Good gear won’t make you a better Dasher overnight, but it can make dashing easier. Insulated bags help maintain food temperature during transport, prevent spills, and help Dashers carry multiple orders at a time. Other accessories, like a phone mount, can help keep you safe while on delivery.
Fresh, high-quality deliveries mean happy customers and merchants, which ultimately means more earning opportunities for you. This guide covers what’s worth picking up, what can wait, and what you can skip entirely.
Quick Glance: Recommended Gear to Get Started
Item | Source |
Insulated food delivery bag | Provided by DoorDash after your first delivery |
Phone mount (dashboard or windshield) | Available for purchase on your own |
Car charger or power bank | Available for purchase on your own |
Digital Red Card | In-app activation |
For a full breakdown of each item and how to use it, keep reading.
The Insulated Bag: Your Most Important Piece of Equipment
If there’s one piece of gear worth considering as a Dasher, it’s an insulated delivery bag.
Does DoorDash Provide a Bag?
DoorDash sends you an insulated tote bag after you complete your first DoorDash delivery. Depending on the types of orders you take, you may also find it worth picking up additional specialized gear on your own.
You can pick up additional gear on your own, or shop DoorDash-branded bags and accessories at the DoorDash store. Some Dashers like having branded gear on hand since a recognizable bag can make it easier for merchants and customers to spot you when you show up to pick up or drop off an order.
What to Look for in an Insulated Delivery Bag
Not all insulated delivery bags are built the same. Here’s what to check before you buy:
Size: A standard 15–16″ wide bag handles most restaurant orders. Keep in mind that not all insulated bags fit pizza boxes. If you plan to take pizza orders, you'll want a bag specifically sized for that.
Insulation quality: Look for thick foam or double-walled construction and zippered closures. Thin bags lose heat fast.
Easy to clean: You’ll be loading and unloading food from your bags constantly. A bag with a wipe-clean lining saves you a lot of headache.
Carrying style: Backpack-style bags free up your hands. Tote-style bags are easier to load quickly. Either works, pick what fits your car and how you move.
The type of bag you need can also depend on the kinds of orders you take most. A pizza bag is designed specifically for flat, boxed orders and keeps them from sliding. A standard hot bag works well for most restaurant deliveries.
If you’re on a bike or scooter, or regularly handle multiple order types, a delivery or bike bag with extra capacity is worth considering (these are also typically waterproof, which is a bonus on rainy dashes).
If you plan to accept Shop & Deliver orders, where you’re shopping for groceries or retail items in-store before delivering, a larger, more structured bag is worth the investment. Those orders frequently involve fresh produce, frozen goods, and breakables — items that rely on bag insulation and structure to arrive at the customer's door in the same condition they left the store
Essential Delivery Driver Accessories
Beyond the bag, a few other accessories are worth having on hand.
Phone Mount
Many jurisdictions prohibit or restrict handheld phone use while driving. Always follow applicable traffic laws. A windshield or dashboard phone mount keeps your screen visible and your hands on the wheel. Mounts for 2-wheeled vehicles, like bicycles, are key to keep you safe. You’ll be looking at maps constantly, it’s one of the more practical things to have sorted.
Most good ones cost under $20 and take two minutes to set up. For more on staying safe while dashing, check out DoorDash’s safety features and resources.
Phone Charger and Power Bank
The Dasher app runs your GPS, plays audio, and keeps your screen on, all at the same time. Your battery will drain faster than you expect. A car charger handles most dashes just fine. But if you plan on long sessions or dashing by bike or on foot, a portable power bank is worth having.
No phone charge means no navigation, no offers, no dash. Keep it powered.
Red Card
Once you’ve completed sign up and are ready to start dashing, you will be prompted to activate a digital Red Card through the Dasher app. These are prepaid debit cards you will use to pay for items at checkout on Shop & Deliver orders.
A digital or physical Red Card is required if you want to receive eligible Shop & Deliver offers. It is not required to complete restaurant delivery orders. Once you're set up, it's worth taking a minute to make sure your digital card is activated so you're ready to go from the start.
Physical red cards are available upon request. Either way, keep it somewhere easy to reach on orders that need it.
Nice-to-Have Gear for Delivery Drivers
These aren’t must-haves for you to get started, but can be helpful tools once you’re a few weeks in and know how you like to dash.
Drink carrier or cup holder insert: If you get a lot of beverage orders, a freestanding drink carrier for your car keeps cups upright and stops spills.
Food warming blanket: A food warming blanket is a compact way to keep orders warm during longer deliveries. It is especially useful if you’re doing multiple drops in one run.
Pizza bag: Designed to keep boxes flat and food hot. Worth having if pizza orders are a regular part of your dash.
Bike bag: Two-wheel Dashers will get more out of a purpose-built bike bag: waterproof, secure, and designed for handlebar or rear-rack mounting.
Why the Right Delivery Driver Gear Matters
Your customer rating is part of your Dasher Ratings scorecard and can affect your Dasher Rewards tier, eligibility to receive certain offers, and ultimately how much you earn. Arriving with the right gear — an insulated bag that keeps food hot, a secure setup that prevents spills — can make a real difference in the experience you're able to deliver.
Small things like food arriving at the right temperature or drinks not tipping over are the kinds of details customers notice and rate on.
The gear itself doesn't have to be a big investment. A phone mount and a quality insulated bag are both relatively affordable pickups. For Dashers who find that better ratings may open up more and better-paying offers over time, that kind of upfront cost can be well worth it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does DoorDash provide gear for Dashers?
DoorDash provides an insulated bag after your first delivery and a digital Red Card for Shop & Deliver orders, which you activate in the app. For additional gear like a phone mount or charger, we recommend sourcing those on your own. You can also browse DoorDash-branded bags and accessories at the DoorDash store.
Does DoorDash provide any special equipment for Dashers in New York City?
Yes. Starting October 2026, DoorDash will be providing free safety gear to two-wheel Dashers in New York City. This includes a front white light and bell kit, rear red/amber light, helmet, reflective wheel reflectors, brakes, and a retro-reflective safety vest with your unique Dasher ID.
Can I use a regular backpack for deliveries?
For non-food items and Shop & Deliver orders, a regular backpack can work. For hot food, we recommend an insulated bag to help maintain food temperature and keep items from shifting during transport.
Gear recommendations are optional unless otherwise required for participation in specific offer types or by applicable law. Individual results and earnings vary based on many factors.
