Costco Same Day Delivery – How It Works, Fees + Our Best Tips
Costco Same-Day Delivery brings groceries, fresh food, and household items to your door in as fast as one hour, all handled through Instacart. You need a Costco membership for member pricing, orders start at a $35 minimum, and delivery is free once you spend $75.
You can order perishable items like meat, produce, and seafood online, and Instacart will deliver them to your door within hours.
This can be a real time saver, especially if you’re juggling a busy schedule.
The service is offered in select areas and is handy for anyone who wants Costco products fast. You can pick delivery windows that fit your day, so you’re not stuck waiting around.
What Is Costco Same Day Delivery
Costco Same-Day Delivery lets members order groceries and household stuff online and get them within hours. It runs on a dedicated site, sameday.costco.com, that’s separate from Costco.com, and it’s mostly focused on fresh and perishable products.
You can pick fast delivery or a more flexible shipping schedule, depending on what you need.
Costco Grocery Delivery Through Instacart
With Costco grocery delivery, members shop for their favorite warehouse items online. Orders go through Instacart, which pairs you with a shopper who picks out your stuff and brings it right to your door.
Delivery can be super quick, sometimes in an hour if things aren’t too busy.
The service covers fresh foods like produce, meats, and seafood, plus household supplies. You do need to live in an eligible ZIP code to use same-day delivery.
There’s also curbside pickup if you’d rather just swing by and grab your order.
Differences Between Same-Day and 2-Day Delivery
Same-day delivery is all about speed, getting groceries to your door in just a few hours. It’s best for items you want fresh and fast.
The 2-day option is slower and works for non-perishable and bulk items. It usually costs less, sometimes nothing, for delivery.
If you don’t need your stuff right away, 2-day delivery is a solid choice and means you skip the warehouse trip.
Read more about Costco operating hours, so you can manage your schedule accordingly and enjoy your shopping.
Eligible Products for Delivery
Same-Day Delivery covers perishable groceries like fresh produce, organic meats, seafood, dairy, and bakery items. These need careful handling to stay fresh on the way to you.
Some household essentials and pantry goods are also available, but not every bulk product can be shipped same day. If you’re restocking or not in a rush, the 2-day service has more options.
How Costco Same Day Delivery Works
Costco’s same-day delivery helps members get groceries fast, no warehouse trip needed. You place an order online, meet the minimum spend, and pick a delivery window.
Placing an Order Online
To use the service, just shop on Costco’s website or the Instacart app. Add whatever you need from the Costco selection, including bulk and fresh items.
Once you’ve picked your products, choose a delivery time that works for you. You’ll need to sign in as a member for full access and pricing.
Your order goes to an Instacart shopper who handles the picking and delivery. You’ll get tracking updates along the way.
$35 Minimum Order Requirement
You need to spend at least $35 for same-day delivery to go through, and that minimum still holds as of July 2026. This covers the cost of shopping and delivery.
If you spend $75 or more, Costco waives the delivery fee, so it’s free for bigger orders. Orders under $35 just aren’t accepted for delivery.
If you are new to Instacart, you can get free delivery on your first 3 orders.
Delivery Timeframes and Windows
Delivery windows are flexible, usually within a few hours of ordering. You can pick a slot that fits your schedule.
Depending on your area, groceries might arrive in as little as an hour. If it’s busy or there aren’t enough Instacart shoppers, you might wait longer.
It’s meant to save you time and keep your groceries fresh for same-day use.
For more info, check out Costco Same-Day Delivery.
Role of Instacart in Costco Same Day Delivery
Instacart is the engine behind Costco’s same-day delivery, linking customers with shoppers who pick and deliver groceries. You get a personal shopper, clear fees, and direct communication about substitutions if something’s out of stock.
Personal Shopper Process
Each order gets its own Instacart shopper, who goes into Costco and handpicks your items. They pay attention to quality, especially for perishables like produce and meat.
If something’s missing, the shopper will pick a replacement unless you say otherwise. After packing up your order, they get it to your door, sometimes super fast.
Instacart Fees and Pricing
Instacart charges a delivery fee and sometimes a service fee, which can change depending on where you live, your order size, and how quickly you want your stuff. Same-day delivery from Costco usually costs more than shopping in person because of these added fees.
You can pay with Instacart gift cards, but not Costco Shop Cards for same-day orders. Prices on Instacart are often a little higher than in-store, since you’re paying for the service.
If you order from Costco this way a lot, Instacart+ (the old Instacart Express) runs $9.99 a month or $99 a year. It waives the delivery fee on orders over $35 and can save you up to 7% on Costco Same-Day item prices, so it pays off if you order often.
Communication About Substitutions
If an item is out of stock, your Instacart shopper will message you about possible substitutes. You can approve or decline these right in the app or by text.
This way, you’re not surprised by what shows up. Shoppers try to pick similar or better alternatives, but if nothing works, the item just gets dropped from your order and you’re not charged for it.
Product Selection and Availability
Costco Same-Day Delivery offers a pretty good variety, but not everything in the warehouse is up for grabs right away. Some products, especially fresh foods, need special handling.
