What DoorDash Orders Reveal About Cuffing Season

Every fall, as temperatures drop and daylight fades, a familiar pattern returns, it’s cuffing season. For those unfamiliar with the term, “cuffing season” refers to that stretch between fall and late winter when people feel a stronger urge to pair up, settle in, and spend more time indoors.

Whether it’s companionship, warmth, or simply routine, DoorDash’s latest report suggests that modern dating habits are now reflected directly in what people order.

What the Data Shows

This year, a record 94% of singles reported participating in cuffing season, including an overwhelming 97% of Gen Z, proof that dating season and cozy season now overlap. The week of September 1 marked an early kickoff, as thousands of consumers labeled delivery addresses with names like “bae” or “bf/gf.” DoorDash noted this uptick as a sign that people were defining relationships through small digital gestures long before the holidays began.

But the data gets even more personal. DoorDash saw a 30% increase in toothbrush and toothpasteorders between 5–9 p.m. on Thursdays through Saturdays, the prime window for date nights. Then, after midnight, those orders rose another 10%, suggesting some evenings turned into overnight stays. It’s a humorous but telling trend: toothbrushes have become symbolic of cuffing season’s progression, the “I’ll probably be back” accessory of modern romance.

Meanwhile, orders for sheets, pillowcases, and blankets jumped nearly 80% compared to warmer months. Many singles, according to DoorDash, were freshening up their living spaces to avoid giving potential partners “the ick,” a modern slang term for sudden attraction loss triggered by something as trivial as messy rooms or old navy-blue bedding.

Behavioral Shifts and Comfort Culture

Cuffing season isn’t just about relationships, it’s about lifestyle adjustment. DoorDash’s findings paint a clear picture of seasonal habits shaping both dating and dining behavior:

• Earlier Dinners: As daylight shortens, dinner times shift earlier. Orders between 5 and 7 p.m. now dominate the charts, replacing the traditional 7–9 p.m. dinner rush.
• Comfort Over Calories: Consumers lean into warm, filling meals like pasta, soup, and comfort dishes, emotional, not just nutritional, choices.
• Home Readiness: From fresh bedding to cozy candles, people are creating spaces that blend comfort with date-night appeal.
• Convenience is Intimacy: Nearly 70% of respondents said ordering in feels just as, if not more, intimate than dining out, proof that modern romance runs on convenience and shared comfort.

Cristen Milliner, Consumer Trends Expert at DoorDash, summarized it best: “Culturally, there’s been a shift from talking about a relationship to subtly showing the signs of one, from labeling an address ‘bae’ to that late-night toothbrush order. The receipts often tell the love story before the words do.”

Breaking Down the Numbers

DoorDash’s seasonal metrics reveal a few notable spikes:

• Toothbrush and toothpaste orders: +30% from 5–9 p.m., +10% after midnight.
• Bedding items: +80% increase in sheets, pillowcases, and blankets.
• Singles participating in cuffing season: 94% overall, 97% among Gen Z.
• Perception of ordering in as romantic: 70% of respondents agreed.

Beyond romance, this data sheds light on broader retail behavior. Consumers are more willing to buy practical, lifestyle-oriented products through delivery apps.

For retailers, that’s an opportunity, DoorDash’s convenience category isn’t just for snacks anymore, it’s part of the home routine. Bedding, self-care, and small comfort items now compete alongside takeout food for digital shelf space.

What It Means for Retail and Restaurants

Cuffing season brings predictable surges in both food and household item sales, providing an opportunity for businesses across categories:

1. Retailers can highlight cozy-season products, like sheets, candles, or toiletries, in on-demand listings.
2. Restaurants can promote comfort dishes that pair well with cold weather and at-home dates.
3. Local shops benefit by listing practical items on platforms like DoorDash or Uber Eats, making them instantly accessible for last-minute needs.

Consumers no longer distinguish between “ordering dinner” and “ordering supplies.” For them, it’s one seamless experience, and cuffing season accelerates that mindset.

The Driver’s Perspective

From a driver’s standpoint, cuffing season means steadier income and predictable peak hours. The combination of earlier dinner orders and late-night convenience runs creates two profitable windows, early evening (5–7 p.m.) and post-midnight (12–2 a.m.). Drivers who align their schedules accordingly can maximize efficiency and minimize downtime.

The Big Takeaway

Cuffing season has evolved from a social media buzzword into an economic trend, one that touches restaurants, retailers, and gig workers alike. What began as a lighthearted term for winter dating now represents an entire season of consumer behavior driven by comfort, connection, and convenience.

Whether it’s toothbrushes, new bedding, or that early-evening pasta delivery, Americans are redefining what intimacy looks like in 2025, and DoorDash data is documenting every order.

Published by DeliverySoCal.com, Source: DoorDash Newsroom (Oct. 29, 2025).