Request a refund directly through the Uber Eats app or website
Open the Uber Eats app and go to your order history. Find the order you want a refund for and tap it to open the details. Look for a "Help" button — it's usually at the bottom of the order screen. Tap it, then select the reason your refund is needed: missing items, wrong order, food quality issues, or late delivery. Describe what happened in the text box that appears.
Uber Eats will show you a refund amount based on your reason. If you agree, confirm the refund request. You don't have to choose a reason from their list if none fits — you can type a custom explanation instead. The app will tell you whether the refund will go back to your original payment method or as Uber Eats credit.
If you're using a web browser instead of the app, sign into your Uber Eats account, find the order in your history, and click "Help" on that order. The process is the same from there.
Key Takeaways
- Request refunds through the app or website using the "Help" button on your order, not by contacting the restaurant directly.
- Uber Eats handles refunds for missing items, wrong orders, quality problems, and late delivery — each reason may result in a different refund amount.
- Refunds typically appear within 5 to 10 business days if they go back to your original payment method, or instantly if credited to your Uber Eats account.
- If Uber Eats denies your refund request, you can appeal through the app or contact their support team for a second review.
- For orders placed through a third-party app or website, contact that platform instead, since they process the transaction with Uber Eats.
What happens after you submit a refund request
Uber Eats reviews your request, usually within 24 to 48 hours. They may ask you for photos of the order or more details about what went wrong. Respond as quickly as you can — the faster you provide information, the faster they can make a decision.
Once approved, the refund amount depends on how much you paid and what the problem was. A missing item might refund that item's price. A late delivery might refund a portion of your order or delivery fee. A wrong order might refund the entire order total. Uber Eats will show you the exact amount before you confirm the request.
Refunds to your payment method vs. Uber Eats credit
When you request a refund, Uber Eats tells you upfront whether it will go back to your card, bank account, or digital wallet — or whether it will be issued as account credit instead. Credit refunds appear in your Uber Eats wallet immediately and can be used on your next order. Payment method refunds take longer because the money has to travel back through your bank or card company.
Most refunds to a debit card or bank account take 5 to 10 business days. Credit card refunds may take longer depending on your card issuer. If your refund doesn't appear after 10 business days, contact Uber Eats support again with your order number and the date you requested the refund.
When Uber Eats denies your refund request
Uber Eats may deny a refund if they believe the order was delivered as described, or if too much time has passed since the order arrived. If you disagree with their decision, you can appeal. Go back to the order in your app, tap "Help" again, and select "I don't agree with this decision." Explain why you think the refund should be approved.
A different reviewer will look at your appeal. This second review can take another 24 to 48 hours. If Uber Eats denies the appeal, you have the option to escalate to their support team by contacting them through the app's chat feature or by email.
Refunds for orders placed through other apps or websites
If you ordered through DoorDash, Grubhub, or another third-party delivery app that partners with Uber Eats restaurants, you need to request the refund through that app, not through Uber Eats directly. The third-party platform processes the payment and handles refunds on their end.
The same applies if you ordered through a restaurant's own website or app that uses Uber Eats for delivery. Contact the restaurant or the platform you used to place the order. They will either refund you directly or coordinate with Uber Eats on your behalf.
Refunds for delivery fees and service charges
If your order was extremely late or never arrived, you may be able to get a refund for the delivery fee or service charge in addition to the food cost. When you submit your refund request, specify that you want the delivery fee included. Uber Eats will calculate whether that's appropriate based on how late the order was or whether it arrived at all.
Service charges and small order fees are less commonly refunded unless the entire order was wrong or never arrived. Tip is almost never refunded unless you added it through the app and can prove the service was so poor that you want to remove it — and even then, Uber Eats may decline.
How to prevent refund situations before they happen
Check your order details before you confirm payment. Make sure the restaurant, items, and delivery address are all correct. Read any special instructions you added — if you asked for no onions and the order came with onions, that's a refund situation you could have prevented by being specific in the notes.
Take a photo of your order when it arrives, especially if items look wrong or the food appears damaged. This photo is valuable if you need to request a refund later and Uber Eats asks for proof. If something is clearly missing or wrong, contact Uber Eats within a few hours of delivery rather than waiting days — the sooner you report it, the easier it is for them to verify.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to request a refund after my order arrives?
You can request a refund up to 30 days after your order was delivered, though Uber Eats is more likely to approve refunds requested within 24 hours. The longer you wait, the harder it is to prove what went wrong. If you notice a problem immediately, report it right away.
Can I get a refund if I just changed my mind about the order?
No. Uber Eats refunds are for orders that arrived wrong, late, or with missing or damaged items — not for buyer's remorse. If you haven't received the order yet, you may be able to cancel it before the restaurant starts preparing it, but that's a cancellation, not a refund.
What if the restaurant is at fault, not Uber Eats?
It doesn't matter who's at fault. You request the refund through Uber Eats, and they decide whether to approve it based on what happened. Uber Eats handles the refund and may pursue the restaurant separately if they believe the restaurant caused the problem.
Can I request a refund and keep the food?
Yes. Uber Eats doesn't ask you to return the food or prove you didn't eat it. Once they approve a refund for a missing or wrong item, the money is yours to keep. They may ask for a photo of the order as it arrived, but they won't require you to send anything back.
What if my refund never shows up after two weeks?
Contact Uber Eats support through the app with your order number and the date you requested the refund. If it was credited to your account, it should appear instantly. If it was sent to your payment method, check with your bank — sometimes refunds are delayed on the bank's end. Uber Eats can provide a transaction reference number to give your bank if needed.