Your DoorDash Customer Rating may look like a small number inside the Dasher app, but it can have a big impact on your account.

A 4.95 looks great.

A 4.70 is usually nothing to worry about.

But when that number starts getting closer to DoorDash’s minimum requirement, every low rating suddenly feels much more important.

As of August 2026, DoorDash says Dashers must maintain a minimum Customer Rating of 4.2. Your score is based on your last 100 customer ratings, not your last 100 deliveries.

That distinction matters because customers do not rate every delivery.

You might complete 20 deliveries and receive only a few new ratings. So if you are trying to remove an old one-star or two-star rating from your average, it can take much longer than expected.

The good news is that DoorDash also has fairness protections. Certain customer ratings below five stars can be automatically excluded when the problem was outside your control, such as excessive restaurant waits, extreme weather, system outages or orders that were already significantly delayed before you accepted them.

In this guide, we will cover exactly how DoorDash Customer Rating works in 2026, how the average is calculated, what happens when customers do not rate you, which low ratings DoorDash may exclude and what you can do to maintain a high score.

What Is DoorDash Customer Rating?

Your Customer Rating measures how customers rate their delivery experience with you.

Customers can rate a delivery from:

1 star to 5 stars

DoorDash currently calculates your displayed Customer Rating using your most recent 100 customer ratings.

The important phrase here is:

customer ratings

not:

completed deliveries

If you complete 100 deliveries but only 30 customers leave ratings, your score is based on those ratings rather than automatically having 100 new ratings.

DoorDash also explains that the Customer Rating is intended to reflect the customer’s experience with the Dasher rather than the quality of the food itself.

Ideally, a customer should therefore be rating things such as:

• Whether the order reached the correct location
• Whether you followed delivery instructions
• How you handled the food
• Whether you communicated appropriately
• Whether the delivery experience was professional

Problems caused entirely by the restaurant should not necessarily be treated as problems with the Dasher.

What Is the Minimum DoorDash Customer Rating in 2026?

DoorDash currently lists the minimum Customer Rating as:

4.2

DoorDash’s ratings guidance states that Customer Rating is scored from one to five stars using the last 100 ratings and that the minimum requirement is 4.2.

DoorDash’s deactivation policy also says Dashers must maintain the required Customer Rating to continue using the platform and that an account may be deactivated if the rating falls below the applicable threshold.

That means Customer Rating is different from Acceptance Rate.

DoorDash currently lists:

• Customer Rating: Minimum 4.2
• Completion Rate: Minimum 90%
• Acceptance Rate: No minimum

So Customer Rating is one of the metrics you should take seriously.

Is a 4.2 DoorDash Rating Good?

A 4.2 is technically DoorDash’s current minimum.

I would not consider it a comfortable rating.

If you are sitting exactly at the minimum, another low rating could potentially create account concerns.

A much healthier position would be somewhere comfortably above the threshold.

For example:

• 5.00: Excellent
• 4.90+: Very strong
• 4.80+: Strong
• 4.70+: Generally comfortable
• 4.50+: Above the platform minimum but worth monitoring
• 4.20: Minimum threshold
• Below 4.20: Potential deactivation risk

These descriptions are practical interpretations rather than official DoorDash categories. DoorDash’s published platform minimum is 4.2.

How Is DoorDash Customer Rating Calculated?

DoorDash averages the star ratings included in your most recent 100 customer ratings.

For example, suppose you have 100 ratings consisting of:

• 95 five-star ratings
• 3 four-star ratings
• 1 three-star rating
• 1 one-star rating

Your total stars would be:

95 × 5 = 475

3 × 4 = 12

1 × 3 = 3

1 × 1 = 1

Total:

491 stars

Divide that by 100 ratings:

491 ÷ 100 = 4.91

Your Customer Rating would be approximately:

4.91

One bad rating hurts, but when you already have many five-star ratings, it normally does not destroy your average.

Why One-Star Ratings Hurt New Dashers More

Suppose you are new and have only ten ratings.

Nine customers give you five stars.

One customer gives you one star.

Your total is:

9 × 5 = 45

1 × 1 = 1

Total:

46

46 ÷ 10 = 4.60

That one bad rating brought you down significantly.

Now imagine you already have 100 ratings.

