Grocery Pickup: How It Works, Costs and Ways to Save
After a long day at work, navigating the crowded, fluorescent-lit aisles of a grocery store doesn’t exactly sound appealing. But getting food delivered comes with fees. There is another way — after all, grocery pickup does exist.
Many grocery stores allow customers to order groceries online and pick them up — often for free if you meet a minimum order requirement. This can be a good way to save money because you see the cost add up in real time, you won’t be as tempted to make impulse purchases and you don’t have to pay for delivery. However, it’s also important to be clear on the costs upfront. You may have to hit a minimum, pay service fees or face substitution policies if the shopper can’t find a product you want.
Grocery pickup may be the time-and-budget-saving solution your family needs. To help you decide, we talk about how it works, pros and cons, and compare popular stores’ policies.
What Is Grocery Pickup?
When you elect to do grocery pickup, you shop for your items online and get your groceries at the store without ever having to go inside.
Typically, you place an order through a grocery store’s website or mobile app, choose a pickup time and park in a curbside space designated for pickup orders. An employee will bring your items out right to your car.
Because you’re not getting your groceries delivered straight to your door, you’ll save money in at least one way — you probably won’t have to leave a tip.
Is Grocery Pickup Free?
One of the perks of using grocery pickup in lieu of grocery delivery is you may not have to pay for the service. Generally, if you meet a minimum requirement, your grocery pickup is included in the cost of your order.
Many national chains require you to spend at least $35 to qualify for free grocery pickup. You’ll likely have to pay a small fee if you want to pick up groceries for under that amount.
However, stores can change their policies and promotions, and they may vary by location. It’s a good idea to verify with your local store before you place your order.
Grocery Pickup Fee Comparison
| Store | Pickup Fee | Minimum Order | EBT Accepted | Loyalty Discounts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Walmart |
Free, fee if below minimum |
$35 |
Yes, but varies by state and item |
No |
Target |
Free |
None |
Yes in eligible categories |
Yes |
Kroger |
Free; $4.95 if you spend less than $35 |
$35 |
Yes |
Yes |
Aldi |
Includes small pickup fee |
None |
Yes |
Limited |
Publix |
Free |
None |
Yes |
Yes |
Grocery Pickup vs. Delivery: Which Is Cheaper?
In most cases, grocery pickup is cheaper than delivery. That’s primarily because you avoid paying delivery fees and a tip.
Pickup vs. Delivery Costs
| Cost Factor | Grocery Pickup | Grocery Delivery |
|---|---|---|
Service Fee |
Often free |
$5-10 generally |
Minimum Order |
~$35 |
~$35 |
Tip |
Not required, though often recommended |
10%–20% typical |
Convenience |
Drive to store |
Delivered to door |
A scenario of your possible savings
Say you spend $120 on your weekly grocery order with pickup as opposed to delivery. Depending on which retailer you go with and how you pay, that could come out to exactly $120 with no additional fees.
If you instead choose to go the delivery route, you may be spending as much as $9.95 on the delivery fee and $12-20 in tip. That’s an additional $22 to $30 a week. That could add up to more than $1,000 per year, if you opt to do grocery delivery every week for the entirety of a year.
Which Stores Offer Free Grocery Pickup?
As long as you meet a minimum order requirement (usually about $35) most major grocery chains offer some kind of free curbside grocery pickup. Again, if you’re looking for convenience delivered straight to your door, this may not be the right option for you. However, if you just want to save yourself a walk through the grocery aisles without actually skipping the trip to the store, this may be the best option. Just remember they won’t bring your groceries directly to your kitchen.
Walmart Grocery Pickup
Walmart grocery pickup is free with any order over $35. If your order is under that amount, there will be a below order minimum fee, which Walmart’s website doesn’t specify.
- No pickup fee when $35 minimum is met
- EBT is accepted on EBT-eligible items, but these must be determined in advance by the buyer
- Substitutions are allowed, but you can opt out
- Because Walmart has a paid-for membership program called Walmart+, loyalty savings and digital coupons are harder to come by for non-paying members
Target Curbside Pickup
One of the unique benefits of Target’s curbside pickup is that it is completely free — no minimum order required. It may be one of the most flexible offers out there for those looking to just swing by the store and pick up groceries.
- Free same-day drive-up pickup
- Digital coupons through loyalty program
- Substitutions are allowed, but you can choose to not take part in them. If you do choose substitutions, you’ll have to pay the higher of the two items
Kroger Pickup
Kroger pickup is generally free, but often costs about $4.95 if you don’t hit the minimum $35 order.