Availability depends on your location and what’s actually in stock, so you might not always get every item you want.
Perishable Groceries Delivered
Costco delivers fresh items like fruits, veggies, meat, seafood, and dairy through same-day delivery. These perishables are packed and delivered quickly to keep them fresh.
Not all fresh items are always available, and some high-demand or seasonal products might sell out. Regional supply can make a difference, so sometimes you’ll run into limits.
Non-Perishable Items and Limitations
Non-perishables like cleaning supplies, pantry goods, and bulk items can also be delivered same day. These are easier to ship and usually have better availability.
Still, there are some restrictions. Not every item can be delivered same day because of size or logistics. Bulkier stuff might take longer, and you’ll see what’s available when you enter your ZIP code on the Costco delivery site.
What You Cannot Get Same Day
A few things never make it into the same-day cart. Prescriptions are not eligible for same-day delivery, so pharmacy pickups still mean a warehouse trip. Alcohol depends on your state, comes with extra fees, and needs an ID check at the door where it’s allowed. Your same-day cart is also separate from your Costco.com cart, so you can’t combine the two into one order.
Cost, Fees, and Membership Requirements
Costco same-day delivery has a few things to consider: you’ll need a membership, there are delivery fees, and there are ways to save if you plan ahead.
Costco Member Benefits
You need a Costco membership for same-day delivery at member prices. A Gold Star membership is $65 a year as of July 2026, and it comes with one free Household card for someone at your address.
If you’re not a member, you can still shop Costco items on Instacart.com, but you’ll pay higher prices than members using the dedicated Costco Same-Day site.
If you want more perks, the Executive membership costs $130 a year, which is the $65 base plus a $65 upgrade. It pays a 2% reward on qualified purchases, including same-day delivery, up to $1,250 a year. Whether that upgrade is worth it comes down to how much you spend, which I break down in our Executive vs Gold Star comparison.
Executive members also get a $10 monthly Instacart credit on same-day orders of $150 or more, a benefit Costco added on June 30, 2025. Used every month, that’s $120 a year, which nearly covers the whole $130 Executive fee on its own. If you already get groceries delivered, this one perk can make the upgrade pay for itself.
Members get Costco prices through the service, but there’s usually a small markup for delivery. You’ll also have access to member-only deals and discounts.
Delivery Fees and Order Markups
Delivery fees start at $3.99 for orders over $35. Spend $75 or more, and your delivery is free.
Instacart adds a markup on product prices to cover service costs, and extra service fees can pop up depending on your order and location. Costco spells out the full fee structure on its Same-Day Delivery FAQ page.
You can’t use a Costco Shop Card for same-day delivery, though it still works for 2-day delivery and in the warehouse. For the full rundown of what does work, see our guide to Costco payment methods.
Tips and Discounts
If you want to save on delivery, try to order $75 or more. Executive members get that 2% reward, which adds up over time.
Instacart+ members also get perks like free delivery and reduced fees. Instacart gift cards work for payment, but only for orders outside same-day delivery.
It helps to plan your orders and combine purchases to cut down on fees and earn more rewards. Costco Same-Day also runs recurring promo codes, often something like $10 off a $35 order, so it’s worth checking for a current code before you check out.
Same Day vs 2 Day Delivery
| Feature | Same-Day Delivery | 2-Day Delivery |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | As fast as 1 hour | Ships in about 2 days |
| Best for | Fresh and perishable items | Non-perishable and bulk items |
| Minimum order | $35 | Varies, often none |
| Free delivery | Orders $75 and up | Often free on qualifying orders |
| Handled by | Instacart shoppers | Costco warehouses |
| Costco Shop Card | Not accepted | Accepted |
When to Choose Each Delivery Option
Same-day delivery is best if you’re in a jam, like when you realize you’re out of milk or need something for dinner tonight. Usually, you’ll get your order within a few hours, which can really save you a trip.
Before ordering, it’s smart to check Costco hours so your delivery window lines up with your day.
On the other hand, 2-day delivery is better for those bigger, planned-out orders. The selection tends to be broader, and delivery fees are usually lower.
If you’re not in a rush, you’ll probably save a bit by going with 2-day delivery. Orders over $75 generally skip the delivery surcharge, though same-day delivery might have a higher tip just because it’s so convenient.
Service Area and Availability
Same-day delivery runs through Instacart and is available in a lot of urban and suburban spots. Still, it doesn’t reach as far as the 2-day delivery option.
The 2-day grocery delivery covers more regions. It even offers a wider range of Costco products.
Orders ship out directly from Costco warehouses or distribution centers. That’s probably why they can deliver to more places.
Availability shifts depending on where you live, the time, and sometimes just how busy things are. It’s smart to check Costco’s delivery site or app before you try to order, just to see what’s possible for your address.
If you want to get into the nitty-gritty of prices or service differences, Costco’s 2-day and same-day delivery information page is the place to look.
I love your service, as a physcially challenged individual who is now housebound I am delighted to find your service that I can use my EBT card as well. However my first order went on my charge card as I didn’t manage the ordering process correctly. Anyway I just wanted to send a shout out and say thanks.