If 99 are five stars and one is one star:

495 + 1 = 496

496 ÷ 100 = 4.96

The same one-star rating has a much smaller effect.

This is why new Dashers should not panic if their rating moves dramatically during their first few rated deliveries.

Your score becomes more stable as you receive more ratings.

DoorDash Uses Your Last 100 Ratings, Not Lifetime Ratings

DoorDash uses a rolling system.

Older customer ratings eventually fall out of the calculation as newer ratings come in. DoorDash says your Customer Rating is based on your last 100 customer ratings, and older ratings will drop off as new ones arrive.

This means a bad rating is not permanent.

Suppose one customer gives you one star.

That rating remains somewhere inside your last 100 ratings.

As you receive additional customer ratings, it gradually moves toward the oldest position.

Eventually, a new rating replaces it.

At that point, the old one-star rating no longer affects your average.

How Long Does a Bad DoorDash Rating Stay?

There is no fixed number of days.

The rating remains until enough new customer ratings push it out of your last 100.

That could take:

• A few weeks for a very active Dasher
• Several months for someone who dashes occasionally
• Even longer if few customers leave ratings

The important point is that you need new ratings, not simply new deliveries.

Completing 100 more orders does not automatically remove a low rating if many of those customers never rate you.

Why Didn’t My DoorDash Rating Go Up After a Good Delivery?

Because the customer may not have rated you.

DoorDash specifically says customers do not always leave ratings. If a customer does not rate the delivery, that order has no effect on your Customer Rating.

You could complete a perfect delivery and receive:

no rating

That means:

• No five stars
• No four stars
• No change

This is why you should not expect the rating to increase after every successful order.

Does Every DoorDash Customer Have to Rate the Driver?

No.

Customer ratings are optional.

DoorDash confirms that customers do not always leave ratings. When no rating is submitted, your score remains unchanged.

This can make improving a low rating frustrating because you may need many deliveries before receiving enough new ratings to replace older ones.

Can DoorDash Remove a Bad Customer Rating?

Yes, under certain fairness protections.

DoorDash says it automatically excludes certain ratings below five stars when the lower rating is connected to circumstances outside the Dasher’s control.

Examples listed by DoorDash include:

• Long restaurant wait times
• Orders that were already expected to be very late when accepted
• Deliveries delayed because previous Dashers unassigned
• Delays caused by multiple orders being batched together
• Extreme weather
• Special challenges related to protests
• System-wide DoorDash outages

These protections are important because customers may not always know why their delivery was delayed.

Imagine this situation.

You accept an order at 7:00 p.m.

The restaurant was supposed to have it ready at 6:40 p.m.

Two previous Dashers already unassigned.

You arrive and the food still takes another 20 minutes.

The customer sees only:

“My dinner arrived late.”

But the delay was already happening before you accepted the order.

DoorDash says circumstances like this can qualify for ratings protection.

Restaurant Wait Times and Customer Ratings

Long waits are one of the most common situations where Dashers worry about unfair ratings.

If the restaurant takes 30 minutes to prepare the food, there is not much you can do to make the food appear faster.

DoorDash includes long restaurant wait times among the examples where below-five-star customer ratings can be automatically excluded.

Still, you should use the app correctly.

When the restaurant is delayed:

1. Mark the appropriate reason for the wait when the app asks.
2. Do not falsely mark the order picked up before you actually have it.
3. Send the customer a short update when the delay is significant.
4. Complete the delivery normally once the order is ready.

A simple message can help:

Hi! The restaurant is still preparing your order. I’m waiting for it now and will head your way as soon as it’s ready. Thanks for your patience.

You do not need to blame the restaurant or complain to the customer.

Just explain what is happening.

Batched Orders and Customer Ratings

Sometimes DoorDash gives you two or more orders together.

That can mean:

• Two restaurant pickups
• Two customer drop-offs
• An additional order added to your current route

A customer may become frustrated because you appear to be traveling somewhere other than directly to their house.

DoorDash specifically lists delivery lateness caused by multiple orders being batched together as one circumstance where an applicable low rating can be excluded.

You generally do not need to apologize for completing the route DoorDash assigned.

But good communication can help when an unusual delay occurs.

