How Much Does Uber Eats Take From Restaurants?

If you're a restaurant owner using Uber Eats, you've probably noticed that a significant chunk of every order disappears before it reaches your bank account. But how much does Uber Eats actually take? The answer depends on your contract type, country, and the services you use — and it's rarely the simple number they advertise. This article breaks down the real cost so you can make an informed decision about your delivery strategy.

The Real Cost of Uber Eats for Restaurants

Uber Eats operates on a tiered commission structure that varies depending on which service you use:

• Delivery orders: 15% to 30% — The most common tier for restaurants using Uber Eats' own drivers. Most new or standard restaurants pay around 30%. Restaurants with higher volumes or special contracts may negotiate lower rates.
• Pickup orders: around 15% — When customers pick up their order themselves, Uber Eats charges a lower commission since no driver is involved. This still means you're giving up 15% for essentially just being listed on their platform.
• Activation fees — Depending on your market, Uber Eats may charge an onboarding fee to set up your restaurant on the platform, sometimes ranging from 100 EUR to 350 EUR.
• Marketing and boost fees — Uber Eats' algorithm prioritises restaurants that invest in promotional placements. "Sponsored" listings and in-app advertising campaigns come at an additional cost on top of standard commissions.

It is worth noting that Uber Eats commission structures can change without much notice. Always read your current contract carefully and compare it with what you actually see in your payout dashboard.

Hidden Costs Beyond Commission

The headline commission percentage is just the beginning. There are several additional costs that erode your margins further and are often buried in the fine print:

• Tablet rental — Uber Eats provides a tablet to receive orders, and many restaurants are charged a monthly rental fee for this device. While it seems minor, it adds up over a year.
• Photo shoots and menu production — Uber Eats may offer (or require) professional food photography for your menu. These shoots are not free and the cost is typically deducted from your first payouts.
• Promotional discounts you fund — When Uber Eats runs "50% off" promotions, a significant portion of that discount is often funded by the restaurant, not Uber Eats. You get the sale, but at a deeply reduced margin.
• Chargebacks and refunds — When a customer reports a missing item or a quality issue, the cost is typically borne by the restaurant. Uber Eats automatically deducts refunds from your payouts with limited ability to dispute.
• Payment processing delays — Unlike direct orders where payment is immediate, Uber Eats holds your funds and pays out weekly. This can create cash flow pressure, particularly for smaller restaurants.

How Much Revenue Are You Actually Losing?

Let's put real numbers to this. Suppose your restaurant processes 500 orders per month with an average basket of 25 EUR. That's 12,500 EUR in gross revenue per month.

• At 30% commission: you lose 3,750 EUR per month — that's 45,000 EUR per year.
• At 25% commission: you lose 3,125 EUR per month — still 37,500 EUR per year.
• At 5% (direct ordering): you lose only 625 EUR per month — saving over 37,000 EUR annually compared to Uber Eats' standard rate.

That difference of 37,000 EUR per year could fund a full-time employee, a full kitchen renovation, or a serious marketing budget — all things that actually grow your business long-term.

The Alternative: Own Your Ordering Channel

The best way to reduce what Uber Eats takes from you is to build your own direct ordering channel. Direct ordering platforms allow customers to order from your restaurant's own branded storefront — without going through Uber Eats, Deliveroo, or any other third-party marketplace.

The advantages are significant:

• 5% fees instead of 30% — Direct ordering platforms like Ordresto charge a fraction of what aggregators charge, because they're not financing a massive marketing machine and driver network on your margins.
• You own your customer data — Every customer who orders directly gives you their name, email, phone number, and address. You can build loyalty programmes, send promotions, and re-engage customers — none of which is possible on Uber Eats.
• No algorithmic dependency — Your ranking on your own platform is not subject to the whims of a third-party algorithm. You control your brand entirely.
• Orders via social media — Modern direct ordering tools allow customers to order via Instagram DMs, WhatsApp, and Messenger — reaching them where they already spend their time.

This does not mean abandoning Uber Eats overnight. A hybrid strategy — using aggregators for discovery while converting loyal customers to your direct channel — is often the most practical approach. Read our article on how to reduce delivery commissions for a step-by-step strategy.

How Ordresto Helps Restaurants Keep Their Margins

Ordresto is built specifically for restaurants that want to take back control of their revenue. Here is what you get:

• 0 EUR to start — The Starter plan is completely free. You can launch your own online ordering storefront today, with no upfront cost.
• 5% platform fee — That's it. No hidden charges, no mandatory tablet rental, no photo shoot fees. Just 5% on orders processed through your storefront.
• Full customer data ownership — Every customer who orders through your Ordresto storefront is your customer, with full contact details.
• Social media ordering — Customers can order via Instagram DMs, WhatsApp, and Messenger, processed automatically through your dashboard.
• Full restaurant management suite — Menu management, table reservations, KDS (kitchen display), driver management, promotions, and more — all included.

You can also explore our comparison with Uber Eats alternatives or learn more about running a restaurant online ordering system.

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