How much does Shipt pay? Shipt does not publish a flat rate: shoppers are independent contractors paid per order, and each offer shows one estimated pay amount that Shipt says is based on the time and effort the order requires.[1] This guide covers the mechanics, meaning what goes into an offer, how it can change after you accept it, and when the money arrives.
How does Shipt calculate what an order pays?
Shipt calculates an order’s pay from the effort it takes, not from how much the groceries cost. Its shopper FAQ says offer pay is based on estimated effort rather than the order’s dollar value, and that the offer card shows one estimated pay amount and one estimated time. You can decline any offer.
The factors Shipt lists as part of its estimate of time and effort are:
- store size
- drive time
- time of day
- holiday season
- housing type
- likelihood and complexity of substitutions
Some offers add more on top. Shipt says promo pay and on-time delivery pay can be added to some unclaimed offers that are at risk of being late, and an “Extra pay” label can appear for high-volume periods, longer distances or big local events. Shipt does not publish the weights of each factor, so there is no formula that turns a store size or a drive time into dollars.
Can you work out an hourly rate from an offer?
Yes, using Shipt’s own formula. Because the card shows both the pay and the estimated time, the FAQ gives this calculation: offer amount times 60, divided by estimated time, equals pay per hour.
An illustration, using made-up round numbers rather than a Shipt figure: an offer of $12 with an estimated time of 40 minutes works out to $12 x 60 / 40 = $18 per hour. The same $12 over an estimated 60 minutes would be $12 per hour. This is a way to compare offers, not a prediction of what you will earn, and it counts only the estimate, not your own time spent outside the offer.
| Offer amount (illustration) | Estimated time | Pay per hour |
|---|---|---|
| $12 | 40 minutes | $18.00 |
| $12 | 60 minutes | $12.00 |
| $20 | 60 minutes | $20.00 |
Shipt also says finishing faster or slower than the estimate does not change what you are paid. Time estimates themselves can move up or down with traffic and seasonal demand, which can change the pay.
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What is the Shipt Earnings Standard?
The Shipt Earnings Standard is Shipt’s stated floor for offers. Its FAQ says Shipt guarantees at least $16 per hour per offer in every market, based on its time and effort estimates, and that many higher-cost markets pay more, with some select markets above $27 per hour.
Two limits belong with that statement. First, it is a starting point, not a promise that every offer pays the same. Second, the page notes that shopper pay in California and New York City may operate differently. The floor applies to the estimate Shipt makes for each offer, so it says nothing about the hours you spend waiting, driving between orders or covering the cost of your own car.
What does the Shipt offer card show?
The offer card shows more than a single number, though pay is the main item. According to Shipt’s help center, it can include:
- one estimated pay number from the effort-based pay model
- promo pay, if there is any
- on-time delivery pay, listed below the estimate when available
- extra pay, when an amount was added to the original estimate
- an estimated tip, in select metros only, either based on a customer’s pre-tip or estimated by Shipt from factors such as tipping history and order size
Bonuses are not shown on the card; qualifying bonuses appear in the bonus tracker in the app.[2] If no tip is listed, the customer left no pre-tip and Shipt lacks enough data to estimate one, but that customer may still tip after delivery.
Shipt describes the pay number as the minimum pay you are guaranteed for completing and delivering the order, which means an offer can end up paying more than it showed. Shipt’s shopper FAQ calls the same figure the estimated amount you can expect, and the cancellation rules below still apply.
Can the pay change after you accept an offer?
Yes, in both directions, though mostly upward. The Shipt help pages describe these cases:
- Items added. If a customer adds items after submitting an order, pay increases based on added effort, not item cost, so adding twenty items earns more than adding two.
- Bundles. If an order is removed from a bundle after shopping starts, pay is adjusted for the reduced work.
- Single orders. The pay on a single order does not drop after acceptance unless the customer cancels.
- Cancellations. An order canceled before you start shopping is not paid. One canceled during or after shopping pays a percentage of the original offer pay.
Promo orders also get automatic late forgiveness up to 30 minutes past the delivery window.
Tip: Read the card before you accept. The pay, the estimated time and any extra pay or promo are all there, and you can decline any offer.
What about tips and bonuses?
Tips and bonuses sit on top of offer pay. Shipt says shoppers receive 100% of customer tips, and tips are audited before weekly payouts. They are paid separately, in the pay period in which they were captured. Customers can add a tip at checkout, pay in cash at delivery, or add one after delivery through the app or website, and Shipt credits and gift cards cannot be used for tips.[3] For more on Shipt earnings, see how much money you can make with Shipt.
Bonuses are extra earnings for meeting set requirements, such as on-time delivery, no promo, a set date or time range, or a specific retailer. Shipt says shoppers are notified of available bonuses, how to qualify and when they will be paid.
How do Shipt shoppers get paid, and when?
Shipt pays on a weekly cycle, and you can also move the money sooner. The pay period runs Monday through Sunday. Direct deposit arrives on Friday for the previous Monday through Sunday’s completed orders and captured tips. Your payment history is in the Payment History tab of the app.
| Option | When you get the money | Conditions Shipt lists |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly direct deposit | Fridays, for the prior Monday to Sunday | Standard payout |
| Instant Payout | Up to 3 times per day | Agree to Stripe Connect terms in the app and have at least one successful weekly payout |
For Instant Payout, the FAQ adds a deadline: if you have not requested funds by Sunday at 11:59 p.m. CT, you receive the regular direct deposit the following Friday. Shipt’s help pages do not list a fee for Instant Payout, so check the terms in the app before you use it.
Costs are yours. Shoppers pay their own expenses such as gas and data, and Shipt says these may be deductible at tax time. Reimbursements for approved requests are paid separately: requests submitted Thursday through Sunday arrive by the end of the day on Wednesday, and those submitted Monday through Wednesday arrive as a separate deposit by the end of the day on Friday. To compare fees between services, see whether Shipt is cheaper than Instacart.
Are taxes taken out of Shipt pay?
No, Shipt does not withhold taxes. A Shipt help page, last updated in December 2022, says Shipt does not withhold any taxes from shoppers’ weekly paychecks and that, as independent contractors, shoppers are responsible for filing their own taxes. It also says Shipt will send a 1099 form to shoppers who earn above a certain amount at the end of the year; the page does not state the amount.[4]
Because nothing is withheld, a shopper who wants to know what an offer is worth to them has to subtract their own costs and set money aside for tax. That is separate from the pay mechanics above, and a tax professional can help with the details.
Nothing here is a guarantee of earnings. Offer amounts, bonuses, tips and the markets above the $16 floor all differ by shopper and by day, so read each offer card for the pay that applies to you.
