Personal shopping cost can start at $3.99 for a qualifying same-day grocery delivery, while service fees, tips, and membership charges change the final checkout total. Treat the displayed fee as a starting point, then compare the full basket total before you book delivery in the United States or Canada.
Key takeaways
- A published grocery-delivery fee can start at $3.99 for qualifying same-day orders over $35.
- Service fees change with the location and the items in the cart, so a national personal-shopping price range would mislead shoppers.
- Instacart+ lists $9.99 per month or $99 per year and waives eligible delivery fees, while service fees still apply.
- Compare delivery, service, tip, item price, and membership charges on the same checkout screen.
Grocery delivery sets a clear starting price
Personal shopping covers many tasks, from an independent shopper handling errands to an app-based shopper filling a grocery cart. Published rates for independent shoppers vary by city and scope, so they do not support a trustworthy US-and-Canada average. Platform checkout disclosures give a more useful planning reference for grocery delivery.
Instacart’s US and Canadian grocery-delivery pages list delivery fees starting at $3.99 for same-day orders over $35. The company says the fee changes for one-hour delivery, club-store delivery, and orders below $35. Its Canadian fee page also says that delivery and service fees vary with the retailer, delivery window, order total, location, and cart contents. Read the US grocery-delivery pricing and the Canadian fee disclosure before you rely on a price shown in an old receipt.
| Checkout item | Published planning figure | What changes it | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Same-day delivery | Starts at $3.99 on orders over $35 | Delivery window, retailer, club store, order total | US grocery-delivery pricing above |
| Service fee | Varies | Location, item count, item type | Canadian fee disclosure above |
| Instacart+ monthly plan | $9.99 per month | Plan and market terms | US membership terms below |
| Instacart+ annual plan | $99 per year | Plan and market terms | Canadian membership terms below |
The checkout total needs five lines
Open the cart before you choose a delivery window. Record the basket price, delivery fee, service fee, taxes, and tip. The total gives you the real personal shopping cost for that order.
The service fee deserves its own line. Instacart says it supports shopper operations, insurance, background checks, and customer support, and says the fee does not go to the shopper. Tips sit outside that fee. A delivery membership can waive an eligible delivery fee while leaving service fees, taxes, and tips in place. Instacart’s Canadian terms list service fees, surcharges, priority fees, taxes, and tips among charges that can still apply to members.
Compare the same basket in a pickup window as well. Instacart says pickup orders do not have service fees, though some retailers charge a pickup fee. Pickup fits a household that needs a shopper to assemble the order but can handle the drive.
Membership makes sense only after a basket comparison
Instacart lists Instacart+ at $9.99 per month or $99 per year on its US and Canadian pages. The membership advertises a $0 delivery fee on eligible grocery and retail orders of $10 or more, while service fees still apply. Costco eligibility uses a $35 minimum. Check the US membership terms and the Canadian membership terms because eligibility and pricing can change.
Use your past four grocery orders to compare the membership price with the delivery fees you paid. Include the service fee in both columns because the membership does not erase it. A household that orders once for a busy week can compare that one checkout total with pickup. A household that orders many times can test the monthly and annual plan against real receipts.
An independent shopper needs a written scope
An independent shopper can handle errands that a grocery platform does not cover, such as returns, several stores, delivery to a relative, or a home-service pickup. Ask for a written scope before the first errand.
- List the stores and items. Name any substitutes, age-restricted items, and budget limits.
- Set the payment method. Decide whether you will reimburse receipts, pre-fund the purchase, or use a platform checkout.
- Define the fee. Ask whether the shopper charges by the errand, hour, mile, or delivery zone.
- Confirm receipts and substitutions. Require a receipt and tell the shopper when to contact you for approval.
- Protect the handoff. Use a delivery location, contact method, and time window that both people can follow.
For a broader task list, compare the scope with our errand service cost guide. Households arranging help for an older relative can also review our in-home senior care cost guide. If the recurring job includes home tasks beyond shopping, write the scope alongside the house cleaning cost guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does personal shopping cost?
For a qualifying same-day grocery order, Instacart’s published US and Canadian pages list delivery fees starting at $3.99 for orders over $35. Service fees, taxes, tips, retailer pricing, delivery window, and location can change the checkout total.
Does a delivery membership remove all grocery-shopping fees?
No. Instacart+ lists $9.99 per month or $99 per year and can waive eligible delivery fees. The company’s terms say service fees, surcharges, taxes, and tips can still apply.
Is pickup cheaper than grocery delivery?
Pickup can remove the service fee on Instacart, although some retailers charge a pickup fee. Compare the final pickup and delivery totals for the same basket before you choose.
How should I hire an independent personal shopper?
Give each shopper the same written task list, spending limit, delivery area, and timing. Ask how they charge, how they handle receipts and substitutions, and how they protect your payment information.
Post your stores, item list, budget, and delivery window on Masters’ Guild to compare offers from identity-verified local pros. Get personal-shopping help on Masters’ Guild.
