DoorDash totals can look unpredictable because multiple line items can appear on one order.
This guide explains each common fee label and shows how to reduce total spend in 2025-2026 conditions.
Last updated: 2026-02-23
If you are comparing DoorDash vs Uber Eats merchant economics, use:
Fees vary by city, order distance, merchant category, and regulation. Always confirm final pricing at checkout.
Quick Summary
- DoorDash checkout can include delivery, service, and small-order fees
- DoorDash has publicly described Expanded Range and Express as optional cost adders in some markets
- Some cities can show a Regulatory Response Fee
- DashPass help pages describe 0 delivery fee and, on eligible restaurant orders, commonly ~5% service fee
- DashPass is publicly marketed at $9.99/month or $96/year in DoorDash materials
- Merchant plan tiers remain a major part of how restaurants price delivery menus
DoorDash Fees Explained (Line by Line)
DoorDash’s transparency post groups common checkout charges as:
- Delivery Fee: varies by merchant, demand, and distance
- Service Fee: supports platform operations and can vary by order; DashPass pages describe around 5% service fee for many eligible restaurant orders
- Small-order fee: can apply when subtotal is below threshold
- Expanded Range Fee: pilot fee for farther-away restaurants
- Express option fee: optional faster-delivery add-on in some markets
- Regulatory Response Fee: location-specific fee where regulatory costs are high
Treat the total as a fee stack, not one single percentage.
Regional Example: British Columbia (Canada)
DoorDash announced a BC fee update effective 2024-10-01:
- $0.99 regulatory response fee for restaurant deliveries
- up to $2.99 for non-restaurant deliveries
This is a strong reminder that city/province-level rules can directly change checkout totals.
Cheapest Ways to Reduce DoorDash Fees
- Choose DashPass-eligible stores and hit minimum thresholds.
- Compare nearby merchants to avoid expanded-range pricing.
- Skip Express unless speed is worth the premium.
- Use pickup when practical to reduce delivery-related fees.
- Stack merchant promos only when the final checkout is still lower.
DashPass Break-Even Check
DoorDash public pages describe DashPass at $9.99/month or $96/year and claim average member savings of about $5 per eligible order.
Simple break-even logic:
- Save $2/order -> around 5 orders/month
- Save $3/order -> around 4 orders/month
- Save $5/order -> around 2 orders/month
Exact value depends on eligible stores, minimum subtotals, and your city.
Bonus: DoorDash Merchant Fee Snapshot (for operators)
DoorDash Merchant pages and plan updates continue to describe:
- Delivery commission tiers: 15% / 25% / 30% (Basic/Plus/Premier)
- Pickup commission: 6%
- Card processing fee for app marketplace orders can be shown as $0 in partnership-plan messaging
- Processing fees apply for Online Ordering products (for example, 2.9% + $0.30) rather than core marketplace app orders
If you are a restaurant, this affects your delivery menu pricing even if your customers only see consumer fees.
FAQ
Why is DoorDash expensive at checkout?
Totals can include multiple fees at once, especially on long-distance, low-subtotal, or high-demand orders.
What is the Expanded Range Fee?
DoorDash describes it as a pilot-market fee for ordering farther-away restaurants.
What is the Regulatory Response Fee?
DoorDash says this may apply in some locations with high regulatory cost pressure.
Is DashPass worth it?
It can be, if you place enough eligible orders each month to exceed subscription cost in realized savings.
Is Express always worth paying?
Usually only if speed is critical. For lower total cost, standard delivery is often better.
What should restaurants do with this info?
Track net margin by channel and model menu pricing against the real fee stack, not headline commission alone.
Related Guides
- Uber Eats Delivery Fees (2026)
- Uber Eats Merchant Fees & Commission Rates (2026)
- Uber Eats vs DoorDash vs Grubhub Fees (2026)
- US Delivery App Pricing Guide