Should you schedule Grubhub blocks or just toggle on "Taking offers"?
Schedule blocks for your main earning hours and use "Taking offers" only to fill gaps. Grubhub says scheduled drivers are considered for nearby offers before non-scheduled drivers, and the contribution top-up only applies during a block. Blocks open first to Premier drivers (Thursday), then Pro (Friday), then Partner (Saturday). Dropping blocks within 72 hours of the start, again and again, can get your scheduling access restricted.
How Grubhub blocks work
- What a block is: a reserved delivery window in your region. Blocks are first-come, first-served.
- Length: varies by market, from 30 minutes up to 2 hours or more.
- Priority: scheduled drivers are considered for nearby offers before drivers who are only taking offers.
- Booking: Scheduling → Update schedule → tap the + next to an open slot. No plus sign means the block is full.
- Notifications: you can turn on alerts for newly added or dropped blocks, which is how many drivers pick up blocks mid-week.
When blocks are released
| Driver level | Schedule access | Extras |
|---|---|---|
| Premier | Thursday (first access) | Automated scheduling from your saved availability; priority for large and catering orders |
| Pro | Friday (early access) | Higher-value partner rewards |
| Partner | Saturday | Standard access to next week's blocks |
Your exact release day and time are shown under Program Level in the app. New drivers also get early scheduling access for a while. Levels are covered in Grubhub driver levels and commitment rates.
Blocks vs. Taking offers
| Feature | Scheduled block | Taking offers (no block) |
|---|---|---|
| Offer priority | Considered first for nearby offers | Gets what scheduled drivers do not take |
| Contribution top-up | Eligible if you meet the criteria | Not eligible |
| Availability | Must be booked in advance or picked up when dropped | Depends on market conditions; can be limited (for example in NYC) |
| Commitment | Counts toward Schedule Commitment Rate | Offer Commitment Rate still applies |
Before you toggle on, make sure you are inside your delivery boundaries (Account → Delivery Region). In markets where Grubhub limits "Taking offers", it suggests booking a block ahead of time to keep access.
Dropping a block without hurting your account
- Drop as early as possible: Scheduling → Update schedule → tap the minus sign → Done updating.
- Avoid dropping within 72 hours of the start time. Grubhub says regularly doing so can restrict your access to scheduling.
- Every removed block lowers your Schedule Commitment Rate for the next 14-day review, which can cost you an earlier release day.
Watch: a first scheduled Grubhub shift
Chickenpatty films his first scheduled shift (block) on Grubhub and compares it with DoorDash in his own zone. It is one driver's first day in one city, useful for seeing how a block feels in practice rather than for the totals.
29:53
Which blocks are worth booking
Grubhub does not publish demand data, so these are patterns drivers commonly report. Check them against your own records after two or three weeks.
- Dinner (about 5–9 p.m.) is the busiest window in most markets; weekday lunch (about 11 a.m.–2 p.m.) is second.
- Friday and Saturday evenings, Sunday afternoons and big game days are usually strong.
- Bad weather raises order volume and cuts the number of drivers online.
- Campuses and dense downtowns keep trips short; spread-out suburbs mean more unpaid miles back.
- Short blocks back to back let you stop if a night is dead, but each block you remove late counts against you, so book only what you will work.
Frequently asked questions
When does Grubhub release schedule blocks?
By driver level: Premier drivers get first access on Thursday, Pro drivers on Friday and Partner drivers on Saturday. Your exact day and time appear under Program Level in the app.
Can you drive for Grubhub without a block?
Yes, by toggling on Taking offers when your market allows it. Availability depends on market conditions and can be temporarily limited, for example in New York City. Open time does not qualify for the contribution top-up.
Is there a penalty for dropping Grubhub blocks?
Removed blocks lower your Schedule Commitment Rate. Grubhub also says drivers who regularly drop blocks within 72 hours of the start time may have their scheduling access restricted.
How long are Grubhub blocks?
It depends on the market. Grubhub says blocks start at 30 minutes and can run 2 hours or more.
Go deeper. Chapter 3 of the Grubhub Driver Playbook covers blocks, dropping rules and open time in full, and chapter 6 shows how to map the best hours and zones in your own market. Get the Grubhub e-book or read chapters 1–2 free.
Related guides
- How do Grubhub Partner, Pro and Premier levels work?
- How does Grubhub pay drivers in 2026?
- Which Grubhub offers are worth accepting?
Sources
- Grubhub for Drivers: Scheduling
- Grubhub for Drivers: Recognition and rewards
- Grubhub for Drivers: FAQ
- Grubhub for Drivers: Account violations and deactivation (limited offer access)
- Grubhub for Drivers app: Scheduling and Program Level screens (in app)