Executive Summary
DoorDash is a vital partner for people across the U.S., supporting a wide network of local businesses, providing earning opportunities for millions of Dashers, and delivering choice and convenience to consumers. To better understand its impact in local communities across the country, DoorDash commissioned this report from Public First with independent and anonymous surveys carried out by Quadrant Strategies.
DoorDash supported more than $106 billion in economic activity in the United States in 2024, along with nearly $20 billion in tax revenues.
Merchants
As of December 2024, DoorDash connected over 550,000 local merchants on Marketplace — including restaurants, grocery stores, flower shops, and more — with consumers in communities across the U.S. DoorDash is a key partner in these merchants’ success:
of merchants said DoorDash had helped them reach new customers they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to access
of merchants said DoorDash had helped their business during times of economic uncertainty
1 in 6 merchants (16%) said their business wouldn’t exist today without the platform
Dashers
Dashing allows Dashers to earn on their own terms and provides income when they need it most:
of Dashers said dashing provides them with more flexibility than other earning opportunities
of Dashers would prefer to remain independent contractors
of Dashers said dashing made them feel more in control of their circumstances
Consumers
DoorDash helps people save time so they can do the things they love and enables them to support businesses right in their communities.
DoorDash makes everyday life easier and helps people support their local community and connect with loved ones:
of consumers said DoorDash has helped them be more productive or given them more time for other activities
of parents said DoorDash helped them care for loved ones and spend more time with family
of consumers said that without DoorDash, they would make fewer purchases from local businesses
INTRODUCTION
DoorDash has become a vital partner to hundreds of thousands of businesses across the United States, connecting millions of consumers with their favorite local restaurants, grocers, flower shops, and other retailers. In the process, Dashers are able to flexibly earn money, helping them reach their financial goals on their own terms. By connecting merchants, Dashers, and consumers, DoorDash generates significant value for the U.S. economy through:
- Local merchant sales facilitated by DoorDash. Merchants benefit from increased revenue by operating through DoorDash’s platforms. This leads to increased economic activity through their local supply chains and creates additional jobs.
- Earning opportunities for Dashers. Dashers make money as they deliver, and they then spend their earnings in the wider economy.
- DoorDash’s employees and operations. As an organization, DoorDash generates economic value through its employees, their spending power, and its supply chain.
DoorDash supported more than $106 billion in economic activity in the United States in 2024, along with nearly $20 billion in tax revenues.
ABOUT THE RESEARCH
To better understand the impact DoorDash has on merchants, Dashers, consumers, and communities in the U.S., DoorDash commissioned independent analysts Quadrant Strategies and Public First to conduct new research, including:
- New economic modelling, with a full methodology at the end of this report.
- Independent, anonymous surveys of:
- 914 consumers who ordered on DoorDash Marketplace in the previous month.
- 1107 Dashers who completed a delivery in the last 90 days.
- 548 independent merchants who currently partner with DoorDash.
- On-the-record interviews with a variety of DoorDash merchant partners about their experiences.
About Public First
Public First is an independent consultancy that works to help companies and organizations better understand public opinion, model their economic and social impact, and develop new policy proposals.
About Quadrant
Quadrant Strategies is a market research firm based in Washington, D.C.
Merchants
DoorDash supports a wide range of different local businesses.
DoorDash supports hundreds of thousands of local merchants in communities across the country. We surveyed independent restaurants, grocers, flower shops, and other retailers on the platform to better understand how DoorDash has helped support their business. Among this group of merchants:
have a single location
have been in business for more than 6 years
currently have fewer than 10 employees
are family-owned
reported under $1 million in sales over the last year
Restaurants on DoorDash range from upscale to casual local spots, with businesses in our survey using a wide range of labels to describe themselves.
Which of the following best describes your restaurant?
DoorDash is a key partner for business success.
Merchants generated over $40 billion in sales on DoorDash Marketplace in the U.S. in 2024.