Extreme Weather and Customer Ratings

Bad weather can affect:

• Traffic
• Road conditions
• Restaurant preparation
• Parking
• Walking speed
• Delivery times

DoorDash lists extreme weather among the situations covered by its Customer Rating fairness protections.

However, that does not mean you should drive dangerously to avoid a low rating.

Never:

• Speed on wet roads
• Drive through unsafe flooding
• Ignore snow or ice hazards
• Rush across dangerous intersections
• Risk an accident to save two minutes

A rating is not worth your safety.

DoorDash Outages and Ratings

DoorDash also lists system-wide outages among circumstances where applicable low customer ratings can be automatically removed.

That makes sense.

If the Dasher app stops working and prevents you from:

• Receiving instructions
• Completing the order
• Contacting the customer
• Accessing navigation

the resulting delay may not be your fault.

Take screenshots when possible if you encounter a major app problem.

They can be useful if you later need to explain what happened to Support.

How to Improve Your DoorDash Customer Rating

The easiest way to maintain a good rating is not to chase five-star ratings.

Instead, focus on consistently avoiding the common mistakes that frustrate customers.

Here are the most useful habits.

1. Deliver to the Correct Address

This sounds obvious, but address mistakes happen.

Before leaving the order:

• Check the house number.
• Compare it with the address in the app.
• Check the apartment number.
• Look for unit letters.
• Verify the correct hotel or building.
• Compare the map pin with the written address.

GPS can occasionally lead you to:

• The wrong side of the building
• A neighboring house
• A rear entrance
• An alley
• The wrong apartment building

Do not rely entirely on the map pin.

Read the actual address.

2. Follow the Customer’s Delivery Instructions

Customers often leave useful instructions such as:

• Leave on chair
• Use side entrance
• Do not knock
• Ring bell
• Call when outside
• Gate code 1234
• Building B
• Leave with concierge
• Hand it to me

Ignoring a clear instruction is one of the easiest ways to create a poor delivery experience.

DoorDash specifically recommends following customer drop-off instructions as one way to maintain a high Customer Rating.

Read the instructions before arriving.

I prefer checking them while safely parked at the restaurant.

That gives you time to ask for missing information.

3. Do Not Block the Customer’s Door

This is one of those tiny mistakes that can create a surprisingly bad experience.

Some doors swing outward.

If you place:

• Pizza
• Drinks
• Grocery bags

directly against the door, the customer may not be able to open it without knocking everything over.

Before leaving an order, look at the door.

If it opens outward, place the food:

• Beside the door
• On a chair
• On a table
• Away from the door’s swing path

A few seconds can save you from a bad rating.

4. Take a Clear Drop-Off Photo

Your drop-off photo should help the customer find the order.

A useful photo shows:

• The order
• The doorway
• Nearby identifying features
• House or unit information when appropriate

Avoid photos that are:

• Blurry
• Completely dark
• Zoomed in only on the food
• Taken from inside your car
• Showing the wrong door

A good photo also helps protect you if a customer later claims the delivery was left somewhere else.

5. Use an Insulated Bag

DoorDash specifically recommends using a hot bag to help deliver food at the expected temperature.

Customers notice temperature.

A delivery can be perfectly on time and still feel disappointing if:

• Pizza arrives cold
• Burgers are lukewarm
• Fries are soggy
• Ice cream melts

Use an insulated bag whenever practical.

For larger orders, consider keeping:

• Pizza bag
• Catering bag
• Standard hot bag

in your vehicle.

6. Separate Hot and Cold Items

DoorDash also recommends separating hot and cold items during transportation.

Do not place:

• Ice cream beside hot pizza
• Milkshakes inside a sealed hot bag
• Cold groceries directly against hot restaurant food

Keep temperature-sensitive items separated when possible.

This small habit can noticeably improve delivery quality.

7. Check for Drinks

Restaurants frequently forget drinks.

Before leaving the merchant, check the order screen for:

• Fountain drinks
• Coffee
• Milkshakes
• Smoothies
• Bottled beverages

Do not open sealed bags.

Instead, ask:

Does this order have any drinks, or are they already inside the sealed bag?

DoorDash recommends asking the merchant to confirm that all items are included without opening sealed packaging.

You cannot personally verify every sealed item, but drinks are often visible and easy to catch.

