Food Delivery Trends: 47% Of Respondents Are Willing To Pay $3-$6 In Delivery Fees

The restaurant takeout bag is 2024’s hottest accessory. Customers are craving the convenience of takeout and delivery like never before, a behavioral shift that has reshaped the restaurant industry. Toast conducted a blind survey of 850 adults on the frequency of ordering food delivery and takeout, and this article delves into the data points behind what diners are thinking. 

Join us as we explore how these insights impact both diners and restaurateurs in 2024.

Quick insights:

• 40% of respondents use food delivery apps or order takeout 3-5 times a month.

• 48% of respondents use DoorDash the most frequently compared to other delivery options.

• 37% of respondents claim that their delivery order frequency has remained the same over the last year.

• 30% of respondents claim that the frequency with which they use delivery apps is about the same as the frequency with which they dine out.

• 38% of respondents say that work motivates them the most often to order takeout/delivery.

• 47% of respondents are willing to pay $3-$6 in delivery fees.

• 33% of respondents prefer to place an order through a restaurant’s app.

• 35% of respondents say low delivery fees are the feature that matters the most to them.

Takeout and online food delivery insights

100% of our respondents have ordered takeout or delivery in the last 30 days. Let’s dive into where they’re ordering, why they’re ordering, and more.

Despite having a plethora of options, 48% of respondents prefer DoorDash

There are many food delivery services to choose from in 2024. We wanted to know which platform has the largest customer base. According to our data:

• 48% of respondents use DoorDash most frequently compared to other delivery options.

• Women’s second choice (28%) is to use local restaurant apps/websites.

• Men’s second choice (23%) is UberEats.

• Older respondents ages 54+ (54%) prefer to use the restaurant’s app/website.

• Gen Z and Millennials prefer to use DoorDash with 59% of respondents ages 18-24 and 53% of respondents ages 25-35.

Third-party delivery services aren’t most guests’ top choice. Approximately 33% of respondents prefer to place an order through a restaurant’s app. This particularly applies to the younger generations, as 41% of guests ages 25-34 prefer to place an order through a third-party app and 39% of guests ages 18-24 said the same.

Answering phone calls in the restaurant industry might be more of a practice of the past, as guests ages 18-24 are the least likely to order over the phone (13%). However, many pizzerias continue to rely on phone orders as a key part of their business. In 2024, restaurants are expanding their ordering options to provide greater convenience and choice. This approach allows businesses to cater to traditional customers who prefer calling in orders, while also appealing to tech-savvy patrons who seek modern alternatives. 

• About 42% of respondents say it’s somewhat important to have takeout/delivery as an option when choosing a restaurant.

• Women specifically (40%) feel that it’s extremely important that a restaurant offers takeaway/delivery.

Check out our Complete Guide To Online Ordering to learn delivery business best practices from the experts.

On average, guests are ordering takeout 3-5 times a month, which is just as much as they’re dining out

Next, we wanted to take a look at the state of dining. Are restaurant-goers going to restaurants or are they ordering and eating at home? Turns out, it’s about the same:

• 30% of respondents claim that the frequency with which they use delivery apps is about the same as the frequency with which they dine out.

• 75% of respondents said they order takeout/delivery a lot more often, slightly more often, or the same as dining out.

This leaves only 15% of respondents that dine out slightly or a lot more often than ordering takeout/delivery. Reservation for two on the couch, please!

Takeaway dining clearly wasn’t just a pandemic trend:

• 40% of respondents use food delivery apps or order takeout 3-5 times a month.

• Men order delivery more often as 42% order 3-5 times a month and 20% order 6-10 times.

• 43% of women only order delivery 1-2 times per month.

It also looks like your seats might still be filled with boomers:

• Older guests are less likely to order delivery as 54% said they only order 1-2 times a month.

• Younger generations order delivery more often, guests ages 25-34 use food delivery apps the most (20% order 6-10 times a month)

• 47% of guests ages 18-24 order 3-5 times a month.

Food service is looking more and more off-premise.

It’s no secret that restaurant delivery comes with a price. From delivery fees to higher menu pricing and adding gratuity for delivery drivers, it isn’t cheap. In spite of recent economic concerns, 37% of respondents claim that their delivery order frequency has remained the same over the last year. Men order delivery more often than women as 58% of men answered that they order takeout more often than they dine out.

To ensure customer satisfaction regardless of how your guests are enjoying your offerings, consider crafting a delivery menu made up of food that travels well. For more information, check out our article on How to Offer a Great Food Delivery Experience.

Convenience is king: What drives takeout and delivery orders

The food delivery market serves the purpose of convenience. We wanted to know what inconveniences guests most often and what influences them to order more.

Here are the primary motivations for ordering:

• Approximately 38% of respondents said that work motivates them the most often to order takeout/delivery.

• Women (28%) are also commonly motivated to order takeout/delivery because of their phase of life or a big life event.

• Guests ages 25-35 are also motivated (31%) to order takeout/delivery by their phase of life.

• Older guests, ages 54+, are motivated the most (41%) to order takeout/delivery because of the weather.

Respondents are also looking for low fees and good promotional deals:

• About 35% of respondents say low delivery fees are the feature that matters the most to them.

• Women (33%) also care about promotional ideas.

• Men (26%) also care about having a wide variety of restaurant options.

• Men are also more likely to care about reviews (15% vs women’s 11%).

For more data on restaurant ratings and reviewing check out this survey.

High prices and fees can deter guests from ordering takeout

It’s no secret that the food delivery industry has been charging high fees. Our data shows that:

• 47% of respondents are willing to pay $3-$6 in delivery fees.

• Men are willing to pay more in delivery fees as 20% answered that they’d pay $6+.

• Women are less willing to pay high delivery fees as 15% said they only order if delivery is free and 30% are only willing to pay $1-$3.

• 35-44-year-olds are willing to pay the most in delivery fees as 21% answered that they’d pay $6+.

• Older guests, ages 54+,  are less willing to pay delivery fees as 20% said they only order if it’s free.

What deters guests from ordering delivery more often?

• 40% of respondents say that higher prices are what they find most frustrating about delivery apps.

• Guests ages 18-24 (29%) also find the long wait times frustrating.

For restaurant operators that want to provide the perfect delivery experience try offering low delivery fees, appealing promotions, and reasonable menu pricing.

Shaping tomorrow's dining experience

As the industry continues to evolve, understanding these trends will be crucial for restaurant businesses looking to succeed in the competitive food delivery market. The future of dining is increasingly digital, diverse, and convenience-driven, reflecting broader changes in our lifestyles and expectations. Delivery providers, start your engines!

Methodology

Toast conducted a blind survey of 850 U.S. adults ages 18 and older on this topic on August 7, 2024. Respondents were not made aware that Toast was fielding the study. Using a standard margin of error calculation, at a confidence interval of 95%, the margin of error on average is +/- 3-5%.

Related delivery resources

• Best Practices For Contactless Delivery

• Restaurant Delivery is Not Just a Trend

• Best Food Delivery Services for Restaurants in 2024

• Should I Use a Third-Party Delivery Service or Create My Own?