The minimum order is the cart subtotal a licensed delivery service requires before it sends a driver, and in most US adult-use markets that number sits between $20 and $50. Treat the minimum, the delivery fee, and any free delivery threshold as three separate numbers. A shop with a $20 minimum may still charge a $9 fee, while a shop with a $60 minimum may deliver for nothing. Before checkout, confirm whether the minimum is measured before tax, whether promo discounts count toward it, and whether your address falls inside the express zone.
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What the minimum order actually covers
Most dispensaries set the minimum on the pre-tax merchandise subtotal. Sales tax, cannabis excise tax, the delivery fee, and the driver tip sit outside that number, so a $35 minimum can turn into a $50 checkout. Some menus apply a discount before the threshold check, which means removing a single item can drop you back under the minimum and pause the order. Ask the shop how it counts a discounted cart if you plan to use a first-time or daily deal.
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State rules shape what a delivery order can contain. Licensed delivery in adult-use states requires age verification at the door, a signature, and delivery to a private residence or another approved address, not a park or a parking lot. Some states also cap how much flower or concentrate one customer can buy in a transaction, which works as a maximum order even when the shop advertises no ceiling.
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How to compare express delivery minimums
Run the same short checklist against every shop you consider:
- Minimum subtotal, and whether tax or fees count toward it
- Delivery fee and the subtotal that waives it
- Express window, stated in minutes rather than vague promises
- Last order time before the shop closes
- Delivery zone map, including zip code or neighborhood gaps
- Payment method, since some drivers carry cash only while others accept debit
- Order cap, if state law limits the amount per transaction
Typical parameter bands
- Entry minimum: $20 to $35, common with smaller shops and vape or pre-roll menus
- Standard minimum: $40 to $60, the most common range for a full menu
- Free delivery threshold: $75 to $150, separate from the minimum
- Delivery fee: $0 to $10 in dense areas, higher for outer zones or after-hours windows
- Express window: 30 to 90 minutes in a city, 1 to 3 hours in suburbs and rural routes
- Cutoff: last express order 30 to 60 minutes before closing
- Order cap: often 1 ounce of flower or its equivalent per transaction in adult-use states
Two $40 minimums can behave nothing alike. A shop with a 20-minute express window and a $5 fee beats a shop with free delivery that quotes two hours. If you need the order by a set time, the window matters more than the minimum.
Common pitfalls
- Assuming the minimum includes tax. It almost never does.
- Removing an item to save money and falling below the threshold, which cancels or delays the run.
- Ignoring the delivery zone. An address one street outside the boundary gets refused at checkout.
- Ordering to a hotel, workplace, or public space where the driver cannot complete ID verification.
- Missing the cutoff. Express service stops before the shop's posted closing time.
- Treating the delivery fee and the driver tip as the same line item. They are not.
FAQ
Does the minimum order include tax and delivery fees?
No. The minimum applies to the pre-tax product subtotal at nearly every licensed shop. Budget the minimum plus tax plus the fee when you plan the cart.
Why do dispensaries set a minimum at all?
A delivery run costs the shop driver time, fuel, insurance, and compliance work. A minimum keeps short runs from losing money and keeps routes efficient. Regulators also require manifests and tracking for each delivery, so a small order costs the same to process as a large one.
Do medical patients get a lower minimum?
Sometimes. Some states restrict what a shop may charge medical patients for delivery, and many dispensaries set a lower minimum or waive the fee for verified patients. Bring your recommendation or state card to qualify.
What happens if the cart drops below the minimum?
The order pauses or cancels. You can add an item back or switch to pickup. If a driver is already en route, some shops charge a cancellation fee.
Is a higher minimum a sign of better quality?
No. Minimums track delivery economics, not product quality. Compare the menu, lab testing, and the express window instead.
Check the minimum, the fee, the free delivery threshold, and the cutoff before you build the cart, and the checkout total will hold no surprises.