How to Order Groceries Delivered to Your Door with Instacart

Instacart is a grocery delivery service that sends a personal shopper to a grocery store on your behalf, then delivers your groceries to your front door — often within a few hours. It works with hundreds of stores across the United States, including Kroger, Costco, Aldi, Publix, Safeway, Wegmans, and many local supermarkets.

This guide walks you through everything you need to know to place your first Instacart order: how to find stores near you, how to add items to your cart, what to expect at checkout, what happens if an item is out of stock, and how to save money on delivery.

---

What Instacart is and how it works

Instacart is not a store itself. It connects you to real grocery stores near you. When you place an order, an Instacart shopper (a gig worker who uses the Instacart app) goes to that specific store, picks the items from your list, and either delivers them to you or hands them off for same-day delivery. You never have to leave home.

Instacart charges a delivery fee, a service fee, and sometimes a small markup on individual items (the price you pay may be slightly higher than the in-store price at some retailers — this varies by store and location). You also have the option to tip your shopper, which is encouraged since shoppers work for tips similar to restaurant delivery drivers.

---

Step 1 — Download the Instacart app or go to Instacart.com

---

Step 2 — Create your account

Open the app and tap **"Log in or Sign up."** Tap **"Sign up"** to create a new account. You can sign up with: - Your email address and a password - Your Google account - Your Apple account (iPhone only)

Enter your name, email, and password, then tap "Create account." Instacart will send a verification email — click the link in that email to confirm your address.

---

Step 3 — Enter your delivery address

Instacart will ask for your delivery address. Type your full home address — street number, street name, city, state, and ZIP code. This is where your groceries will be delivered.

Tap **"Use this address"** to confirm. Instacart will now show you all the stores that deliver to your area.

---

Step 4 — Choose a store

You will see a list of grocery stores available near you. Familiar names usually include Kroger, Costco, Aldi, Publix, Safeway, CVS, Walgreens, and others depending on your region.

Tap on the store you prefer to shop at. You will be taken to that store's section of Instacart, which shows the same departments and categories as the physical store (Produce, Dairy, Meat, Pantry, Frozen, etc.).

---

Step 5 — Browse items and add them to your cart

Browse by department (tap "Produce," "Bread," "Dairy," etc.) or use the search bar at the top to find a specific item. Search for "whole milk" or "chicken breast" or "Tide pods" — Instacart will show you matching products from that store.

Tap on any item to see its size, price, and unit price. Tap **"Add to cart"** to add it. You can change the quantity by tapping the + or – buttons.

As you add items, your cart total appears at the bottom of the screen. Tap it at any time to review everything in your cart.

---

Step 6 — Set your item replacement preferences

Because your shopper is visiting a real store, some items may be out of stock on the day you order. Instacart lets you set preferences in advance so the shopper knows what to do.

For each item in your cart, you can choose: - **"Replace with best match"** — the shopper picks a similar item at the same price or lower (recommended for most items) - **"Pick specific replacement"** — you choose exactly which other product to use if the first is unavailable - **"Don't replace"** — the shopper skips the item and you are not charged for it

You can also send real-time messages to your shopper through the Instacart app while your order is being picked — many people use this to confirm replacements on the spot.

---

Step 7 — Go to checkout

When your cart looks right, tap **"Go to checkout"** (the button at the bottom of the cart screen).

At checkout, review or enter: - **Delivery address** — confirm it shows your correct home address - **Delivery time** — choose from available time windows. Options include "As soon as possible" (often 1–2 hours), or specific windows later today or tomorrow. Scheduled deliveries may have lower fees or more available shoppers. - **Payment method** — enter your credit card or debit card number. Instacart accepts most major cards. You can also pay with an EBT/SNAP card at many stores. - **Leave at door** option — if you prefer contactless delivery (shopper leaves the bags at your door and texts a photo)

Step 8 — Review fees and tip, then place your order

Before confirming, Instacart shows you a summary of all costs: - **Item total** — the cost of your groceries - **Delivery fee** — usually $3.99 to $9.99 depending on order size, store, and your membership status - **Service fee** — a percentage (usually 5%) that covers Instacart's operating costs - **Tip** — Instacart pre-fills a suggested tip. You can adjust it up or down. Shoppers rely on tips as a meaningful part of their pay. A tip of 5–10% is common for a standard order.

Tap **"Place order"** to confirm. You will receive a confirmation email and can track your shopper's progress live in the app.

---

How to save money on Instacart

Instacart+ membership (formerly Instacart Express)

Instacart offers a paid membership called Instacart+ that costs $9.99 per month or $99 per year. Members get free delivery on orders over $35 (at participating stores), reduced service fees, and other perks. If you use Instacart more than twice a month, the membership usually pays for itself.

Look for store coupons inside the app

Instacart shows digital coupons from the store inside the app. Before checking out, look for a "Coupons" or "Deals" section — clipping digital coupons here applies the discount to your order automatically.

Compare prices before ordering large amounts

For staple items you buy in bulk (rice, paper towels, olive oil), it is worth checking whether Instacart's price matches the in-store price. Some stores charge the same price. Others have a small markup. If you see a big difference on a large purchase, it may make sense to buy that item in person.

Schedule your delivery instead of ordering right away

Scheduled deliveries (choosing a window later today or tomorrow) often have lower delivery fees than "rush" or immediate delivery windows.

---

What to do if there is a problem with your order

If an item arrives damaged, missing, or incorrect, open the Instacart app, go to "Your orders," find the order, and tap "Report an issue." Instacart is generally responsive and will issue a credit or refund for legitimate problems.

You can also rate your shopper after delivery. A rating helps good shoppers continue getting orders.