delivery route time calculator
Delivery route time calculator
Estimate total route time (drive time + stop time + buffers) so you can plan realistic runs and avoid late stops.
Summary
- Estimates total route time from simple inputs
- Shows stops/hour so you can sanity-check capacity
- Useful for setting delivery windows and staffing
- Includes buffers for loading and end-of-day tasks
Definitions
- Minutes per stop
- Average time spent at a stop including parking, handoff, and notes.
- Route buffer
- Extra time for loading, traffic surprises, breaks, and end-of-day admin.
- Stops/hour
- How many stops a driver can complete per hour based on total route time.
Route time simulation
Stops/hour simulation
Worked example
Inputs
- Stops
- 60
- Minutes/stop
- 6
- Miles
- 110
- Avg speed
- 25 mph
- Buffer
- 45 minutes
Outputs
- Total route time
- ≈ 7h 09m
- Stops per hour
- ≈ 8.4
If the route time is longer than your shift, you’ll either miss windows or your last stops will be late. Reduce miles, reduce stop time, or split into two runs.
Benchmarks / ranges
These are conservative ranges. Your results depend on density, stops, traffic, and service type.
- Minutes per stop (doorstep delivery)4–10 minutesParking + handoff can dominate.
- Minutes per stop (B2B receiving)8–20 minutesDock waits and paperwork can dominate.
- Reasonable buffer per route20–60 minutesMore buffer if you have time windows or frequent exceptions.
What to do next
- If route time is too long: reduce miles first (zone routes, avoid cross-town zig-zags).
- If stop time is too high: improve stop notes and reduce waiting (access instructions, ETA updates).
- If the last stops are always late: split routes or widen delivery windows.
- Track planned vs actual route time weekly and adjust your assumptions.
Use Lynxo to run this in real life
Lynxo is delivery management software: dispatch + driver app + live tracking + proof of delivery + reporting.
- Plan routes and assign runs in a dispatch dashboard
- Send live ETA links so customers/sites are ready
- Use a driver app for stop-by-stop execution and exceptions
- Capture proof of delivery (photos, signatures, timestamps) per stop
Where this helps
- Capacity planning for multi-stop runs
- Setting realistic delivery windows
- Staffing decisions on peak days
FAQs
What average speed should I use?
Use your real average (including city driving). Many last-mile routes average 15–30 mph depending on density.
Should I include breaks in the buffer?
Yes. If breaks aren’t built in, your route plan will look great on paper and fail in reality.
Why does route time vary so much day to day?
Traffic, parking, stop readiness, and exceptions (no access, customer not available) can swing stop time and drive time.