8. Never Open Sealed Bags

You are delivering the order.

You are not supposed to dig through the customer’s food.

DoorDash’s deactivation policy prohibits tampering with deliveries, including opening, using or consuming customer orders.

If you are concerned about missing items:

1. Ask the restaurant.
2. Have the employee confirm the contents.
3. Keep the bag sealed.
4. Deliver it normally.

This protects:

• Food safety
• Customer privacy
• Your account

9. Handle Drinks Carefully

Use a stable drink carrier.

Avoid placing cups:

• Loose on the passenger seat
• Between grocery bags
• Under heavy items
• Where they can tip during turns

A spilled drink can ruin:

• The beverage
• The customer’s food
• Your vehicle
• Your rating

If you regularly receive drink-heavy orders, a reusable six-cup carrier can be one of the best inexpensive pieces of Dasher equipment.

10. Communicate During Significant Delays

DoorDash recommends keeping customers updated when you are running a few minutes late or need clarification.

The important word is:

significant

You do not need to send ten messages during a normal delivery.

Contact the customer when:

• Restaurant has a long delay
• Gate code is missing
• Address is unclear
• Shop and Deliver substitution is needed
• Restaurant needs information
• Another legitimate issue changes the delivery

Keep messages short and professional.

11. Do Not Over-Message Customers

Communication helps, but too much communication can become annoying.

You generally do not need to send:

I accepted your order.

Then:

I’m driving to the restaurant.

Then:

I’m here.

Then:

Waiting.

Then:

Got it.

Then:

Driving to you.

The DoorDash app already provides many automatic updates.

Use messages when they add something useful.

12. Avoid Asking Customers for Five-Star Ratings

Some Dashers send messages such as:

Please give me five stars!

I generally would not make this part of every delivery.

It can feel awkward or pushy.

The better strategy is to provide a smooth delivery experience.

Customers who want to rate you can do so naturally.

Focus on earning the rating rather than repeatedly requesting it.

13. Be Polite but Keep Communication Simple

You do not need to have long conversations with every customer.

Simple professionalism is enough.

Examples:

Hi! The restaurant is still finishing your order. I’ll be on my way shortly.

or:

Hi! I’m at the gate but don’t see a code in the instructions. Could you please send it? Thanks!

Avoid:

• Arguments
• Sarcasm
• Complaining about the tip
• Blaming the customer
• Sending angry messages
• Discussing politics or unrelated personal topics

Remember that everything sent through the app may become part of the delivery record.

14. Never Confront a Customer About the Tip

Even if you suspect the customer tipped very little or nothing, arguing with them is a terrible idea.

Do not:

• Ask why they didn’t tip
• Demand cash
• Hold the food hostage
• Leave insulting messages
• Intentionally place the order badly

You accepted the offer shown to you.

Complete it professionally.

Then decide whether similar offers meet your acceptance standards in the future.

15. Be Careful With “Hand It to Me” Orders

For a normal handoff:

1. Confirm you are at the correct address.
2. Follow any instructions.
3. Hand the order to the correct customer.
4. Complete the delivery in the app.

If the customer is unavailable, use DoorDash’s customer-unavailable process rather than immediately leaving the food in a random location.

Age-restricted and signature-required orders have additional requirements.

16. Keep Different Customers’ Orders Separate

Stacked orders create an easy opportunity for mistakes.

Imagine picking up two identical paper bags from the same restaurant.

Customer A ordered:

• Burger
• Fries
• Coke

Customer B ordered:

• Chicken sandwich
• Fries
• Shake

If you swap the bags, both customers may have a poor experience.

Keep orders separated in your vehicle.

Check:

• Customer name
• Receipt
• Bag label
• Drinks

before every drop-off.

17. Read Apartment Instructions Early

Apartments can destroy delivery efficiency.

Look for:

• Building number
• Unit number
• Gate code
• Floor
• Parking instructions
• Entrance location

If important information is missing, contact the customer while you are still safely parked.

Do not wait until you are blocking traffic outside a locked gate.

18. Do Not Leave Food in an Unsafe or Dirty Location

Avoid placing food:

• In a puddle
• Beside trash
• Directly under a leaking gutter
• Where pets can reach it
• Where sprinklers are running
• On an obviously dirty surface

When possible, use:

• Chair
• Table
• Bench
• Dry doorstep
• Safe area beside the door

The customer should be able to retrieve the order easily.

