Aldi curbside pickup lets you order groceries online, choose a pickup time, and have the order brought out to your car when you arrive.[1] You do not shop the aisles yourself, but you do pay a pickup fee on most orders, and no tip is required for pickup. This guide walks through ordering, collecting, charges, substitutions and what to do when something goes wrong.
Does Aldi do pickup?
Yes, Aldi does pickup at participating stores, and the Aldi store locator shows which ones. The service is built on a simple loop: you place the order online, pick a time, and show up at that time so staff can bring the groceries out. Aldi pairs this with grocery delivery.
Because pickup is offered store by store, your first step is to find a nearby location that lists it. If your usual store is not on the list, you may need to choose a different one or consider delivery instead.
How does Aldi curbside pickup work?
Aldi curbside pickup works in three stages: you order online, you get a notice when the order is ready, and you check in on arrival so staff can bring it out. Online, you choose your store and a pickup time. Instacart’s pickup help, which Aldi hosts, says you will get a text or app notification when the order is ready, and that you follow the on-screen instructions to tell the store you have arrived.[2]
Most stores use dedicated pickup parking spots, where you wait while the order is brought to your car. At some select locations you may have to collect inside instead, and instructions are provided in advance. You do not normally need to go into the store.
Tip: Read the pickup instructions for your store before you leave home. Knowing whether it is a car-side or in-store collection saves you a circle around the lot.
How do you order Aldi online?
To order Aldi online, open Aldi’s online shopping page, pick pickup rather than delivery, choose your store, and fill your cart. When both options exist for a retailer, you select Pickup and then pick the location on a map. Then choose the pickup time you want and place the order.
You can change your cart while the order is open. If the shopper has not started, you can update it on the Order screen, and you can add items until the shopper checks out.[3] Some items cannot be added later, including alcohol and prohibited items, so plan those before you submit.
Is Aldi curbside pickup free?
Aldi curbside pickup is not always free. Instacart, which runs Aldi pickup, says non-members typically pay a flat $1.99 pickup fee, Instacart+ members pay no pickup fee, and a small basket fee applies to some pickup orders under $35.[4] This is the answer to the common questions of whether Aldi charges for pickup, what the Aldi pickup fee is, and how much the Aldi curbside pickup cost comes to. The amount shown at checkout is the one to trust. To compare services, see how to choose a grocery delivery service.
Instacart’s fee page adds that pickup orders do not have service fees, regardless of membership, and that pickup orders from certain retailers have a pickup fee, equivalent to a delivery fee.[5] Taxes appear in the order total. Bag charges apply only where local law requires them, and neither Aldi’s nor Instacart’s pages ask you to bring your own bags.
Aldi’s pages do not state whether item prices differ between pickup and in-store shopping, so do not assume they match. Compare the cart with your own shelf prices before you commit.
Do you tip for Aldi pickup?
No tip is required for Aldi pickup orders, according to Instacart’s Aldi storefront. Delivery works differently: tipping is optional there, and Instacart suggests a default tip based on factors such as order attributes and your tip history.
Aldi curbside pickup vs delivery
Pickup asks you to drive to the store, while delivery brings the bags to your door. For another retailer’s delivery, see how Walmart delivery works. The table sets out what Instacart and its fee page say about each.
| Item | Curbside pickup | Delivery |
|---|---|---|
| Per-order fee | Pickup fee (typically $1.99 for non-members) | Delivery fee varies |
| Tip | Not required | Optional |
| Minimum order (USD) | Not stated | At least 10 |
| Service fee | None on pickup orders | Applies |
The delivery fee varies by retailer, delivery window and order total, and the service fee is not a tip and does not go to the shopper.
Compare car rental
500+ rental companies. Free cancellation on most bookings.
What are the pickup windows and what happens if you are late?
Your order is ready at the time you chose, and it may sometimes be ready early. As long as you arrive before the end of the latest pickup window, the order is ready to go, and the items are kept temperature-controlled until you arrive. The latest window may end before the store closes, so do not rely on closing time.
How do substitutions and missing items work?
If an item is unavailable, the personal shopper contacts you with a suggested replacement based on similar items in the store, if you opted into substitutions, or gives you the option to cancel the item. In the app you can edit the replacement for an item, pick another option, or choose a refund instead. Turn on notifications to get alerts for all changes, including replacements and refunds, and chat with the shopper if the option you want is missing.
What if something goes wrong?
Start with the chat in your order if the shopper has already begun, and use the Order screen if they have not. For anything else, Aldi directs customers to the ALDI Help Center, where refunds and returns are also linked.[6] For age-restricted purchases, bring a valid ID.
