Smart Ways to Cut the Cost of Pizza Delivery and Takeout (Without Feeling Deprived)

Pizza night is supposed to feel like a treat, not a budget problem. But between delivery fees, tips, and pricey add‑ons, a “cheap” pizza can quietly turn into one of the most expensive meals of the week.

The good news: you can keep the convenience and comfort of pizza delivery and takeout while spending far less—if you know how the costs add up and where you actually have control.

This guide breaks down practical, real‑world strategies to help you save money on pizza orders without sacrificing taste or turning every meal into a math lesson.

Why Pizza Delivery Gets So Expensive

Before cutting costs, it helps to see what you’re really paying for. A typical delivery or takeout order might include:

• Base food cost (pizza, sides, drinks, desserts)
• Delivery fee or service fee
• Small‑order fees on some platforms
• Taxes
• Tip for the driver or staff

On top of that, menu prices for delivery are often higher than for dine‑in or pickup. Some restaurants adjust prices on delivery platforms to cover commissions and overhead, so a pizza you pick up yourself may cost less than the same one ordered through an app.

When you understand these pieces, you can start targeting the ones that are easiest to reduce.

H2: Choose the Right Ordering Method: Delivery vs Takeout vs In‑App

How you place your order can change the final price just as much as what you order.

H3: Delivery vs Takeout: When Each Makes Sense

Delivery adds convenience but also layers of extra costs. Takeout (pickup) usually means:

• No delivery fee
• Often lower menu prices
• More control over timing and freshness

For many households, switching even half of delivery orders to pickup can noticeably lower monthly spending on restaurant food.

You might treat it like this:

• Choose delivery when:
  • You’re sick, exhausted, or truly unable to leave home
  • Bad weather or safety concerns make going out unreasonable
• Choose pickup when:
  • The restaurant is on your way home
  • You have multiple people to feed and fees would add up fast
  • You’re already out running errands

H3: Ordering Directly vs Using Delivery Apps

Ordering through large delivery apps is convenient and can unlock promotions, but there are trade‑offs:

Potential upsides of apps:

• Occasional promo codes and coupons
• Loyalty or reward points inside the app
• The ability to easily compare restaurants and menus

Potential downsides:

• Service fees in addition to delivery fees
• Some restaurants list higher prices on apps than in‑store
• Extra platform or “regulatory” fees in some areas

A simple habit that often helps:

• Check three prices before you order:
  1. The price in the app
  2. The price on the restaurant’s own site (if it has online ordering)
  3. The price if you call for pickup (when possible)

Pick the method with the lowest total cost, not just the lowest menu price.

H2: Build a Cheaper Pizza: Customizing Your Order Strategically

What you order matters as much as how you order. A few small changes can bring the price down without making the meal feel “less special.”

H3: Size and Crust Choices That Stretch Your Budget

There’s a general pattern in many pizzerias: larger pizzas cost more overall, but less per slice than multiple smaller pizzas.

Whenever you’re feeding more than one person, it can be helpful to:

• Compare:
  • 1 large vs 2 small vs a mix of medium and small
  • Price per slice or per inch of pizza (if sizes are listed)
• Choose the size that gives the most food for the least money, then add an extra topping or side only if you really need it.

Crust upgrades (stuffed, extra thick, specialty crusts) also increase cost. If you’re watching your budget, regular crust often gives better value than premium variations.

H3: Be Smart About Toppings

Toppings can secretly push the price of pizza up more than people expect. Restaurants often:

• Charge per topping after the first one or two
• Charge higher prices for “premium” toppings like certain meats or specialty cheeses

To save without feeling like you’re downgrading:

• Pick 1–2 favorite premium toppings, then keep the others simple
• Choose half‑and‑half pizzas so each person gets their favorites without needing two separate specialty pizzas
• Look for pre‑set “specialty pizzas” if they bundle multiple toppings at a lower combined price than building your own

H3: Skip the Overpriced Add‑Ons (Most of the Time)

Sides like wings, salads, desserts, and drinks are where bills jump quickly.

