Best Time To Deliver For Uber Eats in 2024

Are you interested in making some extra money through a flexible side job? Delivering for Uber Eats might be the perfect fit for you. As an Uber Eats driver, you have the freedom to work on your own schedule, using just your smartphone, a vehicle, and a valid driver’s license. But the key to maximizing your earnings isn’t just about being on the road; it’s about knowing the best times to do Uber Eats.

In this guide, we’ll delve into the intricacies of finding the most profitable hours for Uber Eats drivers, ensuring you’re on the road when demand is highest.

Whether it’s understanding Uber Eats peak hours, navigating the best time to deliver Uber Eats, or leveraging busy times like weekends and holidays, we’ll cover all the essential aspects to help you boost your income.

So, if you’re looking to optimize your delivery schedule and increase your earnings, you’re in the right place. Let’s unlock the secrets to making Uber Eats not just a side hustle, but a smart and rewarding one.

Best Time to Uber Eats

Want to earn more with Uber Eats? The key is knowing the best time to deliver. By choosing the right hours, you can get more orders and earn better tips. But what are those times?

Usually, lunch (11 am to 3 pm) and dinner (5 pm to 10 pm) on weekdays are busy. That’s when most people order food. Weekends are even busier, from morning (9 am) to night (9 pm or later). These are the Uber Eats peak hours when you can also find special pay boosts. In some markets with an active nightlife, many drivers also report making good cash in the late hours after midnight.

But keep in mind that these are average times taken from multiple markets, the best time to Uber Eats can change depending on where you live.

Factors like how many restaurants are around, competition from other apps, and what customers in your area prefer can make a difference. So, it’s smart to adjust your driving times based on what works in your city.

Some Uber Eats drivers have shared their tips online:

• A driver from Vancouver, Canada, made $140 a day by working all day. Another from New York, USA, earned $310 in 12 hours by choosing short, busy hour orders.
• A Montreal, Canada, driver suggested working from 11am to 3pm and 5pm to 10pm on weekdays, and 9am to 10pm on weekends.
• A Los Angeles, USA, driver recommended 5pm to midnight every day for dinner and late-night snacks.

So, there’s no single best time to do Uber Eats. Try different times, see how much you earn, and plan your schedule to make the most money. That’s the best way to find your Uber Eats best time to drive.

Catch the Busy Times for More Money

Uber Eats has something called ‘surge pricing.’ This means when lots of people want food delivered, and there aren’t enough drivers, Uber pays more for each delivery.

You’ll see parts of the map in red in your app showing where the most orders are. This is the best time to deliver Uber Eats because you can earn extra.

Also, Uber Eats offers special deals sometimes. For example, they might say you’ll get extra money if you complete a certain number of deliveries in a specific area and time, like “£3 extra for every 3 deliveries between 5 pm and 9 pm in Central London.” To get these deals, you have to agree to them in the app first.

Here’s how you can make the most of these times:

• Keep checking the app. It’ll show you where and when the surge pricing and deals are.
• Plan your driving around the busiest times. The best times for Uber Eats drivers are often lunchtimes on weekdays (11 am to 2 pm) and evenings on weekends (5 pm to 9 pm).
• Be ready to change your plans. Sometimes the busy areas can change quickly.

Extra Reading: Is Uber Eats worth it hustle?

Other Factors That Decide Best Times to Uber Eats

As an Uber Eats driver, you’ll notice that the weather and seasons can change how much you earn. Here’s how:

Bad Weather Brings More Orders

When it’s raining or snowing, people usually don’t like to go out for food. They prefer ordering online, which means more delivery requests for you.

This is one of the Uber Eats busy times. You can make more money because Uber Eats often increases prices during these busy times.

But, delivering in bad weather can be tricky. You might face traffic, parking problems, and it’s important to stay safe.

Here’s what some experienced Uber Eats drivers suggest:

• Dress for the weather – wear a raincoat, waterproof shoes, and gloves.
• Check your car before starting – make sure everything’s working well.
• Drive safely and stick to traffic rules.
• Keep in touch with restaurants and customers about your delivery time.

Extra Reading: Apps that you to deliver food.

Holidays and Events Impact Orders

Certain holidays and events can make a difference in how busy you are. For example:

• Valentine’s Day and New Year’s Eve often mean more orders because people like to stay in and order food.
• On Thanksgiving and Christmas, things might be slower since people usually cook at home.

Your earnings can change depending on these times, so it’s good to plan your schedule around them. Some Uber Eats drivers share their experiences:

• One driver noted that holidays can be unpredictable – sometimes busy, sometimes not.
• Another mentioned that events like concerts or sports games usually mean more orders.
• A third driver shared that they often earn more during holidays and events.

Where to Drive: Location Matters

Your location strategy is key to getting more and better orders. Here are some tips:

Busy Areas Mean More Orders

Staying close to busy areas can help you get more orders. Think about:

• Downtown areas, especially during lunch and dinner times.
• Residential areas are good for early morning and late-night orders.
• College campuses and hospitals, where orders come in all day and night.