19. Protect Orders From Rain and Snow

During bad weather, look for a covered spot.

If no protected area exists and the customer requested Leave at Door, you may send a short message explaining where you placed the order.

For example:

Hi! It’s raining heavily, so I placed your order on the covered chair beside the door to keep it dry.

That is useful communication.

20. Do Not Mark Delivered Before You Actually Deliver

Never mark an order complete just because:

• You are close
• GPS is wrong
• You want another offer
• The app is giving you trouble

Confirm delivery only after completing the handoff or proper drop-off.

Premature completion can create confusion and customer complaints.

Restaurant Problems vs. Dasher Problems

Customers sometimes blame Dashers for things the Dasher did not control.

Examples include:

• Missing food inside sealed bags
• Restaurant preparing the wrong item
• Restaurant delay
• Food made incorrectly
• Merchant forgetting condiments
• Restaurant packaging failure

DoorDash says Customer Rating reflects the customer’s experience with the delivery rather than the food itself, and its fairness system can automatically remove applicable below-five-star ratings when the underlying cause is outside the Dasher’s control.

Still, do what you reasonably can.

You can:

• Ask whether all items are included
• Check visible drinks
• Keep food insulated
• Communicate delays
• Avoid opening sealed bags

You cannot cook the food yourself.

What If an Item Is Missing From a Sealed Bag?

If a customer contacts you after delivery saying:

My fries are missing.

Do not argue.

You can politely explain that the restaurant sealed the order and that the customer can report the missing item through DoorDash for the appropriate resolution.

You should not:

• Return to the restaurant unless DoorDash specifically instructs you
• Open sealed bags during future deliveries
• Buy replacement food with your personal money

DoorDash itself recommends confirming items with the merchant without opening sealed bags.

Should You Check Every Item?

You should verify what you reasonably can.

Look for:

• Number of bags
• Drinks
• Obvious separate items
• Desserts handed separately

But do not open sealed packaging.

A good question at pickup is:

Is everything for the DoorDash order inside this bag, including the drinks?

Once the employee confirms it, continue with the delivery.

Can a Bad Customer Rating Get You Deactivated?

Yes, if your overall Customer Rating falls below the applicable DoorDash minimum.

DoorDash’s current published minimum is 4.2. Its deactivation policy says Dashers are responsible for monitoring their rating and that accounts may be deactivated when the rating falls below the required threshold.

One isolated one-star rating is normally not enough to cause this when you already have a strong rating history.

The bigger concern is a pattern of consistently low ratings.

What Should You Do If Your Rating Drops to 4.5?

A 4.5 is still above DoorDash’s current 4.2 platform minimum.

But I would take it as a signal to review your delivery habits.

Ask yourself:

• Am I checking drinks?
• Am I following instructions?
• Am I communicating important delays?
• Am I using my hot bag?
• Am I leaving orders at the correct door?
• Am I blocking storm doors?
• Am I mixing up stacked orders?
• Am I rushing?

Look for patterns rather than blaming every low rating on a bad customer.

What Should You Do at 4.3?

At 4.3, you are getting uncomfortably close to the minimum.

Focus heavily on reliable deliveries.

Consider avoiding orders that have a high probability of creating a poor experience, such as:

• Merchants you know are extremely unreliable
• Complicated stacks you are not comfortable managing
• Deliveries you cannot reasonably finish
• Situations where you are rushing because you need to leave

Complete straightforward orders carefully.

The goal is to generate more positive customer experiences and eventually push older poor ratings out of the last-100 calculation.

What Should You Do at 4.2?

Treat 4.2 seriously.

That is DoorDash’s current published minimum Customer Rating.

At that point:

• Slow down
• Follow every instruction carefully
• Check addresses twice
• Use an insulated bag
• Check visible drinks
• Communicate significant delays
• Avoid unnecessary multi-apping
• Avoid risky stacked-order mistakes
• Keep orders organized

You need consistent good deliveries and additional positive ratings.

Can You Contact Support to Remove a One-Star Rating?

DoorDash’s published Customer Rating guidance emphasizes automatic fairness protections for qualifying situations rather than promising that Support will manually delete any rating a Dasher dislikes.

