There’s one thing customers are noticing everywhere right now: pizza prices are up. The changes in behavior are subtle, but the pattern is clear. People are ordering smaller pies. They’re sticking to fewer toppings to keep prices down.
That’s led to a bigger question we’re hearing more often.
Are people going to cut pizza night out of their routine, or are they just changing how often they order and what they order?
Pizza night isn’t going anywhere. It hasn’t disappeared from weekly plans. Customers are just making small changes to keep it affordable while holding on to a tradition and continuing to support local pizzerias.
Is Pizza Still a Weekly Habit When Prices Go Up?
Short Answer: Yes.
Pizza night has been a staple for busy families and weeknight routines for a long time. But specifically rising prices, especially at local pizzerias, have made the cost of a pizza order more noticeable than it used to be to customers. It’s not always the cheap dinner fix people once thought of.
But, customers aren’t asking whether they should stop ordering pizza.
They’re asking: How do I make pizza night work within a tighter budget?
Will Smaller Orders Eliminate Pizza Night?
Short Answer: No.
Slice data shows that pizza night is still very much happening. What’s changing most is the order itself.. Instead of a large pie with several toppings, or complex specialty pizzas, customers are choosing smaller pizzas or sticking to simpler combinations like cheese or pepperoni.
Toppings can add up quickly, so people are more conscious of those choices. These adjustments help customers stay within budget without giving up a familiar routine. On paper, fewer toppings and smaller pies might look like a step back. In practice, it’s a good sign.
People still value pizza enough to find ways to keep it part of their week.
What’s Actually Driving Higher Pizza Prices?
Short Answer: The rising cost of labor, delivery, and ingredients.
Slice data shows that pizza prices aren’t rising at random. Local and independent pizzerias are facing higher costs, and they add up quickly.
Labor costs have increased in many states, especially in markets with higher minimum wages. Staffing a shop simply costs more than it did just a few years ago.
Ingredients are also playing a major role. Cheese makes up a large share of the total cost of a pizza, so when cheese prices rise, pizzerias feel it immediately.
Delivery adds another layer of expense. From labor to logistics, those costs continue to push prices higher.
These factors help explain why even simple pizza orders cost more for customers today.
Are Customers Skipping Delivery?
Short Answer: Sometimes.
As prices rise for independent pizzerias, delivery fees are standing out more than they used to. These fees are the first thing customers notice and the first thing they try to avoid when ordering online.
Pickup offers a cheaper option with the same food and overall experience, especially when customers order through direct online ordering for pizzerias (instead of third-party apps).
For customers ordering from a nearby shop, pickup can also be faster and easier. This shift is helping customers manage budgets while also reducing delivery strain for pizzeria owners who are focused on handling pizza orders in-house.
A Different Approach to Pizza Delivery
Slice takes a different approach to pizza delivery than many third-party platforms by focusing on how Slice supports independent pizzerias instead of relying on outsourced delivery.
Most delivery orders placed through Slice are handled by the pizza shop’s own staff, not outsourced drivers. That means less reliance on third parties and fewer menu markups.
For independent pizzerias, this offers more control over pricing, service, and customer relationship.
For customers, it helps keep prices closer to what they see when ordering directly from the shop.
The Power of the Neighborhood Pizzeria
Pizza has always been personal and local.
People return to the same shops because they’re familiar, close by, and part of their neighborhood routine. There’s a relationship built over time, and a sense of tradition tied to those places.
As budgets tighten, that convenience and trust matter even more. The independent pizzerias that continue to thrive are often the ones closest to home, where customers know what to expect and feel connected to the people behind the counter.
That loyalty still shapes how and where people order pizza.
The Pizza Future
Pizza night isn’t going anywhere. Customers and pizzerias are adapting together, making small changes that help keep a long-standing tradition alive.
Smaller orders, simpler choices, and pickup-friendly habits all point to the same thing:
Pizza still matters.
Pizza is still part of weekly dinner.
Pizza is just evolving to fit the moment.
We are here to help independent pizzerias adapt to changing customer habits while keeping pizza night accessible for consumers. Learn more about how Slice supports local pizza shops.