Just Eat commission in the UK is 14% of each order when you deliver with your own drivers, and 30% when Just Eat delivers for you, with 20% VAT added on top of the commission. On a £20 order that is £3.36 or £7.20. Those are the rates on Just Eat's own partner sign-up page as of October 2026.
That's the headline. The rest of this article works through what those numbers mean for a takeaway's margins, where the extra costs hide, and how to use Just Eat without handing over a slice of every regular's order for ever.
What does Just Eat charge restaurants in the UK?
Just Eat publishes two rates on its partner sign-up page (checked October 2026):
| Who delivers | Commission | VAT on commission | Total on a £20 order |
|---|---|---|---|
| You, with your own drivers | 14% | 20% | £3.36 (£2.80 + 56p VAT) |
| Just Eat's couriers | 30% | 20% | £7.20 (£6.00 + £1.20 VAT) |
The worked examples in the table are Just Eat's own. Commission comes off your weekly takings, you get an invoice every Tuesday, and the balance lands in your bank account on Friday.
Two things the page doesn't spell out: a separate rate for collection orders, and any joining or tablet fee. Some third-party guides mention onboarding charges, but they don't agree with each other, so treat the agreement Just Eat sends you as the only reliable source and read the fee schedule before you sign.
How does VAT change the real cost?
The 14% and 30% are before VAT. Add the standard 20% rate and the real deduction is 16.8% when you deliver and 36% when Just Eat delivers.
If you're VAT-registered, you can usually reclaim the VAT on the commission as input tax, so your true cost drops back towards 14% or 30%. If you aren't registered, the VAT is a straight cost and the higher figures are what you actually lose. Ask your accountant which applies to you, because it changes the sums more than most owners expect.
What does that look like on a typical order?
Say a family orders £25 of food on a Friday night. This is a hypothetical example using the published rates:
| How the order arrives | Just Eat takes (incl. VAT) | You keep |
|---|---|---|
| Just Eat, Just Eat delivers | £9.00 | £16.00 |
| Just Eat, your own driver | £4.20 | £20.80 |
| Phoned in direct, paid by card | about 44p | about £24.56 |
The direct line assumes a card payment at Square's published in-person rate of 1.75% for UK cards (October 2026). Pay in cash and it's nothing. With your own driver you also carry the driver's wage and fuel, so the gap between the bottom two rows is smaller than it looks, but it's still there on every single order.
Now multiply it out. If 40 of your weekly Just Eat orders are from people who already know you, the difference between 30% and a direct order is around £340 a week on £25 baskets. That's real money for a small kitchen.
Is Just Eat worth it for a takeaway?
Often, yes, for the right job. Just Eat says more than 90,000 partners use the platform, and millions of people open the app when they're hungry and haven't decided where to order from. For a new takeaway, or one on a street nobody walks down, that reach is hard to buy any other way.
The problem isn't the first order. It's the tenth. Once someone has eaten your food and liked it, every repeat order through the app costs you the same commission as the first one, even though Just Eat didn't do anything to win it.
So the sensible approach for most takeaways is:
- Use Just Eat to be found. Keep your listing, photos and menu sharp, because it works as a shop window.
- Turn customers into regulars on your own channels. Put your phone number on the menu leaflet in every bag. Make sure your website and Google Business Profile show the number clearly.
- Make the direct route easy. If phoning you is quicker than opening an app, regulars will do it.
Self-delivery or Just Eat couriers?
At 14% versus 30%, self-delivery looks like an easy win. It isn't always. You need reliable drivers at peak times, insurance, and someone to cover when a driver doesn't turn up.
A rough way to decide: work out what a driver costs you per evening, divide by the number of deliveries they'd do, and add 16.8% (14% plus VAT) of your average order. If that total is lower than 36% of your average order, self-delivery saves you money. If you only do a handful of deliveries a night, Just Eat's couriers may still be cheaper, even at 30%.
How do I keep more of each order?
You don't have to choose between the app and your own business. Small changes move regulars across over time:
- Put your number everywhere. Menus, bags, receipts, your Google profile, your website header.
- Keep your Google Business Profile accurate. People searching "takeaway near me" see your hours and a call button before they see any app.
- Price fairly across channels. Many takeaways charge a little more on the apps to cover commission. Check your Just Eat agreement for any pricing rules before you do this.
- Answer the phone. A missed call on a Friday is often an order that goes to the app instead.
A simple website that puts tap-to-call front and centre does a lot of this work for you. That's what we build at Pop-Up: a site for your takeaway, your Google profile looked after, and your number where regulars can find it.
Frequently asked questions
What is Just Eat's commission rate in the UK?
As of October 2026, Just Eat's partner page lists 14% when you deliver with your own drivers and 30% when Just Eat delivers. VAT at 20% is added to the commission, so the real deduction is 16.8% or 36% before any VAT you reclaim.
Is Just Eat commission charged on top of VAT?
Yes. Just Eat's own example shows a £20 self-delivery order costing £2.80 commission plus 56p VAT. If you're VAT-registered you can usually reclaim that VAT. If you aren't, it's an extra cost.
When does Just Eat pay restaurants?
According to Just Eat's partner page, commission is deducted from your weekly order revenue, you receive an invoice every Tuesday, and the balance is paid into your bank account every Friday.
Does Just Eat charge a joining fee?
Just Eat's published commission answer doesn't list one, and third-party guides disagree. Check the fee schedule in the agreement Just Eat offers you before you sign, including any tablet or onboarding charges.
Can I leave Just Eat and keep my customers?
You can't take Just Eat's customer data with you, but you can win regulars over while you're still listed. Put your phone number in every bag, keep your Google profile accurate, and give people a simple website to call you from.
Is it cheaper to deliver myself on Just Eat?
The commission is lower (14% against 30%), but you pay for drivers, insurance and cover. It usually pays off once you do enough deliveries each night to keep a driver busy.
If you'd like a website that turns your Just Eat customers into regulars who ring you direct, have a look at our plans and prices. Every plan runs on a 12-month term and starts with a chat about your takeaway.