Dead Miles Calculator
Dead miles are the miles you drive without an order in the car. Here's what they cost you.
| Share of your driving that's unpaid | |
| Pay per paid mile | |
| Pay per mile, all driving |
Results update as you type. Last updated October 2026.
What are dead miles?
Dead miles are miles you drive without being paid for them: driving back from a far-away drop-off, repositioning to a busy area, or driving to a restaurant that's farther than the app suggested. Delivery apps usually report only the miles during an order, so your real driving is often 30–50% higher than what the app shows.
How to find your numbers
Write down your odometer reading when you go online and when you go offline. The difference is your total miles. Your app's earnings summary shows the on-trip miles. Subtract one from the other and you have your dead miles.
Ways to cut dead miles
- Decline orders that drop you far outside your busy zone unless they pay for the drive back.
- Wait near clusters of restaurants instead of driving around.
- Learn which neighborhoods lead to the next order quickly.
- Use the "unpaid miles back" box in the order checker before accepting long trips.
The good news at tax time
Dead miles driven while you're working are still business miles. They count toward your mileage deduction. Tracking all your miles, not just the app's, can save you hundreds of dollars in taxes.