- $35 minimum typical; $4.95 if you don’t reach that
- Kroger has a relatively flexible substitution policy. You don’t have to accept substitutions, but if you do, you’ll be charged the lesser of the two
- Kroger accepts digital coupons on pickup orders and has weekly digital deals and good loyalty discounts through their free membership program.
Aldi Curbside Pickup
Aldi curbside pickup runs the gamut. Your local Aldi may not have access to the program and you will be charged a small service fee, which the site does not quantify.
- Small pickup fee is charged
- Not all stores may offer the service
- Online prices may be different than in-store prices
Publix Pickup
The popular Southeast grocery chain offers its curbside pickup through Instacart. You just place an order online, select your time to pick it up and park in a designated spot.
- You’ll have to create an account
- No minimum spend
- Limits on coupons
If you’re curious about your various regional chains, check their respective websites for information on their grocery pickup policies and fees.
How Grocery Pickup Works (Step-by-Step)
Grocery pickup is like ordering your groceries online and scheduling them for delivery, but you go get them instead. Processes may differ by store, but generally, it looks a little like this.
- Create an account with your store’s app or website.
- Add items to your cart as you would when shopping online. Make sure you choose the specific kind and amount of items that you want.
- Choose a pickup window that fits your schedule and the location of your preferred store.
- Set substitution preferences for out-of-stock items or opt out of substitutions altogether.
- Check in upon arrival, and an employee will load your groceries into your car. Stores often have designated parking spaces for pickup. You may have to enter your spot number and the color of your vehicle in the app or call a phone number once you arrive.
Can You Use Coupons, EBT or Loyalty Rewards?
You usually can use digital coupons, EBT and loyalty rewards with grocery pickup. How far that goes depends on the store and where you’re located.
- Digital coupons can typically be clipped in the store’s app and apply automatically at checkout.
- Loyalty rewards often stack with sale pricing.
- SNAP/EBT is accepted by many major chains for eligible grocery items, depending on state participation.
If you use government benefits, review the store’s payment rules before placing an order to avoid issues.
Pros and Cons of Grocery Pickup
Grocery pickup offers convenience and potential savings, but it also has trade-offs.
Pros
- Often free with minimum purchase of at least $35
- No tipping required
- May reduce impulse buying
- Saves time inside the store
Cons
- Minimum order requirements
- You don’t see the food the shopper picks
- Possible substitutions if you don’t opt out
- Could be service fees
- Prices may be slightly different online vs. in-store
Ways to Save More With Grocery Pickup
You can save more with grocery pickup by treating it as a budgeting tool instead of a convenience feature. You may want to do a few side-by-side comparisons. Try pickup one week and shopping in-store the next to see where the pros and cons are for your personal store. In any case, best practices include:
- Compare unit prices before checkout
- Review or opt out of substitutions to avoid higher-priced replacements
- Comb weekly sales and digital coupons where applicable
- Stick to a pre-planned list to avoid adding extras
Creating a clear monthly grocery plan and budget before placing online orders can make pickup even more effective.
FAQs about Grocery Pickup
Grocery pickup is often free if you meet the store’s minimum order requirement — often around $35. Orders below that amount may include a small service fee. Policies vary by store and location.
You generally do not tip for curbside grocery pickup because employees are paid hourly and tipping is not expected. Some stores even prohibit curbside pickup employees from accepting a tip. Delivery orders, however, typically require a tip.
If you miss your pickup window, the store may hold your order until the end of that same day. However, depending on the store’s policy it may cancel it. Some stores allow you to reschedule in the app.
Someone else can usually pick up your order if they have the confirmation details and meet the store’s identification requirements. You may need to specify an alternate pickup person and add that person’s name and email address to your online order. You can also sometimes change the pickup person after an order has been placed.
Grocery pickup prices are often the same as in-store prices, but some third-party fulfillment services may include small markups or service fees. Some chains may also have slightly different online and in-store prices.
Final Verdict
Grocery pickup can help you rein in your grocery spending while avoiding the fees and tips you’d pay with delivery. It’s a great way to make sure you stick with your shopping list and cut down on impulse purchases.
However, it isn’t always going to be cheaper. Sometimes you have to hit a minimum spend or pay a fee. And if saving time is your biggest concern, delivery could be a better option.
It all depends on what’s worth it for you and your preferred store’s policy.
