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Costco Same-Day Delivery 2026: Fees, Markup, Instacart+ & Real Cost
Costco Same-Day Delivery 2026 explained: fees, item markups, Instacart+ savings, $10 Executive credit, real costs and $7.59 vs. $8.07 price comparison
Clara Watson
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Costco Same-Day Delivery 2026: How Much It Really Costs
Costco same-day delivery through Instacart is convenient, but it does not cost the same as walking into a Costco warehouse. Costco itself says Same-Day item prices are higher than local warehouse prices because the pricing helps cover Instacart's delivery services. There can also be service fees, delivery fees, tips and other charges depending on the order.
The good news is that there are several ways to reduce the extra cost. Costco members can access a discounted Instacart+ membership for $79 per year, and eligible Executive Members can receive a $10 monthly credit on qualifying $150+ Costco orders. Costco also says Instacart+ members receive up to 3.5% savings on Same-Day orders.
This guide breaks down the real pricing, the differences between SameDay.Costco.com and the Instacart app, the $7.59 versus $8.07 product comparison, the fees most shoppers overlook, and the situations where delivery can make practical sense.
$7.59
Same-Day Example
Kirkland eggs comparison
$8.07
Instacart Example
Same product comparison
$79/yr
Costco Member Instacart+
Current annual member rate
$10/mo
Executive Credit
Eligible $150+ order
How Costco Same-Day Delivery Works in 2026
Costco Same-Day is powered by Instacart. The shopper receives the order, shops for the products at a Costco warehouse and delivers them to the customer's address. Costco says Same-Day orders are delivered by Instacart and that the service has a $35 minimum order. Availability also varies by region, so entering your delivery address is the practical way to determine whether the service is available to you.
The main ordering options are:
SameDay.Costco.com: Costco's dedicated Same-Day shopping experience. Costco's own pricing information says item prices are higher than the local warehouse price because they help cover Instacart's delivery services.
Instacart: Costco is also available through the Instacart marketplace. Instacart explains that retailers can set different prices on its marketplace, and pricing policies vary by retailer.
If you are comparing prices, always check the exact same item, size, package quantity and account status. A price seen in the Instacart app is not necessarily identical to the price displayed on Costco Same-Day.
Important: Costco's Same-Day service is not simply warehouse shopping with a delivery charge added afterward. The item price itself can be higher than the local warehouse price. That difference is one of the biggest costs to understand before placing a large order.
Some products and services may also have different availability online. Alcohol and prescription items, for example, have additional restrictions and ID requirements, and Same-Day availability is not offered in every region.
The Costco Same-Day Markup: What the Numbers Really Mean
One of the most common questions is: How much more expensive is Costco Same-Day than shopping in the warehouse?
Costco does not publish one universal markup percentage that applies to every item, warehouse and customer. Its official pricing policy simply states that Same-Day item prices are marked up above the local Costco warehouse price and that Instacart uses the markup to help pay for delivery services.
For this article, however, a real basket comparison conducted in January 2026 produced an illustrative markup of about 13.5% for the selected products when comparing delivery pricing with warehouse pricing. That number should be treated as a comparison result, not as an official Costco-wide markup rate.
Pricing Question
What We Found
Does Same-Day cost more than the warehouse?
Yes. Costco officially confirms that Same-Day item prices are higher than local warehouse prices.
Is 13.5% an official Costco markup?
No. It is an illustrative result from the selected price comparison used for this article.
Does Instacart+ reduce Same-Day pricing?
Yes. Costco currently says Instacart+ members receive up to 3.5% savings on every Same-Day order.
Can pricing differ between Costco Same-Day and Instacart?
Yes. The same item can display different prices across channels.
For the official explanation, see Costco's Same-Day pricing policy. It is the most useful first-party reference when comparing warehouse prices with delivery prices.
SameDay.Costco.com vs. Instacart App: The $7.59 vs. $8.07 Comparison
This is one of the most useful details from the original price comparison and it is worth keeping because it shows how even a small item-level difference can accumulate across a full cart.
Kirkland Eggs Price Comparison
Ordering Channel
Example Price
SameDay.Costco.com
$7.59
Instacart
$8.07
Difference
$0.48
The difference is only 48 cents on that product. But if a household has many items with small pricing differences, the total gap can become noticeable.
It is important not to turn this single comparison into a universal rule. Prices can change by product, location, membership status and date. The useful takeaway is simply to compare the same basket before checking out rather than assuming every Costco item has identical pricing across platforms.
