Is this order worth it? The ₹/km and ₹/hour rule
The pay shown on an order card is not what you earn. Fuel or charging, the app's commission and your time all come out of it. A ₹60 order can earn you less than a ₹45 one. Here is the simple rule experienced riders use, and how to apply it in a few seconds.
Step 1: Work out your real net earning
- Pay and bonus: what the order card shows, including any incentive.
- App commission: delivery apps usually show your own payout already (0%). Ride apps like Uber, Ola and Rapido often show the trip fare, from which a commission or fee is taken, unless you pay a daily pass.
- Distance: pickup + drop. You pay fuel for both legs.
- Running cost per km: fuel price ÷ mileage. For a bike doing 45 km/l with petrol at ₹95, that's about ₹2.11 per km. See cost per km for petrol, CNG and EV.
Step 2: Check two numbers
₹ per hour = Net ÷ (minutes ÷ 60). This tells you if the order pays well for your time.
₹ per km = Net ÷ distance. This tells you if it pays well for the riding (and wear on your vehicle).
Take the order only if both are at or above your own minimums.
Example: the bigger order is worse
| Order A | Order B | |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ₹60 | ₹45 |
| Distance · time | 8 km · 40 min | 2.5 km · 14 min |
| Petrol (₹2.11/km) | − ₹17 | − ₹5 |
| Net | ₹43 | ₹40 |
| ₹ per hour | ₹65 | ₹170 |
| ₹ per km | ₹5.4 | ₹15.9 |
| Verdict (targets ₹150/hr, ₹10/km) | ✗ LEAVE | ✓ TAKE |
Order A pays ₹15 more, but it takes almost three times as long. In the 40 minutes it takes, you could finish two or three orders like B.
Example: a ride with commission
A ₹180 car ride on CNG (₹3.20/km), 9 km including the pickup, 30 minutes, with 20% commission:
Commission ₹36 · CNG ₹29 · Net ₹115 · ₹230 per hour · ₹12.8 per km → TAKE at ₹150/hr and ₹10/km targets.
How to set your own minimums
- ₹ per hour: your monthly goal ÷ hours you work. For ₹25,000 a month at 9 hours × 26 days (234 hours), you need about ₹107 per hour net. Set your minimum a bit higher, to cover waiting time between orders.
- ₹ per km: at least a few times your running cost per km, so long trips also cover tyres, servicing and the ride back.
- Review them every week: in peak hours you can be choosier; late at night, slightly lower targets may keep you busy.
What this rule doesn't include
Waiting time between orders, tips, and vehicle servicing aren't in the per-order maths. Keep your targets slightly above the bare minimum to cover them.
Let the app do this maths on every order
ZyadaPaisa shows TAKE or LEAVE with your real net earning, after fuel and commission, in under 2 seconds. Free, in Hindi & English.
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