If the low rating resulted from one of DoorDash’s protected situations, it may be automatically excluded.

If you experienced a documented system problem or unusual situation, you can contact Support and explain what happened.

But do not assume Support will manually erase every one-star rating.

Your long-term strategy should be to provide consistent service so older low ratings eventually roll off.

Does DoorDash Customer Rating Affect Dasher Rewards?

It can.

DoorDash states that ratings can help determine eligibility for Rewards, incentives and certain programs.

In markets using the newer Overall Dasher Rating pilot, Customer Rating is explicitly one of six factors contributing points toward Silver, Gold or Platinum Rewards status. The other factors are Acceptance Rate, Completion Rate, On-Time Rate, Quality Rate and Last 30-Day Orders.

Rewards rules can vary by market, so check:

Dasher app → Ratings

for the requirements that currently apply to your account.

Can You Still Dash if Your Rewards Rating Drops?

Rewards eligibility and minimum platform requirements are not always the same thing.

For example, DoorDash’s Overall Dasher Rating pilot says a driver whose combined score falls below the Rewards threshold may continue dashing but lose the associated Rewards benefits.

However, Customer Rating separately has a published platform minimum of 4.2.

So losing Platinum status and falling below the minimum Customer Rating are two different issues.

A Simple Five-Star Delivery Routine

You cannot force a customer to give you five stars.

But you can create a consistent routine that reduces avoidable mistakes.

At the Restaurant

1. Confirm customer name.
2. Confirm the correct order.
3. Check visible drinks.
4. Ask whether everything is included.
5. Never open sealed bags.
6. Put hot food in an insulated bag.
7. Separate cold items.
8. Read the customer’s delivery instructions before leaving.

During the Drive

1. Follow safe navigation.
2. Keep orders secured.
3. Avoid unnecessary detours.
4. Send an update only if there is a meaningful delay.

At the Customer

1. Verify the street address.
2. Verify apartment or unit number.
3. Follow delivery instructions.
4. Check which way the door opens.
5. Place food somewhere clean and accessible.
6. Take a clear photo when required.
7. Complete the delivery only after the order has been properly delivered.

This routine takes very little extra time.

But it prevents many of the mistakes that lead to poor ratings.

Things That Commonly Cause Low Customer Ratings

Possible causes include:

1. Delivering to the wrong house
2. Ignoring delivery instructions
3. Missing drinks
4. Leaving food against an outward-opening door
5. Delivering cold food without using an insulated bag
6. Mixing up stacked orders
7. Poor communication during major delays
8. Excessive unnecessary messaging
9. Leaving food in rain or snow
10. Taking an unclear drop-off photo
11. Being rude to the customer
12. Confronting someone about tips
13. Unnecessary multi-app delays
14. Marking delivered before arrival
15. Leaving the order at an apartment entrance instead of the requested unit without following the proper process

Some complaints may still come from circumstances outside your control. DoorDash’s fairness protections are designed to exclude qualifying below-five-star ratings caused by certain external problems.

Things You Cannot Completely Control

Even the best Dasher will eventually encounter:

• Slow restaurants
• Missing sealed-bag items
• Incorrect merchant preparation
• Heavy traffic
• System outages
• Extreme weather
• Customers with unrealistic expectations

DoorDash’s Customer Rating policy recognizes several of these situations and automatically excludes applicable lower ratings under its fairness protections.

Focus your energy on what you can control.

Should You Worry About One Bad Rating?

Usually, no.

DoorDash itself tells Dashers not to worry about a few low ratings because older ratings are replaced as new customer ratings arrive.

If your overall score remains high, one poor rating should be treated as part of doing business.

You will occasionally deliver to a customer who is unhappy regardless of what you do.

Look for patterns.

One one-star rating:

Probably not a crisis.

Several low ratings every week:

Something may need to change.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good DoorDash Customer Rating?

DoorDash’s minimum is currently 4.2. A rating comfortably above that level gives you more protection against an occasional low rating.

What is the minimum DoorDash Customer Rating?

DoorDash currently requires a minimum Customer Rating of 4.2.

Can DoorDash deactivate you for low customer ratings?