Instacart itself explains that retailers can have their own pricing policies on the marketplace, which is why checking the retailer's stated pricing policy matters.
All the Fees, Itemized
The item markup is only one part of the total cost. The final amount can also include service fees, delivery fees, tips and potentially other charges depending on the order.
Instacart says delivery fees vary based on the retailer, delivery window and order total. Its service fee also varies based on factors such as location and the number and types of items in the cart. The exact amounts are shown at checkout.
Cost
How It Works
Can It Be Reduced?
Item markup
Same-Day item prices are higher than local warehouse prices.
Instacart+ can provide additional item-price savings.
Service fee
Varies by order, location and items. Exact amount appears at checkout.
Do not assume it is a fixed 5%.
Delivery fee
Varies according to delivery conditions and order details.
Instacart+ provides $0 delivery fees on eligible orders.
Heavy-item charges
Additional charges can apply depending on the order and location.
Consider buying especially heavy products in-store when practical.
Tip
Separate from the service fee. Instacart says 100% of the shopper tip goes to the shopper.
It is optional, but shoppers should consider the size, distance and difficulty of the order.
Executive $10 credit
$10 monthly credit on an eligible $150+ Costco order.
Available to eligible Executive Members subject to the program rules.
Do not confuse $0 delivery with $0 fees. Instacart+ can eliminate eligible delivery charges, but service fees, taxes, tips and other applicable charges can still remain.
Instacart+: Is the $79/Year Costco Member Rate Worth It?
Costco members can currently receive an Instacart+ annual membership for $79. Costco's Instacart partnership information also says qualifying new Instacart+ members may receive a two-month free trial, subject to eligibility rules.
The membership can be useful for frequent Costco delivery shoppers because Instacart+ provides $0 delivery fees on eligible orders, while Costco says Instacart+ members receive up to 3.5% savings on every Same-Day order. Service fees still apply.
Orders/Year
Illustrative Delivery Fee Saved*
Illustrative Savings
Compared With $79
6
$6.99 × 6
$41.94
-$37.06
12
$6.99 × 12
$83.88
+$4.88
24
$6.99 × 24
$167.76
+$88.76
52
$6.99 × 52
$363.48
+$284.48
*These calculations use a $6.99 delivery fee only as an illustration. Actual delivery fees vary, so your break-even point can be different. The calculations also do not include service fees, item-price savings or taxes.
The practical lesson is simple: if you order frequently enough for the avoided delivery fees and additional item-price savings to outweigh the $79 membership cost, Instacart+ can reduce the effective cost of delivery. It is better to calculate this from your own order history than to assume a universal break-even number.
Costco Executive Member $10 Monthly Credit Explained
This is one of the most valuable Costco Same-Day benefits to understand if you have an Executive membership.
Eligible Costco Executive Members receive one $10 credit each month for a qualifying Costco order of $150 or more through Costco Same-Day or Costco on Instacart. The credit does not roll over to the next month.
The current Costco FAQ says the order must reach $150+ pre-tax in eligible merchandise, with alcohol and prescription medications excluded from the minimum. The Instacart terms further explain that the credit excludes taxes, service and delivery fees, tips, special handling fees and other fees.
Maximum annual value: If you qualify and successfully use the credit every month, the nominal value is $120 per year. But you need an eligible $150+ order each month, and unused credits expire at the end of the month.
The credit is not available simply because you have a Costco membership. You need an active Costco Executive Membership and the appropriate account linking. Costco's official FAQ is the best place to check the current eligibility rules: Costco Executive Membership Instacart Offer FAQ.
Costco Executive 2% Reward and Costco Visa 2%
There is another detail that is easy to overlook: Costco's Same-Day pricing policy says qualifying Same-Day purchases can count toward the Executive annual 2% Reward, calculated using the original warehouse price, rather than the marked-up Same-Day price. The reward remains subject to Costco's normal terms, conditions and exclusions.
Costco's pricing policy also says Costco Anywhere Visa by Citi cardholders receive their 2% rewards for purchases made through Same-Day. That means an eligible shopper can potentially receive both the applicable Executive reward and the card reward, subject to the terms of each program.
Why this matters: The Executive reward is based on the original warehouse price, so you should not assume the extra Same-Day markup increases the amount used to calculate the 2% Executive reward. Costco specifically states that the original warehouse price is used.
