# Average Drive-Thru Wait Times Surpass 6 Minutes. Should QSRs Look to New Conveniences?

Published 2021-12-13 · Updated 2026-03-19 · Food & Beverage on MarketScale
Canonical: https://www.marketscale.com/industries/food-beverage/average-drive-thru-times-over-6-minutes-long-what-this-means-for-qsrs

> With consumer expectations of near “instant gratification” increasing thanks to companies like Amazon, quick service restaurants (QSR) are thinking of ways to keep up with and satisfy the trend. Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) has this challenge at the forefront of their operations and are testing options to decrease drive-thru wait times. Currently, drive-thru wait times…

With consumer expectations of near “instant gratification” increasing thanks to companies like Amazon, quick service restaurants (QSR) are thinking of ways to [keep up](https://marketscale.com/industries/food-and-beverage/navigating-new-standards-and-workflows-in-qsr/) with and satisfy the trend. [Kentucky Fried Chicken](https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/16/business/kfc-quick-pick-up-launch/index.html) (KFC) has this challenge at the forefront of their operations and are testing options to decrease drive-thru wait times.

Currently, drive-thru wait times [average six minutes and 22 seconds](https://www.seelevelhx.com/2021-drive-thru-study/) per guest, and KFC is determined to decrease that statistic through a Quick Pick-Up option — a new feature allowing customers to order online, skip the line and pick their order off a climate-controlled shelf.

In this five-part video series, five QSR professionals help listeners understand the market motivators shaping new technology and business model adoptions, as well as what the future holds for drive-thrus and QSR convenience.

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