You can often spend less by:

• Buying drinks at a grocery store instead of through the restaurant or app
• Keeping frozen fries, nuggets, or simple sides at home to bake while waiting for the pizza
• Limiting desserts and sides to special occasions instead of every order

If you love having a rounded meal, you might decide on a simple rule, such as:

That way, the meal still feels like a treat, but the bill doesn’t expand uncontrollably.

H2: Use Deals and Coupons Without Getting Tricked

Discounts and coupons can genuinely lower costs, but they can also tempt you to buy more than you planned.

H3: Spot the Real Value Deals

Some common pizza deals include:

• “Buy one, get one” (BOGO)
• “Meal bundles” with pizza, sides, and drinks
• Percentage or dollar‑amount discounts on orders over a certain total
• Lunch specials or weekday deals

To see if a deal is truly valuable:

1. Calculate the price you’d pay without the deal for only what you actually want.
2. Compare it to:
   • The bundle or promotion price
   • The amount of extra food you’d receive

If you have to buy more food than you normally would just to qualify, the “savings” may not help your budget at all.

H3: Avoid the “Spend More to Save More” Trap

Many offers give discounts when you spend above a certain threshold, such as spending above a set amount to get a small discount.

A simple mental check can help:

• If you had no coupon, would you still spend that much on the order?
• Are you adding items only to reach the minimum?

If the answer is yes, the deal might be useful. If not, you might be paying extra for a discount that doesn’t really serve you.

H3: Loyalty Programs and Rewards

Many pizza chains and delivery apps offer free loyalty programs, where you earn points per order and redeem them for food.

These programs can help when:

• You already order regularly from the same place or app
• The rewards are clear and easy to redeem
• You don’t feel pressured to place orders just to earn or avoid losing points

To get the most out of them:

• Stick to one or two main programs rather than spreading orders across many
• Redeem points for high‑value items, such as a full pizza rather than small add‑ons, when possible

H2: Plan Ahead Instead of Panic‑Ordering

Last‑minute decisions often lead to overspending. A bit of planning can keep pizza in your life while reducing how much you pay.

H3: Set a Monthly or Weekly “Pizza Budget”

Some people find it easier to control costs when they treat pizza orders like any other budget category.

You might decide:

• How many pizza nights you want per month
• A rough maximum spend per order
• Which days are “pizza nights” (for example, Fridays or after a long workday)

Then, you can adjust your choices inside that limit:

• If you expect a larger group next week, order more frugally this week
• If you spend less one order, you might allow more toppings or an extra side next time

H3: Order for Leftovers on Purpose

Ordering slightly more than you need once can be cheaper than ordering smaller portions twice.

To make leftovers work in your favor:

• Choose toppings that reheat well (simple cheese, pepperoni, veggie combinations)
• Store slices properly in the refrigerator as soon as they cool down
• Plan a future meal around the leftovers (lunch the next day, or a quick dinner)

This approach can reduce the number of separate orders you place—cutting back on repeated delivery or service fees.

H2: Compare Pizza Options to Home Alternatives

Sometimes, switching part of your pizza habit to home‑based alternatives can bring down costs without removing the fun of pizza night.

H3: Frozen vs Delivered Pizza

Frozen pizzas in stores typically cost less per serving than delivery pizza, especially on sale.

Possible ways to combine both options:

• Use frozen pizza on busy weeknights and save delivery for weekends or special occasions
• Customize frozen pizza at home by adding your own vegetables, cheeses, or spices
• Keep one or two frozen pizzas in the freezer to avoid panic‑ordering when you’re too tired to cook

H3: Simple Homemade Pizza Nights

Homemade pizza can sound intimidating, but there are many ways to simplify it:

• Use pre‑made dough, flatbreads, or naan as the base
• Add jarred sauce, cheese, and toppings you already have (olives, leftover chicken, vegetables)
• Bake on a sheet pan for a more casual “pizza” that still feels special

This option can:

• Cut costs per serving
• Let you control ingredients
• Turn pizza into an activity (especially with kids or guests) instead of just a purchase

Homemade or frozen pizza does not have to replace delivery entirely—it can simply reduce the number of expensive orders each month.

H2: Save on Pizza Delivery Fees and Tips Responsibly

Tips are a core part of many delivery workers’ income, and many people see them as non‑negotiable. The goal is usually to trim costs without underpaying workers.