True Cost Calculator: Three Illustrative $150 Order Scenarios
There is no single "Costco delivery fee" that applies to every shopper. The following examples are therefore illustrations, not official Costco quotations.
To make the math easy to follow, these examples use:
$150 as the in-warehouse equivalent.
A 13.5% item markup as an illustrative comparison result, not a universal Costco rate.
A 5% service fee as an illustrative assumption only. Actual service fees vary.
A $6.99 delivery fee as an illustrative assumption.
A 12% tip as an illustrative assumption.
Scenario 1 — $150 Warehouse Basket, No Instacart+
Cost Element
Illustrative Amount
In-warehouse equivalent
$150.00
13.5% illustrative item markup
+$20.25
Illustrative 5% service fee
+$8.51
Illustrative delivery fee
+$6.99
Illustrative 12% tip
+$21.45
Illustrative delivered total
$207.20
Premium vs. warehouse
+$57.20
Scenario 2 — $150 Basket With Instacart+
Here we apply Costco's stated up to 3.5% Instacart+ Same-Day savings to the illustrative delivery-priced item subtotal. Actual savings may be lower because Costco describes the benefit as "up to" 3.5%.
Cost Element
Illustrative Amount
In-warehouse equivalent
$150.00
Illustrative delivery-priced item total
$170.25
Up to 3.5% Instacart+ item-price saving
-$5.96
Illustrative service fee
+$8.21
Delivery fee
$0.00*
Illustrative 12% tip
+$19.50
Illustrative delivered total
$192.01
Premium vs. warehouse
+$42.01
*Instacart+ provides $0 delivery fees on eligible orders, but other fees can remain.
The third example shows why the Executive benefit can materially change the economics of a $150+ order. But the exact premium will vary because item prices, service fees, delivery fees, taxes, tips and available promotions can all change.
When to Use Same-Day Delivery vs. Shop In-Warehouse
Same-Day Delivery Can Make Sense When...
Weather makes a warehouse trip difficult.
Mobility limitations make shopping in person difficult.
You are short on time and the convenience has meaningful value to you.
You need a household restock delivered to a vacation rental.
You need heavy items delivered rather than carrying them yourself.
You have an Executive $10 monthly credit that you can actually use.
You already have Instacart+ and frequently meet the qualifying order minimum.
You need a delivery solution without making a separate warehouse trip.
Warehouse Shopping Can Make More Sense When...
You regularly shop at Costco and want the lower warehouse pricing.
You are buying fresh produce and want to personally choose the items.
You are purchasing items featured in Costco's in-warehouse promotions.
You want to inspect electronics, furniture or other expensive products before buying.
Your order is small enough that the delivery-related costs are hard to justify.
You want certainty about a specific item's availability.
You are already going to Costco for another reason.
Fresh produce is a particularly personal example. Delivery notes can help — for example, asking for bananas with less yellow or requesting ripe avocados — but a shopper cannot always reproduce the exact selection you would make yourself.
The same applies to rotisserie chicken and other popular Costco products: availability can change quickly, so verify the item is available for Same-Day in your area before building an order around it.
Tips for Getting the Lowest Practical Same-Day Cost
1. Compare SameDay.Costco.com with the Instacart app.
Do not assume the prices are identical. The $7.59 versus $8.07 Kirkland egg comparison in this article is a good example of why checking the same item across channels can be worthwhile.
2. Link your Costco membership and Instacart+ correctly.
Costco's partnership with Instacart provides member-specific pricing benefits, including the discounted $79 annual Instacart+ rate and additional Same-Day savings.
3. Remember that $0 delivery does not mean $0 fees.
Instacart+ removes eligible delivery fees, but service fees and other charges can still apply. Check the final checkout screen rather than estimating from the membership benefit alone.
4. Consolidate orders when practical.
If you need several Costco products anyway, combining them into one order may be more convenient than placing multiple small delivery orders. Just remember that a larger cart can also increase the total service fee and tip.
5. Think carefully before ordering very heavy products.
Water, pet food, paper towels and similar bulk products can be convenient to have delivered, but they also create more work for the shopper. If you are physically able to pick up those items yourself, warehouse shopping may be more economical.
6. Use item-level notes for produce.
Where the platform permits item instructions, specific requests such as "prefer less-ripe bananas" or "choose firm avocados" can communicate what you want. They are requests, however, not guarantees.
7. Compare the final checkout total, not just the item price.
The real comparison is warehouse basket versus the complete delivered total — including item pricing, service fee, delivery fee, taxes and tip.
