Instacart: Your Ultimate Guide to Online Grocery Delivery and Pickup
Instacart is the largest online grocery marketplace in North America. Order groceries for delivery or pickup today from your favorite grocery stores at Instacart.com or in the app.
How Instacart Delivery and Curbside Pickup Work
Instacart makes it easy to order from your favorite stores. Shop for items from stores near you, with a selection of more than 500 retailers and trusted local grocers across North America. Instacart will connect you with a personal shopper in your area to shop and deliver your order. Personal shoppers pick items with care. Chat as they shop and manage your order. You can track your order’s progress and communicate with your shopper every step of the way using the Instacart app or website. Pick a convenient time for you.
Contactless delivery is available with our “Leave at my door” option. Leave at My Door delivery gives you the flexibility to have your groceries delivered without having to come to the door or be at home. You can leave delivery instructions for your shopper at checkout, and we’ll notify you when your order arrives. Leave at My Door is now the default setting for all Instacart deliveries. If you’d prefer to not use this feature, simply uncheck the box that says “Leave at my door if I’m not around” at checkout.
Instacart also offers curbside pickup at select retail locations. Simply place your order and choose a pickup time, and a shopper will prepare your order at the store. When you get to the store, use the Instacart app to notify us. Depending on the store, a shopper or store employee will bring the groceries to your car, or you can pick them up at the designated area.
Getting Started with Instacart
To get started, create an account, select the store you want to shop, and place your order. You don’t need a membership to order with Instacart. In fact, you can even order from warehouse clubs, like Costco, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s Wholesale Club, without a retailer club membership. New customers may be eligible for $0 delivery fee* promotions. (*Service fees apply)
Fees and Pricing
Retail partners set the prices of items on the Instacart marketplace. While many retailers offer everyday store prices on Instacart, some retailers may set prices on the Instacart platform that are different from in-store prices. You can view pricing policies for each retailer on the Instacart app and website.
| Service Type | Fee Details |
|---|---|
| Delivery | Fees start at $3.99 for same-day orders over $35. Fees vary for one-hour deliveries, club store deliveries, and deliveries under $35. |
| Pickup | There may be a “pickup fee” (equivalent to a delivery fee for pickup orders) on your pick up order. |
| Service Fees | Service fees vary and are subject to change based on factors like location and the number and types of items in your cart. Orders containing alcohol have a separate service fee. |
| Instacart+ Membership | With an optional Instacart+ membership, you can get $0 delivery fee* on every order over $35. *Service fees apply. |
Sign up to get $0 delivery fee* (*Valid for first 3 orders. Service fees and terms apply).
Managing Your Order and Replacements
Instacart makes it easy to communicate with your shopper. You can set item and delivery instructions in advance, as well as chat directly with your shopper while they shop and deliver your items. If an item you want is out-of-stock at the store, your shopper will follow your replacement preferences. You can tell the shopper to:
- Find Best Match: By default, your shopper will use their best judgement to pick a replacement for your item.
- Pick Specific Replacement: You can pick a specific alternative for the shopper to purchase if your first choice is out-of-stock.
- Don’t Replace: For items you’d rather not replace, choose “Don’t replace” to get a refund if the item is out of stock.
You can update or cancel your order as long as your shopper hasn’t started shopping. If you need to make changes after shopping has started, you can use the app or website to approve replacements or chat with your shopper.
Quality Guarantee and Support
Enjoy Instacart’s 100% quality guarantee on every order. If something isn’t right, you’ve got options. In the Instacart app or website, you can report:
- Missing items
- Incorrect items
- Damaged items
- Poor replacements
- Early/late orders
If an order never came, or you get someone else’s order, you can reach out to Instacart Customer Experience.
The health and safety of our community is our number one priority. We are excited to offer contactless delivery through our Leave at My Door delivery feature.
