We make it easy to find items from your favorite retailers and have them delivered right to your door or conveniently picked up! Please note, however, that you can choose a preferred retailer location only for pickup orders, not delivery. Learn more about selecting a retailer.
Placing an order
- Find your item. Search for specific items or browse by department. We also make recommendations based on what you bought or what’s popular in your area.
- Add items to your cart. Spotted something you like? Add it to your cart by selecting +Add or Add to Cart. Adjust the item quantity by using the + or - buttons. You can add items to your cart without signing up for an Instacart account. You need an account to check out.
- Review your cart. You can check what’s in your cart by selecting the green cart icon. Look for the next available delivery time and how much you may need to add to reach any order minimums. You can also view your item total, adjust quantities, or remove items from your cart.
- Confirm your order details. When you’re ready to check out, go to your cart and select the green Go to Checkout button. You may need to enter your email address and select Create Account if you don’t have an Instacart account yet. If you have items in your cart from multiple stores, you must choose a separate delivery window for each store. You can schedule delivery to fit your schedule.
- Place your order. Add a delivery address and payment information, then place your order. While a specific shopper can’t complete your order, we choose the best available one. Once they’re assigned, they’ll get started right away, so you can’t switch shoppers.
Check out this step-by-step guide to create your account and place your first order.
Placing a restaurant order
For steps on placing a restaurant order in-app, check out our Restaurants Help Center article.
Can’t find an item?
Search for 1 keyword (for example, search for watermelon instead of watermelon slices).
Items unavailable for delivery
Please keep in mind that some items aren’t available at all retailers and markets. Prohibited items include—
- Live insects, including crickets and worms
- Pet animals, including live hamsters and live fish
- Tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and vapes
- Items containing controlled substances such as pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, phenylpropanolamine, dextromethorphan (in some states), opioids, and methamphetamine
- Rug Doctor equipment
- Microsoft Office software
- Currency
- Cash donations, including those often found at checkout (ex. St. Jude, United Way)
- Lottery tickets, including scratch-off tickets
- Photos
- Weapons and weapon supplies
- Self-defense tools, including pepper spray and pocket knives
- Hunting style knives
- Fireworks, including sparklers
- Hazardous (HAZMAT) chemicals, including dry ice
- Blank keys
- Beverage orders exceeding 400 pounds
Item availability and terms are subject to change without notice. Retailers may have additional size, weight, or price restrictions on certain items. Alcohol is not available at all retailers and markets. Repeated attempts to order prohibited items could result in account deactivation.