How Much Did This DoorDash Driver Actually Take Home After Gas Costs?
A viral video test revealed what happens when a DoorDash driver accepts every order for 12 hours straight, and the truth is eye‑opening.
The Ultimate Dash
“I just accepted every single DoorDash order for 12 hours straight. Started around 8 a.m. and ended around 9:15 p.m. on a Monday in the Virginia Beach area. I was dashing for about 12 hours and 10 minutes. I was active for 9 hours and 56 minutes. I put 221 miles on my 2009 Subaru Forester. My earnings before taxes, wear and tear, gas, insurance, etc. was $215. My biggest tip was $14.25 from a Food Lion grocery order and my smallest tip was $3 from a Starbucks order and I took 30 minute breaks between 10:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. I’m tired as hell and my car needs a tune‑up badly now.”
No strategic decline. No hesitation. Just relentless acceptance, all day.
The Gas-Only Breakdown
The gross earnings, $215, don’t tell the full story. Let’s isolate the most concrete expense: fuel.
- Total miles: 221
- Estimated fuel efficiency: ~21.4 mpg (Subaru Forester)
- Average gas price (VA Beach): ~$3/gallon
- Gas cost: 221 ÷ 21.4 mpg ≈ 10.3 gallons × $3 ≈ $31
So after paying for gas:
$215 − $31 = $184 net earnings (before taxes)
According to IRS guidelines, the standard mileage rate for 2025 is 70¢/mile, but since that includes wear and tear we’re setting it aside here.
What That Means in Hourly Terms
- Active driving time: ~9 hours and 56 minutes
- Effective hourly rate (gas‑net): $184 ÷ 9.93 ≈ $18.50/hour
- Rate over the full 12‑hour and‑change span: $184 ÷ 12.17 ≈ $15.10/hour
Hourly payout may look reasonable on paper, but only if you ignore wear, maintenance, car depreciation, and mental fatigue.
The Bigger Reality Check
- No vehicle cost cushion: He’s not reserving any earnings for repairs, oil changes, tires, or engine issues, even though his car definitely needs a tune‑up.
- Tip variance: His highest tip was $14.25, lowest was $3, a huge swing. In areas or times with poor tipping, gross earnings could be much lower.
- Long day, heavy mileage: Nearly 10 hours of active dashing, driving 221 miles, not sustainable without a solid vehicle and personal stamina.
Broader Gig‑Economy Context
Most estimates for DoorDash before expenses, based on national data, suggest $15–$30/hour gross, averaging around $20‑25/hour for many drivers. Some data even pegs DoorDash around $18.93/hour including tips and bonuses, versus Uber Eats at closer to $24.68/hour.
But that “gross” hides the truth: out‑of‑pocket costs vary, especially with fuel prices, car age, and local demand. Reddit drivers report that on bad days, hitting minimum wage or worse is common, even before wear and tear kicks in.
Final Thoughts
- With gas as the only deduction, this driver nets roughly $184 on $215 gross.
- That equals about $18.50/hour active, or $15/hour across the total shift.
- The omission of wear and tear makes that figure look optimistic. Once maintenance and aging car costs enter the picture, net earnings fall sharply.
This 12‑hour marathon wasn’t glamour, it was a blunt reality check. Even under generous assumptions, the work barely covered fuel and still demanded nearly constant motion. For anyone considering full‑time or part‑time gig work, the lesson is clear: track your costs carefully, don’t count gross earnings as profit, and understand that even decent tips can be swallowed by operating expenses.