We make it easy to find items from your favorite retailers and have them delivered right to your door or conveniently picked up! For delivery, we choose the best store location for your order. For pickup, you can choose a specific store location that works best for you. Learn more about selecting a retailer.   

Placing an order

  1. Find your items. Search for specific items or browse by department. We also make recommendations based on what you bought or what’s popular in your area. Can’t find an item? Search for 1 keyword (ex. watermelon instead of watermelon slices). You can also try searching for items before selecting a retailer. 
  2. Add items to your cart. Spotted something you like? Add it to your cart by selecting the + / +Add / Add to Cart icons. Adjust the item quantity by using the + or - buttons. You can add items to your cart without signing up for an Instacart account, but you need an account to check out.
  3. 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, add item and replacement instructions, or remove items from your cart.
  4. Confirm your order details. When you’re ready to check out, select the green Go to checkout button. Confirm the delivery or pickup store address and instructions, delivery or pickup window, and payment method. If you have items in your cart from multiple stores, you must choose a separate delivery window for each store. Make sure you select the right order type! Once you place your order, you can’t switch a regular delivery to priority or convenience or vice versa. 
  5. Check out. Place your order—you’ll get a notification that we’ve received it and when an Instacart shopper has started working on it. We don’t offer the ability to schedule or select a specific shopper, but you can always add item and delivery instructions or chat with your shopper!

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.

Prohibited items 

Please keep in mind that some items aren’t available on Instacart. Prohibited items include—

  • Beverage orders exceeding 400 pounds
  • Blank keys
  • Cash donations, including those often found at checkout (ex. St. Jude, United Way)
  • Currency
  • Fireworks, including sparklers
  • Hazardous (HAZMAT) chemicals, including dry ice
  • Hunting style knives
  • Items containing controlled substances such as pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, phenylpropanolamine, dextromethorphan (in some states), opioids, and methamphetamine
  • Live insects, including crickets and worms
  • Lottery tickets, including scratch-off tickets
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Pet animals, including live hamsters and live fish
  • Photos
  • Rug Doctor equipment
  • Self-defense tools, including pepper spray and pocket knives
  • Tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and vapes
  • Weapons and weapon supplies

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 for all retailers and areas. Repeated attempts to order prohibited items could result in account deactivation.