FAQs
May 19, 2025
If you're a Uber Eats driver or have been thinking about signing up, chances are you've talked to other drivers about their acceptance rate. But what is it, anyway, and does Uber Eats acceptance rate even matter?
It's a good question, especially for gig workers looking to make money regularly and get as much pay as possible from the time they spend on the road.
Throughout this article, we'll discuss what acceptance rate is, how it affects your account, and if it truly matters to your success as a delivery pro.
Your Uber Eats acceptance rate is only a percentage of deliveries accepted among the total requests you've received. For example, you've received a total of 100 delivery requests, and you've accepted 80 of them. On that basis, your acceptance rate will be 80%.
In contrast to other gig apps, Uber Eats does not stress your acceptance rate too much. And not coincidentally, Uber Eats officially states that your acceptance rate doesn’t directly impact your account status or rank.
That’s to say, you’re not deactivated because you have low acceptance. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter.
Although Uber Eats will not deactivate you for rejecting or not accepting orders, your acceptance percentage can have an impact elsewhere in your gig.
Some experienced drivers have said that a high acceptance percentage can lead to more orders. This was not confirmed by Uber, yet most drivers find that rejecting a lot of deliveries can lead to more time gaps before you receive an offer.
Uber's algorithm is advanced, but not always forthcoming. These are some ways in which your acceptance rate might be influencing your experience quietly:
Uber's system can punish drivers for low acceptance rates. Driver forums, as well as Reddit, contain anecdotal proof indicating that keeping your acceptance level at high to mid keeps orders coming in on a continuous basis.
On the other hand, if you do not keep accepting orders, you might see that you are receiving fewer orders than usual.
Uber also offers Quest or Boost incentives in some areas. Uber can reduce your chances of getting bonuses in those areas if it determines that you consistently reject rides. Again, this isn't officially set, but forums for drivers seem to describe similar trends.
If you repeatedly cancel in the middle of delivery time or reject short-distance orders in high-demand areas, your customer rating or the confidence in your availability by the app can be affected in an indirect manner.
This means that it can impact future types of offers you receive. Briefly, as a matter of internal measurement, acceptance rate might not be as important as some other metrics, but practically to you as a driver, it can be.
Not necessarily. Taking all orders ensures that sometimes you'll need to accept low-paid or time-wasting pickups. For gig workers who make their living by delivering as quickly as possible to maximize hourly earnings, being selective is worth it.
Most Uber drivers make their own personal cut-offs in terms of area, traffic, pay, and area of safety. While that can lower your acceptance percentage, it can raise your per-hour pay. It's a matter of working more efficiently, not more. Below are some reasons why drivers reject orders:
If you have a high-concentration area like New York City, it's a matter of which orders to accept. Restaurant wait time, traffic, and parking will lower your profits if you accept orders indiscriminately.
Uber Eats does not use acceptance rate as a measure to rate a driver. Instead, they place more importance on the following:
These factors are more serious than your acceptance percentage. Your account will always be in good standing as long as you have a high percentage of completions and no cancellations.
Most veteran Uber Eats delivery personnel can confirm that the acceptance rate isn't always a determining factor. On social media forums and online working groups, drivers consistently report having a low acceptance rate, yet receive many requests.
Others, particularly in competitive markets, report that their profit improved once they began to pick up more orders and concentrate more on quantity. It truly does come down to where you live, the time of day, and what works better for you.
Finally, your approach should rely upon your objectives. If you are aiming to make as much money as possible in an hour, then selectivity is correct. If you want to receive promotions or receive steady jobs consistently, then a better acceptance percentage is preferable.
You should not overthink your acceptance rate, but it is advisable to make a little bit of conscious effort. Keeping your acceptance rate high is one of the popular hacks to earn more.
Here is how you can keep your rate and pay high:
Get familiar with your delivery zone. There might be some zones that pay more, have quicker restaurants, and are more secure delivery zones. Work in the best hours. Rush hours, dinner, and lunch hours are your most profitable hours to receive regular, high-tipped orders.
Use a simple spreadsheet or delivery tracking software to determine your hourly wage. That matters more than your acceptance percentage. Take a break. If you find yourself getting a series of low-paying jobs consecutively, sign off for 15-20 minutes.
Periodically, a short break can reset the algorithm, so it is an important thing to consider.
There are certain circumstances in which a higher acceptance rate might be a slight advantage:
At off-peak hours, Uber can favor drivers who take in more orders. Where orders outnumber drivers, working as a reputable courier can earn you more steady jobs.
When applying to become a candidate for incentive programs or bonuses, having a high acceptance rate will enhance your prospects.
However, these rewards exist abstractly. Uber Eats isn't going to hold it against you if you have high standards, but it can encourage consistency in little ways.
Does Uber Eats acceptance rate matter? Technically, no. But practically, it can make your experience vary due to your city, how often you work, or your delivery style.
If you work in a high-demand zone with a lot of volume, then you can afford to be picky. But if you work in a slow zone, you'll have to accept more to have orders coming in.
One of the greatest methods to make the most of road time is by owning the correct vehicle. We at Whizz offer the Storm-2 e-bike, especially designed and built for delivery riders. With a top speed of up to 25 mph, it can go as far as 85 miles per battery charge.
