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Home » Delivery Apps » What is Express Delivery on DoorDash? Is it Worth it?

What is Express Delivery on DoorDash? Is it Worth it?

Updated August 10, 2022 By Doug HLeave a Comment

Note: This article contains affiliate links for DoorDash

It’s a frustrating experience on DoorDash: The app tells you that a Dasher finally picked up your order, but you notice their icon on the map is heading in the wrong direction.

You watch the driver’s car wander around the map for awhile, and then finally your order arrives—It’s cold. Until now, there wasn’t much you could do about it.

The next time you order, look for the Express option on the checkout page. It sends your food directly to you for around $1.99–$2.99 extra.

DoorDash order screen with the option for $2.99 Express delivery

Is Express worth the extra $$?

But how does Express really work? And how does it work for Dashers? And why is your Dasher still heading in the wrong direction even though you paid for Express?

Read on to learn how Express delivery works!

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What is the Express delivery option on DoorDash?

“Express” is a delivery speed option on DoorDash that promises faster delivery times, around 5–10 minutes faster vs the standard delivery speed.

Express typically costs $1.99–$2.99, depending on the restaurant, time of day, and city.

How it works: When you order Express, your Dasher will not make any deliveries before dropping off your order. Instead, the DoorDash app will instruct your Dasher to deliver your order directly to you.

The Express option may not stop your order from being stacked with other orders, but yours will be delivered first if a driver picks up multiple orders.

How to choose Express delivery on DoorDash

Express is a delivery speed option on the final checkout page for an order.

After you create your order, tap the Continue button to reach the checkout page and look for the Express option near the top of the page, under the delivery map.

To find the Express option: Tap View cart > Tap Continue > Look for Express under Delivery time 

Steps in Doordash to find express delivery. Found on the final cart page

Go to the final cart page for delivery speed options

If you only see Standard and Schedule Ahead, Express isn’t available for your delivery.

Express may only be available if DoorDash predicts that your order will be stacked with another order.

DashPass members don’t currently get free Express orders

Express delivery is not currently included with DashPass membership. It is a separate fee.

  • How much money do you actually save with DashPass?
  • DashPass vs Uber One vs Grubhub+

Does the Express fee get paid directly to drivers?

The Express fee does not go directly to drivers. It may be factored into Dasher compensation in some way, but Dashers don’t see a record of the fee anywhere on their delivery payouts.

  • See how much Dashers make and how they get paid

Do drivers know that you paid for Express?

Dashers won’t know that you paid for Express on your order. There isn’t any special label or notification to let Dashers know that an order is Express.

As one Dasher said, “I’ve never seen anything pop up to say it’s an express delivery and never seen anything on the payout screen about express delivery pay.”

But that doesn’t mean you won’t get any benefit from Express. Your Dasher won’t be given any other stops that will prevent your order from coming first.

Paid for Express, but your driver isn’t heading to your location? Here’s what’s happening

You might think that when you pay for Express, your driver should head directly to you after picking up your order.

But sometimes, you might see that your Dasher is heading somewhere else.

Your Dasher may be doing deliveries for another app, aka multi-apping. As independent contractors, Dashers are free to deliver for other apps while delivering for DoorDash.

Delivery driver telling a customer they are completing an order from another app

Express delivery can’t prevent your driver from delivering for another app

Your driver might have picked up an order from another app before they picked up yours. They could be delivering the other order first, then yours second. Or they could be heading to do a pickup for another app after picking up your order.

Dashers don’t know when you chose the Express option, so there’s nothing to indicate to them that you paid extra for faster service.

If your Dasher doesn’t come directly to you when you pay for Express, you can try to contact DoorDash to get a refund for the fee.

Express on DoorDash vs Priority on Uber Eats

The Express option on DoorDash is similar to Priority Delivery on Uber Eats. On Uber Eats, Priority Delivery is a $1.99–$3.99 fee that guarantees that your order will be delivered first if it is part of a stacked order.

So far, there isn’t enough information about Express on DoorDash to say precisely how it’s different from Priority Delivery on Uber Eats.

  • Is Uber Eats Priority Delivery worth it? How it works

DoubleDash: Another trick to prevent your order from being stacked

The main issue that causes your food to arrive late and cold is when your order is bundled together with another order.

The Express option is one way to prevent your order from getting delivered after another, but another trick can also prevent it from getting stacked in the first place.

After you submit your order, you might get an option to DoubleDash. DoubleDash is a second order that you can add to your first order for a discounted delivery fee.

The Dasher who accepts your first order will be offered your DoubleDash order. If they accept it, your order won’t be stacked with any other orders. The Dasher will pick up your first order, pick up your DoubleDash order second, then deliver it all directly to you.

The key is ordering something small for your DoubleDash—like a drink or candy—and ensuring that the second store is on the way to your drop-off location.

So if you play your DoubleDash cards right, your driver will come directly to you without having to drive miles out of the way for a stacked order.

One potential problem with this tactic is that your Dasher might reject your DoubleDash order. If they do, another Dasher will complete the second order, and your first order might get stacked with another one.

More reading for DoorDash users
  • Why are missing drinks such a big problem on DoorDash?
  • What you can do about missing items on DoorDash
  • How much does DoorDash cost?
  • Why do you have to sign for some DoorDash orders?

Originally Published August 10, 2022
Filed Under: Delivery Apps, DoorDash

About Doug H

Gig economy driver, writer, and expert since 2013. I created Ridesharing Driver to help drivers navigate all of the challenges we face in the on-demand world!

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