Drivers suggest starting near busy spots and then moving around as needed. For instance:

• One driver starts in a residential area for breakfast orders, then heads downtown for lunch, and back to residential for dinner.
• Another prefers areas near colleges or hospitals for a steady flow of orders.

Extra Reading: Does Uber Eats pay for gas?

Best Days for Uber Eats Deliveries

Not all days are the same for food delivery. There are some days when the orders are scarce and some days when you can’t even catch your breath.

• Busiest Days: Wednesday to Sunday are generally busy. People often order food during these days for convenience or entertainment. Then Saturdays and Sundays are the busiest. Some drivers report earning over $200 on weekends, especially Sundays, due to higher order volumes and tips. On these days you can find a lot of orders throughout the day if you live in a large enough city.
• Slower Days: Monday and Tuesday tend to be slower. These are days when many people cook at home or eat leftovers, and there’s often a tighter budget after the weekend. Some drivers experience earnings under $100 on these days.

Most experienced drivers work full time on weekends and take their holiday on Tuesday or Monday depending on their experience.

Personal Experience Matters

As we all know these trends can vary based on your location and market.

Some drivers might find different patterns or prefer working on slower days to avoid traffic or competition.

Experiment with different days to see what works best for you and use the Uber Eats app to track your earnings and feedback. Joining online communities of Uber Eats drivers can also be helpful to exchange tips and experiences.

My suggestion is to note down your hourly earnings for at least a couple of weeks to figure out your market.

Extra Reading: How to make $1000 a week with Uber Eats?

Making More Money Using Multiple Apps

A smart way to earn more as an Uber Eats driver is to use several delivery apps at the same time.

This is called “multi-apping.” You could work with DoorDash, Instacart, Grubhub, or Postmates along with Uber Eats.

By using more than one app, you can get more orders, earn more money, and get better tips. You can pick the best offers from different apps, and if one app is slow, you can switch to another.

But, multi-apping needs you to be organized. You should know how each app works and make sure you don’t take orders that clash with each other. Here’s what other drivers suggest:

• Start with two apps that you find easy to use.
• When you get an order on one app, stop using the other apps.
• Choose orders that pay well but don’t need you to drive too far.
• Be ready to switch apps quickly if needed.
• Learn which times and areas are best for working in your city.

Extra Reading: Best time to do Instacart shopping.

Switch Between Uber Eats and Uber Rideshare

Another way to make more money is to switch between delivering food with Uber Eats and driving passengers with Uber Rideshare.

This can be especially useful when one service is slow. For example, you might find Uber Rideshare busy during morning and evening commute times, and Uber Eats busy at lunch and dinner times.

To switch between them, you need to:

• Make sure your vehicle meets Uber Rideshare’s requirements, which are usually stricter than for Uber Eats.
• Ask Uber to add you to their rideshare services.
• Check your Uber driver app to see if UberX (the basic rideshare service) is listed under your driving options.

However, switching between these services means dealing with different kinds of work. For rideshare, you need to think about things like traffic, parking, and passenger safety.

No matter which method you choose, the key is to be flexible and adapt to what works best for you in making the most money as an Uber Eats driver.

Extra Reading: How much Uber Eats drivers make?

Expert Tips for Uber Eats Drivers Around Peak Hours

Being an Uber Eats driver can be tough. To make your work easier and more profitable, here are some simple tips:

1. Take Regular Breaks: Driving all day is hard work. It’s important to take breaks to rest and refresh yourself. This helps you stay alert and safe on the road. As one Reddit user suggests, always take time for basic needs like eating or using the restroom. Remember, missing a few minutes of work is better than feeling worn out or making a mistake while driving. Knowing your peak hours can help organize a break. You can take a rest or eat your food during the slow times.

2. Know When to Cancel Orders: There might be times when you need to cancel an order. Maybe the restaurant is closed, or the customer is unreachable. You are losing money if you are waiting too long on an order, especially during peak hours when you can get more orders. But, canceling too many orders can affect your status with Uber Eats. It’s okay to cancel if the restaurant or customer asks you to. If you have a good reason, you can also contact Uber Eats support for help. Just be careful not to cancel orders too often.

By following these tips, you can earn more money, stay healthy, and enjoy your work as an Uber Eats driver. Remember to keep track of your earnings and work during the best times for Uber Eats drivers, like Uber Eats peak hours or Uber Eats busy times, to maximize your income.

Extra Reading: Best Uber Eats tips and tricks to make more.

Key Points on the Best Times to Work for Uber Eats

As an Uber Eats driver, your busiest and most rewarding times are usually lunch (11 am to 2 pm) and dinner (5 pm to 9 pm) when people often order food.

You’ll likely get more deliveries and potentially bigger tips during these hours.

Weekends, holidays, and even bad weather periods can also be profitable because there are fewer drivers and more orders.

However, the best times for deliveries can vary based on where you live, so keep an eye on the app for peak hours and opportunities for surge pricing.

Gaining experience will teach you which spots, like certain neighborhoods or restaurants, are more profitable. Always aim to provide great service, as being friendly and efficient can lead to more orders and higher tips.

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach here, so feel free to experiment and find what works best for you. Happy delivering!

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