In a merchant survey conducted by Quadrant Strategies, the majority highlighted the positive impact DoorDash has had on their business. Local merchants reported that roughly 1 in 4 sales had come from third-party online platforms such as DoorDash in the two weeks prior to the survey.
Most merchants reported that, without DoorDash, their key business metrics would have been lower:
said without DoorDash, they would have lower overall revenue
said without DoorDash, they would have lower profit margins
said without DoorDash, they would have lower customer growth
Our survey of consumers reinforced that, without platforms like DoorDash, many customers — and potential sales — could be lost for local restaurants. When asked what they would do if they couldn’t use a third-party delivery platform like DoorDash to have a meal delivered, 76% of consumers said they wouldn’t find another way to visit that merchant, with 37% telling us they’d cook, 25% saying they’d eat leftovers, and 13% saying they’d eat snacks or skip the meal altogether.
DoorDash connects local businesses to more consumers.
Merchants see DoorDash as a key part of their growth strategy. For many, a significant share of revenue now comes through delivery platforms, with DoorDash playing a vital role in expanding their reach and increasing their visibility within local communities.
Among merchants surveyed:
said DoorDash has helped them reach new customers they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to access
said the platform helps them acquire new on-premise customers by first introducing those customers to their business through delivery
said DoorDash has helped them establish a bigger presence in their local community
DoorDash helps streamline merchant operations.
DoorDash helps local businesses focus on what they do best. For many merchants, third-party delivery platforms like DoorDash make delivery possible — without the operational burden. By handling the technology and logistics, DoorDash allows business owners to spend more time on other critical parts of their business. Over half of merchants reported saving five hours per week or more because of DoorDash’s support.
The top three areas where merchants said they’ve been able to invest more time thanks to DoorDash include:
menu and inventory development
staff training and development
business expansion
Many merchants highlighted how managing their own delivery is simply not practical:
said that if third-party delivery platforms such as DoorDash did not exist then they would not offer delivery at all
don’t offer their own delivery service because the time cost of managing the logistics is too high
said DoorDash has helped them expand without high upfront costs
said DoorDash provides useful data insights into customer preferences and trends
DoorDash has been a lifeline to merchants amid economic uncertainty.
Merchants see DoorDash as a reliable partner during challenging economic periods, crediting the platform with helping them sustain and grow their businesses during tough times. Small businesses and family-owned businesses were especially likely to report that DoorDash helped them reach new customers in uncertain times.
In addition, roughly 1 in 6 (16%) merchants said their business wouldn’t exist today without the platform. When asked about their experiences during times of economic uncertainty:
said DoorDash helped them attract new customers
said DoorDash helped them maintain order volumes
said DoorDash helped them maintain their revenue stream
DoorDash continues to grow its partnerships with businesses beyond restaurants.
Beyond restaurants, DoorDash has become an important partner for convenience stores, liquor stores, grocers, florists, and other retailers. Consumers are embracing the broader offerings available through DoorDash. In December 2024, over 25% of DoorDash consumers ordered groceries or retail products — such as everyday essentials, pet food, flowers, or medicine — from the platform.
By connecting local retailers to nearby consumers, DoorDash helps keep more spending in local communities — and gives small businesses a better chance to compete. 45% of consumers said that, without platforms like DoorDash, they would order retail products such as everyday essentials or pet food from large online retailers.
DoorDash is a go-to platform for new and growing local businesses.
Many newer businesses are choosing DoorDash from the very beginning, most plan to continue using the platform long-term, and the majority of merchants would recommend DoorDash to other businesses:
expect to continue partnering with DoorDash for five or more years
would recommend other businesses partner with DoorDash
Their reasons for sticking with DoorDash align with the benefits they’ve already seen:
stay to continue growing their revenue
stay to expand their delivery capabilities
stay to increase their profitability
Local merchants in their own words:
Dashers
Dashers come from all walks of life.