H3: Understand the Fee Structure

Common charges on a delivery order may include:

• Delivery fee – goes to the platform or restaurant, not always directly to the driver
• Service fee – often a percentage of the order subtotal
• Small order fee – added when your order is below a certain amount
• Tip – a separate amount you choose for the driver

To reduce total costs fairly:

• Avoid multiple small orders; combine into one larger order when possible
• Consider pickup if the combination of fees pushes the price too high
• Adjust toppings and sides first before lowering tips; that way, the savings come out of optional extras, not someone’s pay

H3: Pickup as an Ethical Money‑Saver

For people who want to save money without compromising on tipping:

• Switch to pickup when it’s realistic
• Maintain fair tips on the fewer delivery orders you still place
• Think of pickup as the “budget” option and delivery as a deliberate treat

This way, cost‑cutting doesn’t rely on squeezing driver income.

H2: Timing Your Orders: Lunch Specials, Weekday Deals, and More

When you order can be just as important as what you order.

H3: Lunch vs Dinner Pricing

Many places offer lower‑priced lunch specials for:

• Smaller pizzas
• Slices with a drink
• Simple combinations (pizza + salad)

These specials sometimes extend to early evening. If your schedule allows, shifting your “pizza meal” a bit earlier can lead to noticeably lower prices.

H3: Weekday vs Weekend

Some restaurants and apps rotate deals by day:

• Discounted pizzas on certain weekdays
• Lower delivery minimums on slower days
• Special combo deals during off‑peak hours

You can use this to your advantage by:

• Planning family pizza nights on the days when deals are best
• Avoiding peak times when prices (and delivery times) may be higher

H2: Manage Portions and Sharing to Avoid Overspending

One of the simplest ways to reduce the cost of pizza is to order closer to what will actually be eaten—without going to extremes.

H3: Match the Pizza Size to Your Group

It can help to think in terms of how many slices people usually eat. For example:

• Children or lighter eaters may have fewer slices
• Very hungry adults might eat more than expected
• Leftovers are fine—but too many can signal habitual over‑ordering

A quick check before ordering:

• How much was left over last time?
• Did people feel overstuffed, or did the amount feel right?

Use that memory to adjust the size or number of pizzas up or down.

H3: Share Sides Instead of Individual Portions

If everyone orders a separate side or dessert, the bill grows quickly.

More economical approaches include:

• One shared side (such as wings or a salad) for the table
• A single dessert to split
• Large drinks or bottles instead of individual canned drinks

This keeps variety and enjoyment, but the costs are spread across more people.

H2: Simple At‑Home Habits That Lower Long‑Term Pizza Spending

You don’t have to stop enjoying pizza from restaurants. However, a few home habits can naturally reduce how often you feel the need to order.

H3: Stock an “Emergency Lazy Night” Shelf

People often order pizza when:

• They’re too tired to cook
• The fridge is empty
• Plans change unexpectedly

Creating a small “lazy night” stock can help:

• Frozen meals or pizzas
• Shelf‑stable pasta and jarred sauce
• Simple soups or quick‑cook rice dishes

When you know there’s always something easy at home, the urgency to order delivery can decrease.

H3: Make Pizza Night Special, Not Random

When pizza becomes the default solution for any stressful day, costs can climb quickly.

Some households find it easier to set fun traditions, like:

• “Friday pizza and movie night”
• “Every other Saturday is pizza night”
• “Pizza only when we have guests or celebrations”

With a pattern in place, you still enjoy pizza regularly, but random midweek splurges become less frequent.

Quick‑Glance Savings Checklist 🍕💸

Here’s a concise summary of practical ways to save on pizza delivery and takeout:

Pulling It All Together

Saving money on pizza delivery and takeout does not have to mean giving up the joy of a hot, cheesy slice after a long day. It’s mostly about small, repeatable choices:

• Picking pickup instead of delivery when you can
• Building simpler, smarter pizzas that still feel indulgent
• Using deals mindfully instead of letting them steer your choices
• Planning pizza nights so they’re intentional treats, not automatic defaults

Over time, these adjustments can noticeably reduce how much you spend on pizza, while still keeping it a favorite part of your week.