Yes. DoorDash’s deactivation policy says Dashers must maintain the required Customer Rating and may be deactivated if the score falls below the threshold.

Is DoorDash Customer Rating based on your last 100 deliveries?

No.

It is based on your last 100 customer ratings. Customers do not necessarily rate every delivery.

What happens when a customer doesn’t rate me?

Nothing.

DoorDash says an unrated delivery does not affect your Customer Rating.

Why didn’t my Customer Rating increase after a good delivery?

The customer may not have left a rating. Your score changes only when applicable customer ratings enter or leave the calculation.

How long does a one-star rating stay on DoorDash?

It stays within the rolling last-100-rating calculation until enough newer customer ratings replace it, unless DoorDash excludes it under a fairness protection.

Does a bad rating eventually disappear?

Yes.

As new customer ratings arrive, older ones fall out of the most recent 100 used to calculate your score.

Does DoorDash remove unfair ratings?

DoorDash says it automatically removes applicable ratings below five stars when certain fairness conditions apply, including long merchant waits, pre-existing delays, batched-order delays, extreme weather and system-wide outages.

Does a long restaurant wait hurt my rating?

DoorDash includes long restaurant waits among the circumstances covered by its Customer Rating fairness protections.

Still, use the appropriate delay options in the app and update the customer when the wait becomes significant.

What if the order was already late before I accepted it?

DoorDash lists orders already expected to be very late at acceptance among the situations that can qualify for Customer Rating protection.

Do stacked orders hurt Customer Rating?

Customers can still rate their delivery experience, but DoorDash lists lateness caused by multiple orders being batched together among its rating fairness protections.

Does extreme weather protect my rating?

DoorDash includes extreme weather among the situations where applicable below-five-star ratings may be automatically excluded.

Can I open a sealed bag to check for missing items?

No. Ask the merchant to confirm the contents instead. DoorDash recommends confirming items without opening sealed packaging, and its deactivation policy prohibits tampering with customer orders.

Should I message every customer?

Not necessarily.

DoorDash recommends updating customers when you are running late or need clarification. Normal app notifications already provide many routine updates.

Should I ask customers for five stars?

You can focus instead on providing consistent service. A smooth, professional delivery is more important than repeatedly asking customers to rate you.

Does Acceptance Rate affect Customer Rating?

No. They measure different things.

Acceptance Rate measures whether you accept offers, while Customer Rating measures customer feedback about your delivery experience. DoorDash currently lists no Acceptance Rate minimum but requires a 4.2 Customer Rating.

Does Completion Rate affect Customer Rating?

They are separate ratings.

Completion Rate measures whether you finish accepted orders. Customer Rating is the average of customer star ratings.

Does Customer Rating affect Platinum status?

It can affect Rewards qualification depending on the program in your area. Customer Rating is specifically one component of DoorDash’s Overall Dasher Rating pilot.

What should I do if my rating drops suddenly?

Review your recent deliveries and look for patterns involving:

• Wrong addresses
• Missing drinks
• Delivery instructions
• Restaurant delays
• Stacked orders
• Food temperature
• Customer communication

Remember that qualifying unfair ratings may also be automatically excluded under DoorDash’s fairness protections.

Final Thoughts

DoorDash Customer Rating is important, but it should not make you anxious about every single delivery.

The key number to remember in 2026 is:

4.2

That is DoorDash’s current minimum Customer Rating.

Your rating is based on your last 100 customer ratings, not your last 100 completed deliveries.

That means a bad rating may remain visible for a while because customers do not always leave feedback.

But low ratings are not permanent.

As new ratings arrive, older ones roll out.

DoorDash also provides fairness protections for certain situations outside your control, including restaurant delays, pre-existing late orders, batched deliveries, extreme weather and system outages.

The best strategy is therefore not to obsess over the number.

Focus on the basics:

• Deliver to the correct address
• Follow instructions
• Check drinks
• Keep food insulated
• Separate hot and cold items
• Communicate meaningful delays
• Take clear drop-off photos
• Keep stacked orders organized
• Never open sealed bags
• Treat customers professionally

Most five-star deliveries are not complicated.

The customer ordered something.

You picked it up.

You kept it safe.

You delivered it to the correct place.

You followed the instructions.

That simple consistency is what keeps a strong Customer Rating over time.