In 2024, over 7 million people dashed1 in the U.S., altogether earning over $16 billion. Dashers come from a broad range of backgrounds and span all ages, drawn by the opportunity to flexibly earn supplemental income. Based on survey responses:
have other income or responsibilities (e.g. have a full- or part-time job, are retired, stay-at-home parents, or students)
have children under 18 or have other caregiving responsibilities
have a disability or long-term illness
are women
live in a rural community
Dasher Age Distribution
Veterans and their families are a meaningful part of the Dasher community
An estimated 360,000 veterans across the country earn through the DoorDash platform, and another half a million Dashers have a veteran in their household.
Why dash?
Dashers reported a range of motivations when choosing to earn through the DoorDash platform with a big emphasis on flexibility. Dashing provides a level of autonomy and low barrier to entry that allows people to fit work around their existing responsibilities, whether that’s caregiving, a full-time job, or studying. This accessibility and control make it a valuable way to earn on their own terms.
The 6 main reasons that Dashers choose to earn income using DoorDash over other opportunities:
Dashing offers a unique approach to earning that is not easy to find elsewhere. 38% of Dashers said they would not substitute their lost income if they were unable to earn using a delivery or ridesharing platform, as no other options are enjoyable or would meet their needs.
Extrapolating to the over 7 million people who dashed in 2024, this suggests that over 2.6 million people might not have generated incremental earnings without access to this kind of income — amounting to roughly $6 billion that might not have been earned.
Dashers can earn on their own terms.
Dashers place a big emphasis on the fast and flexible income they can earn through the DoorDash platform. In 2024, Dashers spent less than 4 hours per week on delivery. In fact, on average, Dashers only dashed in 10 weeks of the whole year — taking full advantage of the unique flexibility dashing offers.
are satisfied with the flexibility that DoorDash provides
said that the ability to create their own schedule was one of the top reasons why they delivered using DoorDash
said dashing provides them with more flexibility than other earning opportunities
Flexibility is particularly important to those with caregiving responsibilities, as it gives them the freedom to spend more time with loved ones. Of the Dashers with children under 18 or other caregiving responsibilities who participated in the survey:
said flexible working hours are important to be able to spend more time with their family or care for their loved ones
said dashing allows them to be more present and available at home
said dashing helps them to provide for themselves and their family
Dashers overwhelmingly want to retain control of their schedules:
would prefer to remain an independent contractor than have their classification changed to employee
said the flexibility is what made them choose app-based delivery over other earning opportunities
said they would stop dashing if they couldn’t choose the days or times they worked
56% of Dashers think that they would be worse off if they weren’t able to earn through delivery or rideshare platforms and had to work a traditional full- or part-time job instead — only 8% think they would be better off.
Dashing provides income when Dashers need it most.
DoorDash offers a fast, flexible, and low barrier way for Dashers to manage financial challenges and bridge gaps in their income. This empowers individuals across the U.S. to achieve greater financial independence and, in aggregate, can support the overall resilience of the U.S. economy.
said they feel less stressed about their financial situation because they can dash when they need to
said dashing made them feel more in control of their circumstances
said they dash more during times of financial stress, such as when bills are due
said they dash more because costs are going up for food, bills, and rent
have dashed to make up for lost income or reduced hours at their job
Many Dashers reported turning to dashing when they faced difficult financial situations. Were dashing not available, a significant proportion said they would have to resort either to borrowing from friends and family, or taking on debt.
said they would have to borrow money from friends or family if dashing wasn’t available to them
said they would have to take on credit card debt if dashing wasn’t available to them
said they had avoided applying for a payday loan because of dashing
A significant minority also said that it had offered an alternative to applying for government benefits. 1 in 4 said that they did not need to apply for government benefits because of dashing.
Of this group, 49% said dashing helped them avoid applying for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, 21% said it helped them avoid applying for rent assistance programs, and 33% said it helped them avoid applying for unemployment insurance.2
Dashing helps people reach their financial goals.
