DoorDash rolls out new fee structure, altering delivery and service charges in the US

DoorDash announced a redesign of the fees it charges consumers for delivery and service. Under the new model, the delivery fee becomes a fixed amount that varies by merchant, while the service fee is calculated based on factors such as distance, order size and, for orders over ten miles, a possible long‑distance surcharge. The company says the changes are meant to “better reflect what it takes to complete your delivery.”

DoorDash estimates that more than 70% of recent orders would see the same or lower total fees, and it is adding in‑app explainers, a real‑time fee tally, and a “Farther Away” label for restaurants that may incur higher service fees due to distance. The rollout covers most of the United States, but excludes markets such as California, Chicago, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York City, Puerto Rico and Seattle, which will be brought into the new system later.

Separately, the higher prices consumers see on DoorDash are largely due to restaurants adding mark‑ups to offset the platform’s commission fees, which can range from 15% to 30% per order. These restaurant‑driven price increases, combined with DoorDash’s fee changes, contribute to the overall “delivery app premium” that customers experience.