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DoorDash pay calculator: your real hourly after costs

Gig work · Jun 8, 2026 · 3 min read

quick answer: DoorDash’s advertised "$20–25/hour" is gross pay. After self-employment tax (~15.3%) and what your car really costs (the IRS puts driving at 72.5¢/mile in 2026 — gas, wear and depreciation in one number), many drivers net $10–15/hour — sometimes less in a thirsty or financed car. The only honest figure is the one you calculate from your own numbers. calculate yours →

what really shrinks your pay

DoorDash quotes a gross number. Two real costs come out of it before any of it is yours — and one of them is easy to forget:

Your car. Every mile costs money — gas, tires, brakes, depreciation, maintenance. The IRS bundles all of it into one figure: 72.5¢ per mile in 2026. Gas is the biggest chunk and it scales with your MPG, so a 40-mpg hybrid runs well under that rate and a thirsty or financed SUV runs over it.
Self-employment tax. 15.3% on your net profit, with nothing withheld for you. Set aside 25–30% so April is not a shock.

The car cost is the forgotten one — it never shows up as a charge, it just quietly wears down an asset you paid for.

the honest formula

(Total pay − miles × 72.5¢) × (1 − tax rate) ÷ hours = real hourly

Example: $120 pay, 5 hrs, 90 miles, 28% tax
  car cost    90 × $0.725    = $65.25
  pre-tax     $120 − $65.25  = $54.75
  after-tax   $54.75 × 0.72  ≈ $39.42
  per hour    $39.42 ÷ 5     ≈ $7.88/hr

A fair caveat: some of that 72.5¢/mile is depreciation you would pay even if you parked the car. But ignoring it entirely is exactly how a driver "makes $24/hour" and still cannot find the money — it quietly left as wear on the car. (The worth-it tool runs the car-cost part for you; set aside for tax on top.)

so is it worth it?

Whether DoorDash is worth your time comes down to a few levers you actually control:

Car efficiency — a 40-mpg hybrid keeps far more of every dollar than a financed SUV.
Market density — short, dense routes beat long rural runs at the same pay.
Order selection — declining offers under about $1.50–2.00 per mile protects your real hourly.
Peak hours — lunch, dinner and weekend surges are where the math actually works.
Versus what alternative — a $14/hr W-2 job with no car costs can beat a "$20" gig that nets $11 after gas, tax and wear.

run your real $/hr in 30 seconds →

frequently asked questions

how much do DoorDash drivers really make per hour?

After what their car costs per mile and self-employment tax, many drivers net $10–15/hour even when the app advertises $20–25. Your real number depends on your car’s efficiency, your market, and which orders you accept.

how much should i set aside for taxes?

Around 25–30% of your net profit. Self-employment tax alone is 15.3%, and nothing is withheld for you, so saving as you go avoids a surprise tax bill.

does DoorDash pay for gas?

No. Gas and all vehicle costs come out of your own pocket, which is why the advertised hourly rate overstates what you actually keep.

is DoorDash worth it versus a regular job?

Sometimes. A steady $14/hr W-2 job with no car expenses can beat a "$20/hr" gig that nets $11 after gas, tax, and wear. The only way to know is to run your own numbers.

how do i calculate my real take-home?

Subtract your car cost — the IRS rate is 72.5¢/mile in 2026, which already includes gas — from your total pay, take off 25–30% for self-employment tax, then divide by hours worked to get your real hourly.

facts checked Jun 8, 2026. general guidance, not tax or legal advice.