Deliveroo vs Uber Eats vs Just Eat: The Real Commission Comparison for UK Restaurants
You are on two or three delivery platforms. You know each one takes a cut. What you probably do not know is how those cuts compare once you account for every fee — not just the headline commission, but service charges, VAT on commissions, refund policies, and payout timing.
This guide puts all three UK platforms side by side so you can see what each one actually costs per order.
The headline commission rates
Each platform negotiates individually, but these are the typical ranges for independent UK restaurants:
| Platform | Typical commission range | Most common rate |
|---|---|---|
| Deliveroo | 15–35% | 25–30% |
| Uber Eats | 15–30% | 25–30% |
| Just Eat | 14–25% (varies by plan) | 20–24% |
Just Eat typically charges lower headline commission because it offers multiple service tiers — including options where the restaurant handles its own delivery. If you use Just Eat's delivery network, the effective rate is closer to the other platforms.
Beyond the headline: the fees that add up
The commission percentage is only the starting point. Each platform layers on additional charges:
Service and payment processing fees
| Platform | Service/processing fee | Applied to |
|---|---|---|
| Deliveroo | ~2.5% | Per order |
| Uber Eats | Varies by agreement | Per order |
| Just Eat | Varies by plan | Per order or flat fee |
VAT on commissions
All three platforms charge VAT at the standard 20% rate on their commission and service fees. This is a service charge, and services are VAT-able. On a 25% commission, that 20% VAT adds another 5 percentage points to your effective deduction.
If you are VAT-registered, this VAT is input tax — you can reclaim it. But if you sell both standard-rated items (hot food) and zero-rated items (cold takeaway food), the reclaim requires apportionment under HMRC's partial exemption rules.
Refund policies
This is where the platforms diverge most — and where restaurants lose money they do not expect:
| Platform | Who bears refund cost? | Dispute window | Typical refund rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deliveroo | Restaurant bears most costs | Limited | Varies |
| Uber Eats | Restaurant bears most costs | Limited | Varies |
| Just Eat | Restaurant bears most costs | Limited | Varies |
Restaurants across the UK commonly report that a significant proportion of refund claims appear unjustified — items the POS confirms were packed, duplicate claims for the same order, or quality complaints on sealed containers. Without order-level reconciliation, these are nearly impossible to identify and challenge.
Worked example: the same £40 order on each platform
Here is what a £40 food order looks like after all deductions on each platform, using typical independent restaurant rates:
| Deduction | Deliveroo (25%) | Uber Eats (25%) | Just Eat (22%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Order value | £40.00 | £40.00 | £40.00 |
| Commission | -£10.00 | -£10.00 | -£8.80 |
| VAT on commission (20%) | -£2.00 | -£2.00 | -£1.76 |
| Service fee (~2.5%) | -£1.00 | -£1.00 | -£1.00 |
| Your take-home | £27.00 | £27.00 | £28.44 |
| Effective deduction | 32.5% | 32.5% | 28.9% |
This example excludes refunds, marketing opt-ins, and tablet rental, which push the effective rate higher.
Payout schedules: when you actually get paid
| Platform | Payout frequency | Typical delay | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deliveroo | Weekly | 1–2 weeks after orders | Net lump sum |
| Uber Eats | Weekly (varies) | 1–2 weeks after orders | Net lump sum |
| Just Eat | Weekly | 1–2 weeks after orders | Net lump sum |
This creates the core reconciliation problem: you receive one payment but need to verify hundreds of individual transactions to confirm it is correct. Multiply by three platforms, and you have a weekly reconciliation task that takes 2–3 hours if done properly.
Which platform costs you the most?
The honest answer: it depends on your specific agreement. But there are patterns:
- Just Eat tends to have lower headline rates for restaurants using their own delivery, but the rates increase if you use their delivery fleet
- Deliveroo and Uber Eats are broadly similar in their commission structures for independent restaurants
- The real cost difference is in the hidden fees — service charges, refund frequency, and marketing programme costs vary more than the headline commission
What this means for your accounting
If you are on multiple platforms, your accounting needs to track each one separately. A single "delivery income" line in your books loses all of this detail — and since January 2024, HMRC receives your revenue data directly from each platform under the Digital Platform Reporting Rules.
Your books need to show:
- Gross revenue per platform (before any deductions)
- Commission expense per platform
- VAT on commissions per platform
- Refunds per platform
- Service fees per platform
Compare your actual numbers
Use our free commission calculator to enter your real order values for each platform and see your actual take-home after all fees. It shows you the true effective deduction rate — not the headline number.
This guide compares delivery platform commission structures for UK restaurants as of March 2026. Rates are negotiable and vary by agreement — check your specific contracts. Commission rates cited are typical ranges reported by UK restaurant operators. This is not financial or tax advice. Consult a qualified accountant for guidance on your specific situation.