Which Uber Eats orders should you accept?
Accept an Uber Eats offer when it clears two numbers you set in advance: a minimum pay per mile (total miles, including the drive to the restaurant) and a minimum pay per hour of estimated time. Many couriers use roughly $1.50 to $2.00 per mile as a starting rule of thumb, then adjust for their own vehicle costs, their market and their Uber Eats Pro goals. Decline offers that fail both, and remember that declining affects acceptance rate while cancelling after accepting affects cancellation rate, which matters more.
Read the offer card in five seconds
- Total pay (base fare plus any upfront tip). A "Guaranteed" badge means the total is protected if the tip is lowered later.
- Total distance and estimated time, including the drive to pickup.
- Number of stops: one delivery, a batched order or an add-on to the trip you are already on.
- Pickup: restaurant name, or a store for a grocery order.
- Drop-off area: where you will end up, and whether it is a dead zone for the next order.
Set your own thresholds
| Check | How to compute | Example (illustrative) |
|---|---|---|
| $ per mile | Total pay ÷ total miles | $8.50 ÷ 4.5 mi = $1.89 |
| $ per hour | Total pay ÷ estimated minutes × 60 | $8.50 ÷ 24 min × 60 = $21.25 |
| Your cost per mile | Gas + wear + insurance share, per mile | e.g. $0.30 to $0.45 |
| Net per mile | $ per mile − cost per mile | $1.89 − $0.35 = $1.54 |
The $1.50 to $2.00 per mile range is what couriers commonly quote, not an Uber rule. In dense cities on a bike or e-bike, $ per hour matters more than $ per mile; in suburbs in a car, $ per mile matters more.
Offers worth a second look
- Short trips with low totals can still clear your hourly target when the restaurant is fast and the drop-off is close.
- Batched orders from one restaurant usually add little distance. Check that the second drop-off does not take you far out of your zone.
- Add-on offers while you are already on a trip: judge the extra pay against the extra miles and minutes only.
- Trip Radar: trips offered to several couriers at once. Trip Radar requests do not count toward acceptance rate, so they are a low-risk way to fill gaps.
Offers couriers commonly skip
- Long drives for a low total, especially when the drop-off is far from any restaurants.
- Restaurants you know run long waits at peak times, unless the pay covers the wait.
- Large group orders on a bike, if they will not fit your bag safely.
Shop & Pay grocery orders
With Shop & Pay (Uber's US page and the offer card label these orders "Shop & Deliver"; it is a separate trip type you can opt in to), you shop at a store, pay with a payment method Uber provides, then deliver. Uber's tools include item scanning and suggested substitutions you send to the customer for approval. Before accepting, check:
- The number of items and any heavy items, not just the distance.
- That your Uber payment card or digital card is set up and working.
- Whether the pay covers in-store time: a 20-item order can take 25 minutes or more before you drive.
Instacart shoppers will recognize the routine; the same speed habits apply.
Watch: what happens if you accept every offer
Jai Dash accepted every Uber Eats offer in his zone for a day, including $4 orders, stacked orders and long drives. He reports about $40 for roughly six hours and eight trips, around $10 an hour, and concludes that in his market Uber Eats alone was not worth it without multi-apping and selective accepting. One courier, one market, one day: treat it as a reason to set your own thresholds, not as typical pay.
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Decline vs. cancel
Declining an exclusive offer lowers your acceptance rate. Cancelling after you accept raises your cancellation rate, which has tighter limits in Uber Eats Pro and can lead to loss of access if it happens consistently. If you are unsure, decline; do not accept and then cancel. Read more in Uber Eats Pro tiers and rates.
Never use auto-accept bots or apps that read or tap offers for you. They break Uber's terms and put your account at risk.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good Uber Eats order to accept?
One that clears your own minimum pay per mile and per hour after vehicle costs. Many couriers start with roughly $1.50 to $2.00 per mile, then adjust for their market and vehicle.
Does declining Uber Eats orders hurt you?
Declining exclusive offers lowers your acceptance rate, which matters for Uber Eats Pro tiers. It does not by itself lead to deactivation. Cancelling after accepting is treated more strictly.
Do Trip Radar trips count toward acceptance rate?
No. Uber says Trip Radar requests are excluded from acceptance rate. Cancelling one after you accept it still counts toward cancellation rate.
Are Uber Eats Shop & Pay orders worth it?
It depends on the item count and store. Judge them on pay per hour, including shopping time, not just distance.
Go deeper. Chapter 3 of the Uber Eats Courier Playbook covers reading offers, $/mile, $/hour and your real cost per mile in full, and chapter 6 covers batches and Shop & Deliver orders. Get the Uber Eats e-book or read chapters 1–2 free.
Related guides
- How does Uber Eats pay delivery people in 2026?
- What are the Uber Eats Pro requirements in 2026?
- How do tips work for Uber Eats couriers in 2026?