Worked example: one week
£600 from Uber Eats for 40 hours logged on, 350 delivery miles in a 45 MPG petrol car at 150p a litre, £1,150 a year insurance, working 46 weeks of the year, no other income, 2026/27, England.
| Paid by the app | £600.00 |
|---|---|
| Fuel | −£53.04 |
| Insurance | −£25.00 |
| Tax and National Insurance (put aside) | −£45.25 |
| Left for the week | £476.72 |
| Real hourly rate | £11.92 |
Tax is worked out for a full year of weeks like this, using the HMRC mileage rate because it gives the lower bill, then shared across the weeks. Servicing and repairs aren't included in this example; add yours in the calculator.
More miles, less per hour
The same £600 week, but with different mileage:
| Delivery miles a week | Tax to put aside | Real hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| 250 | £51.75 | £12.13 |
| 350 | £45.25 | £11.92 |
| 450 | £38.75 | £11.70 |
More miles means a bigger mileage claim and slightly less tax, but the extra fuel costs more than the tax saved. Unpaid miles between orders are the hidden cost; see the fuel cost calculator.
Which app pays best?
If you work for several apps, enter each one with its own earnings, hours and miles in the calculator. It shows each app's take-home and hourly rate. There are also calculators for Deliveroo, Uber Eats, Just Eat and Amazon Flex.
Common questions
What hours should I count?
Count all the time you're logged on and available, including waiting for orders and driving back, not just time on deliveries. That's the time you give up to earn the money.
Why is my real hourly rate lower than the app shows?
Apps show what they paid you divided by time. Your real rate also takes off fuel, the work share of insurance and repairs, other work costs and the tax you'll owe on the profit.
Does driving more miles lower my tax?
Slightly, because more business miles means a bigger mileage claim. But the extra fuel usually costs more than the tax it saves, so your hourly rate still falls.
Can I compare which app pays best?
Yes. In the calculator, add each app with its own earnings, hours and miles. The results show take-home and real hourly rate for each app.
Tax worked out using GOV.UK's Income Tax rates, self-employed National Insurance and mileage rates, last checked 31 October 2026. See how the calculator works.