Best Hours For Uber Eats (2023 Update)

Becoming an Uber Eats driver can be something to do on the weekends to earn extra cash. It can also be a full time gig that gives you more freedom in terms of when you choose to work. Whichever side of the spectrum you desire, or if you’re still trying to decide when to work, there are some tricks to know the best hours for delivering for Uber Eats.

Why Uber Eats?

Gone are the days where the only way you could get food delivered to your door was over the phone. Even farther gone are the days where there were only a few restaurants or cuisines you could choose. With Uber Eats, you can enjoy anything from fine dining to fast food in the comfort of your own home, ordered for you through a simple app. 

Uber Eats doesn’t just help you order food more easily, but it also allows you to earn extra income on your own schedule. If you have a car and some free time, you can sign up quickly and start bringing people their meals. 

Uber Eats has expanded into so many communities over the past few years that chances are, there’s an opportunity for you to start driving for Uber Eats. In some areas, Uber Eats also offers grocery delivery, orders from convenience stores, and even pharmacy pick ups.  

A benefit to driving for Uber Eats as opposed to other food delivery services is that they allow you to choose your hours. The company prefers this model as it’s more of an incentive for people to drive for them, thus creating more of an opportunity for people to use Uber Eats all day, every day. 

What Times Should I Be Driving For Uber Eats?

It may seem fairly obvious, but typical meal times are some of the best times to be driving for Uber Eats. That being said, meal times for everyone vary a little bit, so you have more of a window to earn more than you might think. 

For example, lunch time rushes tend to be between noon and 2 p.m. Dinner time offers a little bit more time between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. According to Uber itself, dinner rushes can be as late as 9:30 p.m. on some nights.

Weekends are also a great time to work, at pretty much any time of the day. Many people use the weekends to catch up on household chores and errands, making them less likely to want to cook. They may also be looking to indulge in a special treat on their day off and are more willing to order in rather than going to the store.

How Can I Make The Most Of Driving For Uber Eats?

If it’s raining, chances are you’ll have back to back orders to deliver. What’s more, if you choose to take advantage of the rushes during these peak hours, you can actually earn bonuses from Uber Eats. If you’re looking to get into this job for extra money, working through peak hours would be the best way to make as much money as possible without long hours.

What Do Drivers Have To Say About Driving For Uber Eats?

Drivers who have experience working for Uber Eats also have great tips for the best times to work. Dinner time, between 5 p.m. and midnight are crucial times to be working. Take advantage of people who don’t want to cook after a hectic work week. There will also be opportunities for late night orders, especially on weekends, where people want an indulgent snack after enjoying the party scene. 

Drivers also recommend going the extra mile for customers to earn better tips. This will help you earn more no matter which hours you work. Some suggest texting the customer to let them know if there will be a delay in their order, such as traffic or backup at the restaurant. 

Others also suggest being sure to store their food properly so it arrives as fresh as possible. Lastly, drivers also recommend being sure to grab extra sauces or napkins if they are available to ensure the order is full. 

Final Thoughts on Best Hours For Uber Eats

As you gain more experience driving for Uber Eats, you’ll also learn what type of orders are the most lucrative in your city. Taking inventory of which restaurants are quick to fill orders will also help you avoid accepting orders that will take a large chunk of your time to fill, which will impede you from making money. 

It’s also important that, no matter which hours you work, you take breaks. While it can be tempting to burn the midnight oil to make the most amount of money, driving all around your area for hours on end can be exhausting, which can get dangerous. If you are clever and organized with your schedule, Uber Eats can be both an exciting and lucrative job opportunity for you.