In addition to providing quick access to flexible income, dashing can help Dashers achieve their longer-term financial goals: whether they are saving for a major expense, or setting aside money for their future.
According to the Dashers who responded to our survey:
said dashing had helped to pay off existing debt
said dashing helped them to save for emergencies
said dashing provides them with more flexibility than other earning opportunities
When looking ahead to their current financial goals:
are dashing to cover an unexpected expense, such as car repairs or a medical bill
are dashing to save money for an emergency fund
are dashing to pay for gifts, special occasions, and other smaller purchases
Dashing was seen as both a long-term option for topping up income, as well as a time-limited tool for reaching a specific financial goal:
plan to keep dashing in the long term, in order to continue to supplement their income
plan to keep dashing until they meet a specific goal, such as paying off debt or finding a full-time job
If flexible work was not available, 77% of those surveyed said they would cut back on household spending. Among these 77%, the average amount they would cut back each month was $357.
DASHERS ENJOY EARNING AND CONNECTING WITH THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY.
The vast majority of Dashers are happy with their experience dashing and would recommend it to a friend:
are happy with the overall experience of dashing
would recommend dashing to a friend
are proud to be a Dasher
Dashers enjoy getting to know their community as they earn, and take pride in connecting restaurants and merchants to local consumers, rating these experiences as the most satisfying aspects of dashing.
were satisfied with their experience of getting to know restaurants and merchants in their local community
said that dashing helped them discover new merchants that they had later returned to as a customer
said dashing has helped them to get to know their local community
feel invested in the local merchants they make deliveries for
feel satisfied with their experiences dealing with other Dashers
feel motivated to provide consumers with a good service
Dashers in their own words
Consumers
DoorDash connects people to the best of their neighborhood.
DoorDash isn’t just a delivery platform — it’s a way for consumers to connect to local favorites and spend their dollars in their communities. Many people use the platform to try restaurants and retailers they wouldn’t have visited otherwise, often building lasting consumer relationships in the process. Of consumers that participated in our survey:
said DoorDash introduced them to restaurants they wouldn’t have tried otherwise
said that after trying new restaurants on DoorDash they ordered from some or all of them again
said DoorDash introduced them to a retail or grocery store they wouldn’t have tried otherwise
DoorDash consumers say the platform has helped them to support local businesses:
said DoorDash has made it easier to support local businesses in their community
said that without DoorDash they would make fewer purchases from local businesses
DoorDash helps to make everyday life easier.
Of the consumers who participated in our survey:
said DoorDash gives them more control over their time
said DoorDash reduces the burden of cooking when they don’t have time
said DoorDash allowed them to order from merchants that would otherwise be too far away
Parents, in particular, said DoorDash has helped them better balance their responsibilities. Of the parents we surveyed:
said it helped them care for loved ones and spend more time with family
said DoorDash delivery makes them feel less stressed and anxious about providing for their families
said DoorDash helps them do their jobs effectively
DoorDash helps people get what they need — QUICKLY, AFFORDABLY, AND ON THEIR OWN TERMS.
Consumers increasingly rely on the platform for groceries, everyday essentials, and retail products, especially when they’re short on time, energy, or access. 75% of users said they choose DoorDash because it is more reliable than other services.
Whether trying something new, staying within budget, or choosing healthier meals, DoorDash gives consumers more flexibility and control over how they shop and eat:
said DoorDash helps them make healthier choices
said it’s easy to order food through DoorDash while staying within their budget
had used DoorDash to order items when they couldn’t make it to a store
Consumers also see DoorDash as an affordable option:
said DoorDash provides good value for money
said DoorDash offers good promotions/discounts
Underserved communities use DoorDash to get food and essential items.
Used by people from all walks of life, DoorDash plays a particularly important role in supporting people who face barriers to accessing food, groceries, and everyday necessities. In 2024, there were over 15,000 stores on the DoorDash platform that accepted SNAP/EBT payments, a figure that continues to grow.
