Dasher Guidelines for Ontario
Dashing in Ontario
Overview
This page provides Dashers in Ontario with information about how pay, tips, pay periods, and pay dates, offers, and ratings work. This information is meant to help Dashers better understand the factors that can impact their dashing experience.
How Pay Works
Dasher Pay
We know that Dashers have a lot of choices, which is why we’ve created a pay model that is designed to make earnings fair and transparent for any work done through the DoorDash platform. Below is more detailed information about how pay works.
Base Pay
Base pay is DoorDash’s base contribution for each offer. The pay will depend on the estimated time and desirability of the offer. Offers that include deliveries or tasks that are expected to take more time and that are less popular with Dashers will have a higher base pay. Base pay will not change based on the customer tip amount.
Promotions
Promotions are additional pay for offers that meet certain conditions, giving Dashers even more opportunities to earn. They can vary between Dashers based on factors like how new they are to the platform, and also based on other factors like location and time of day. Here are some examples:
Peak Pay: When Peak Pay is in effect, select Dashers can earn extra money on each offer. Peak Pay earnings will be added to the total earnings shown when a Dasher receives an offer. More information about this promotion can be found here.
Challenges: Challenges are incentives that let a Dasher earn extra money for completing a certain number of deliveries in a set amount of time while also meeting any other applicable qualifications included in the challenge offer. Challenge offers can usually be found in the Dasher app, though in some cases may be offered via email, SMS, or push notification.
Delivery Streaks: Delivery Streaks allow Dashers to earn extra money by accepting and completing offers consecutively while on a dash when the promotion is in effect. More information about this promotion can be found here.
Boosts: Boosts are additional earning opportunities added to some offers, based on specific criteria. Boosts do not appear in the promotions tab of the Dasher app, but similar to Peak Pay, earnings from Boosts (also referred to as a “pay boost”) will be added to the total earnings shown when a Dasher receives an offer.
Ontario Minimum Earnings & Weekly Pay Adjustments
Minimum earnings: Dashers are guaranteed to earn Ontario’s minimum wage per hour of active time on delivery (from when an offer is accepted until that offer is completed). This rate is just the minimum, so Dashers still have the opportunity to earn more. As always, Dashers will continue to receive 100% of any tips on top of their minimum earnings.
Weekly pay adjustments: At the end of each pay period, each Dasher’s earnings are reviewed by DoorDash to ensure their pay meets the earnings minimum. For Dashers who earned below the minimum, a pay adjustment will be added. Dashers can view any pay adjustment in their weekly summary on the Earnings tab in the Dasher app.
Example 1: Dasher who earned less than the minimum earnings during the week.
Let’s say that a Dasher dashed in Ontario, and the following were true for a given week:
Their active time was 180 minutes (3 hours)
Their DoorDash pay for the week was $40
Plus, they earned $10 in customer tips
Their minimum earnings for the week are $52.80 [3 hours of active time x Ontario minimum wage of $17.60]
Because their DoorDash pay ($40) was less than the required minimum earnings ($52.80), they would receive a pay adjustment for the difference of $12.80, and their total earnings for the week would be $62.80 ($40 DoorDash pay + $12.80 pay adjustment + $10 tips).
Example 2: Dasher who earned more than the minimum earnings during the week.
Let’s say that a Dasher dashed in Ontario, and the following were true for a given week:
Their active time was 180 minutes (3 hours)
Their DoorDash pay for the week was $55
Plus, they earned $15 in customer tips
Their minimum earnings for the week are $52.80 [3 hours of active time x Ontario minimum wage of $17.60]
Because their DoorDash pay ($55) was higher than their minimum earnings ($52.80), they would not receive a weekly pay adjustment (that is, their DoorDash pay of $55 will not change). Their total earnings for the week would be $70 ($55 DoorDash pay + $15 tips).
*For these examples, we’re using the Ontario minimum wage as of October 1, 2025.
Reimbursements
In general, Dashers are responsible for all costs and expenses associated with dashing. In limited circumstances, however, they may see a line item in their weekly earnings called “Reimbursement.” This reflects reimbursement for the rare instances of out-of-pocket expenses for Dasher Shop & Deliver orders or alcohol delivery certification. For the best experience, we recommend using your Red Card for all Shop & Deliver orders.
Pay Period and Pay Date
Pay periods for Dashing run from Monday to Sunday. Dashers receive their earnings weekly on their payday (Monday), unless they have opted to use Fast Pay. Dashers eligible for a weekly pay adjustment will be issued the pay adjustment automatically on that same Monday.
How Tips Work
When ordering on DoorDash, customers can choose to leave a tip when they check out or after the delivery is completed. 100% of customer tips go directly to the Dasher, on top of base pay and promotions. The amount DoorDash pays in base pay and promotions will never vary based on the tip amount.
For more details about how tips work, please refer to our article on tips.
How Dashers Receive Offers
DoorDash connects customers with the best of their local neighbourhoods, helping small businesses grow while creating opportunities for Dashers to earn. Once an order is placed, our system considers multiple factors in just seconds, with the aim of sending any given offer to the best available Dasher to help ensure safety, quality, efficiency, and timeliness. For example, your historical delivery timing helps to accurately estimate how long future deliveries will take and select the best Dasher for each offer. We know that the occasional late delivery can happen, but regular or excessive lateness may have a greater impact on historical delivery timing. As a result, consistently on-time Dashers will get more opportunities to earn, but arriving early won’t provide any benefit, so there’s no need to rush. To learn more about these factors, click here.
How Ratings and Rewards Work
Based on a Dasher’s ratings, they may be eligible for Dasher Rewards. More information on Dasher Rewards can be found here.
Pro Shopper is an extension of the Dasher Rewards program meant to recognize Dashers who go the extra mile on Shop & Deliver orders. Information on the Pro Shopper program can be found here.
To provide services on the DoorDash platform, Dashers must maintain minimum ratings. Dashers are responsible for monitoring their ratings. If any of their ratings fall below the minimum threshold, the Dasher’s account may be deactivated. This may include a repeated failure to complete offers they’ve accepted, which is measured by their completion rate. Learn more about completion rate and other minimum ratings here and in DoorDash’s Platform Access Policy.
