10 Reasons Why DoorDash Is So Slow (Full Guide)

DoorDash is an online food delivery service, the largest food delivery company in the United States. Because DoorDash has the largest market share in the food delivery niche, you’d think the delivery speeds would be the fastest.

But lately, DoorDash customers have noticed the service is relatively slow. So, you’re probably asking, why is DoorDash so slow recently? Here are ten reasons why you’re experiencing delays with your DoorDash order!

10 Reasons Why DoorDash Is So Slow In [currentyear]

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1. Your DoorDasher Is Stuck In Traffic

One reason your DoorDasher might be taking longer than usual to deliver your order is that they’re stuck in traffic.

Especially if you placed an order during peak times, you’re more likely to experience DoorDash delays.

Also, if you live in a larger city, it’s more common that your DoorDasher gets stuck in traffic for extended periods.

If your DoorDasher is stuck in traffic, they’ll likely let you know using the chat feature in the mobile app.

Still, you can track your order using the live tracking feature on the DoorDash app if your DoorDasher doesn’t reach out first.

2. The DoorDasher Needed To Take A Detour

If there’s a considerable amount of construction in your city, your DoorDasher may need to take a detour on their way to deliver your food.

Therefore, you may experience delays with your DoorDash order. Also, if the DoorDasher is new to the area, they might not be familiar with the roads, and it will take longer.

Again, you can continuously track your DoorDasher using the mobile app, so you can always see where your DoorDasher is located.

3. The Restaurant Is Very Busy

Another external factor that causes delays for DoorDash orders is how busy the restaurant is at the time of your order.

So, if you place a food delivery order while a restaurant is considerably busy, it’s going to take longer to deliver.

But, in the DoorDash app, there’s a feature that indicates the status of your order at various stages of the delivery process.

Also, if you want to get your food faster, consider picking it up yourself instead of using the delivery feature.

To pick up your DoorDash order, simply click on “Pick Up” before completing the order.

4. There’s A Lack Of DoorDashers In The Area

If there aren’t enough DoorDashers in your area to pick up orders, your delivery request is going to take longer than average.

Unfortunately, there’s no way of knowing how many DoorDashers will be working at any given moment.

But, this usually isn’t an issue because DoorDash is the most popular food delivery service and has plenty of drivers.

5. Placing Orders During Peak Delivery Times

As previously mentioned, there are peak delivery times at DoorDash, which are usually around lunch (11 am to 2 pm) and dinner (6 pm to 8 pm).

So, if you place an order at these times, you’re more likely to experience delays getting your food.

However, DoorDash tries to combat delivery delays by offering bonuses for drivers who deliver during peak times.

That said, if you want to place a DoorDash order during peak times, it’s probably faster to pick up the order yourself instead of opting for delivery.

Or, you can schedule DoorDash orders ahead of time to ensure your food gets to you on time.

6. More People Order Food For Delivery

One of the main reasons DoorDash’s service has slowed down is due to the fact that more people are ordering out than in previous years.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurants and fast-food companies relied entirely on deliveries and pick-up orders to stay in business.

That said, people have grown accustomed to the convenience of getting their favorite foods delivered, which causes some DoorDash orders to be slow.

Essentially, there are more delivery orders than ever before, and sometimes there aren’t enough DoorDashers to meet the demand.

7. DoorDashers Pick Up Multiple Orders On One Route

At DoorDash, the food delivery service allows DoorDashers to pick up multiple orders while they’re on a single route.

Put differently, your order may not be the only one your DoorDasher delivers while they’re on their way to you.

In fact, DoorDashers can pick up three to ten orders at one time if the drop-off locations are along the same route.

Although this is beneficial for DoorDashers, it does cause some delays because the DoorDasher has to take more stops before delivering your food.

8. Some Items Spill During Delivery

A more uncommon reason DoorDash orders are slow is that some food items spill while the DoorDasher is delivering.

Sometimes, a DoorDasher will return to the restaurant to replace the spilled items.

As you can imagine, if a DoorDasher has to circle back to the restaurant, it will take longer to complete the delivery.

However, DoorDash doesn’t recommend that drivers replace spilled items.

Instead, the company asks that you reach out to Customer Support, after which you’ll receive a DoorDash gift card for your next order.

9. The Restaurant Is Far Away From Your House

One thing to consider before placing an order on DoorDash is the distance from the restaurant to your home. For example, some restaurants on DoorDash have a 30-mile delivery radius.

So, if your food is coming from a restaurant that’s a considerable distance from your house, the delivery will take longer.

Essentially, it’s best to check the restaurant distance before starting a DoorDash order. 

10. Time Of The Year

Believe it or not, the time of year affects the speed of DoorDash deliveries.

For example, you’re more likely to experience faster delivery times during the summer months because more people are on vacations or enjoying the outdoors.

Therefore, there aren’t as many DoorDash orders during these months. But, in the winter, there are a lot of delivery requests, so you’re going to experience longer wait times.

To know more, you can also read our posts on whether or not DoorDash delivers to hotels, DoorDash late delivery, and how late does DoorDash deliver.

Conclusion

When it comes to delivery speeds at DoorDash, several factors contribute to the slower delivery times.

Sometimes, the factors are out of the DoorDashers control, like being stuck in traffic or if a restaurant is busy.

Additionally, it’s essential to consider the distance from the restaurant to your house before placing an order, so you don’t have to wait too long to get your food.