Of the users who participated in our survey:
reported a household income under $75,000, which is broadly consistent with the U.S. population
said they have a disability, mobility issue, or chronic illness
are SNAP beneficiaries
For many, delivery is not just a convenience — it’s a necessity:
use the platform due to mobility challenges, such as illness or a lack of transportation
of users with household incomes under $75,000 said they use delivery platforms for groceries or retail items because getting to a store is difficult
of users with disabilities or chronic conditions said they would have to skip a meal or rely on snacks if they couldn’t get food delivered via platforms like DoorDash
Project DASH
Since 2018, DoorDash’s Project DASH has made over 6 million deliveries amounting to over 100 million meals across the U.S. on behalf of hundreds of food banks, food pantries, and other nonprofits — including United Way chapters, Feeding America partner food banks, and Meals on Wheels America. Project DASH helps our partners to send food directly to the doors of seniors, working parents, new mothers, and individuals with disabilities — eliminating the transportation, mobility, and time barriers that many households face.
“Ending food insecurity is one of the biggest challenges of our lifetimes — and while there’s much work to be accomplished, with Project DASH we’re closer to building a community where no one is hungry. Home delivery and Project DASH are so important because they empower us to do what we do best: provide food to those in need.”
Kyle Camberg
Sunshine Division
People use DoorDash to show loved ones they care.
People use DoorDash to care for loved ones, near or far. 58% of users reported ordering meals for someone who is not in their household, using food as a way to offer care and connection. Of these users:
had sent a meal to someone dealing with a physical or mental illness
had sent a meal to someone facing financial hardship
had sent a meal to someone with limited transportation options
DoorDash also plays a growing role in helping people celebrate together, even when they are apart:
have ordered food through DoorDash for a special occasion
have used DoorDash to send someone a gift, such as flowers, gift cards, or a surprise meal
Consumers in their own words
Methodology
Overall Economic Impact of DoorDash
To quantify DoorDash’s overall economic impact, we estimated the economic activity supported using:
- Merchant sales, supported by both DoorDash Marketplace and Drive On-Demand, offers delivery for orders placed on a merchant’s own app or website
- Dasher income and spending supported by DoorDash
- DoorDash’s corporate footprint
Internal data from DoorDash was used to establish the direct economic impact of each of these channels. We then used a standard economic modelling framework – input-output analysis – to quantify the follow-on economic activity supported along supply chains (indirect economic impacts) and through household spending (induced economic impacts).
Time Saved
Public First estimates of the time saved by consumers from using DoorDash drew on findings from the Quadrant survey on what they would be likely to do if they were unable to use DoorDash. We then drew on desk research to arrive at reasonable assumptions for the time cost to consumers from these choices. Using a study by the CDC, we assumed that in the absence of ordering via DoorDash it would take consumers on average: 35 minutes to prepare a meal; 33 minutes to travel to and from a restaurant; and 25 minutes to travel to pick up food from a food outlet. We then used DoorDash delivery numbers to arrive at an aggregate time saving.
Survey Methodology
Dashers
From February 6 to March 9, 2025, Quadrant Strategies fielded a 19-minute online survey with n=1107 Dashers from a nationwide sample of Dashers in the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia who completed at least one delivery in the 90 days prior to the survey and haven’t opted out of DoorDash emails or surveys. The margin of error was +/- 2.9%.
Merchants
From February 6 to March 10, 2025, Quadrant Strategies fielded a 15-minute online survey with n=548 DoorDash independent merchant partners in the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia who earned at least $500 in sales on Marketplace or Drive in the month prior to the survey, had been on the platform for at least three months, and haven’t opted out of DoorDash emails or surveys. The margin of error was +/- 4.2%.
Consumers
From February 6 to March 9, 2025, Quadrant Strategies fielded a 13-minute online survey with n=914 DoorDash consumers in the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia who have placed at least one order on DoorDash Marketplace in the month prior to the survey and haven’t opted out of DoorDash emails or surveys. The margin of error was +/- 3.2%.