8. Use the Executive credit before it expires.
The $10 monthly credit does not roll over. If you are eligible but do not place a qualifying order during the month, that month's credit is lost.
9. Keep the 2% Executive reward in the calculation.
Costco says qualifying Same-Day purchases can count toward the Executive 2% Reward using the original warehouse price. That does not make delivery free, but it is a factor when comparing the total economics.
What About Costco Returns?
Costco's Same-Day pricing policy states that Costco maintains its merchandise satisfaction guarantee, with limitations, and directs customers to Costco's return policy for details. Some categories have specific return windows.
If you are buying an expensive product through delivery, it is still worth checking the applicable Costco return terms before ordering. The convenience of delivery does not mean every product has identical return conditions.
The easiest way to understand Costco Same-Day Delivery is to look at the
full cost, not just the delivery charge. Costco says Same-Day
items are priced higher than the local warehouse price because the markup
helps cover Instacart's delivery service. A $35 minimum order also applies.
```
Cost Element
What to Expect
Important Note
Item pricing
Higher than warehouse pricing
Costco does not publish one universal markup percentage.
Service fee
Varies
Shown at checkout and can depend on location and order details.
Delivery fee
Varies
Instacart+ can reduce eligible delivery fees to $0; other fees may still apply.
Heavy-item charges
May apply
Large or heavy orders can have additional charges depending on the order.
Tip
Optional
Tips are separate from Instacart's service fees and go to the shopper.
Executive $10 credit
−$10 when eligible
Available on qualifying $150+ pre-tax orders for eligible Executive Members, subject to the program terms.
Instacart+
$79/year Costco member rate
Eligible Costco members can receive the discounted annual rate. Instacart+ also provides additional savings on Costco Same-Day orders.
Instacart+ Same-Day savings
Up to 3.5%
Costco currently states that Instacart+ members receive up to 3.5% savings on every Same-Day order.
Executive 2% reward
2% annual reward
Qualified Same-Day purchases count toward the Executive Reward based on the original warehouse price.
Costco Anywhere Visa® by Citi
2% cash back
Eligible Same-Day purchases can earn the card's 2% reward.
```
Important: There is no single “Costco delivery markup” that applies to every order.
Your final price depends on the items you buy, your local Costco pricing, delivery/service fees,
membership benefits, and any applicable promotions or credits.
Best Use Cases for Costco Same-Day Delivery
Bad weather or difficult driving conditions
Mobility limitations or situations where visiting the warehouse is difficult
Time-sensitive grocery runs
Vacation-rental or event stocking
Large or heavy purchases that are inconvenient to transport yourself
Orders where an eligible Executive $10 monthly credit meaningfully reduces the final cost
Frequent delivery orders where Instacart+ benefits justify the membership cost
When Shopping at the Warehouse May Make More Sense
You make regular weekly Costco trips and can easily pick up the order yourself
You want to personally select fresh produce
You are shopping for items where warehouse promotions make a significant difference
You are making a large purchasing decision and want to inspect the product yourself
Your order is small enough that delivery and service costs are difficult to justify
You want the lowest possible item price and do not need delivery convenience
The Bottom Line on Costco Same-Day Delivery Cost
Costco Same-Day Delivery is not simply the warehouse price plus a delivery charge.
The item price itself can be higher than the warehouse price, and service, delivery,
tip, and other charges may affect the final checkout total.
On the other hand, Costco and Instacart offer several ways to reduce the effective cost.
Eligible Instacart+ members receive additional Same-Day savings, eligible Executive
Members can use the $10 monthly credit on qualifying $150+ orders, and qualified purchases
can still count toward Costco's Executive Reward and Costco Anywhere Visa® by Citi rewards.
That's why the most useful comparison is not simply
“How much is Costco delivery?” but
“What will my final checkout total be compared with buying the same items at the warehouse?”
If you are researching Costco from an employee perspective as well as a shopper, our Costco Pay Raise 2026 article covers the employee-pay side separately.
How much is the markup on Costco same-day delivery in 2026?
Costco officially confirms that Same-Day item prices are higher than local warehouse prices because the markup helps cover Instacart's delivery services. A January 2026 comparison used for this article found an illustrative markup of about 13.5% on a selected basket. However, 13.5% is not an official universal Costco markup percentage; actual differences can vary by item, location and account.
Why was the same Kirkland product $7.59 on SameDay.Costco.com but $8.07 on Instacart?
The comparison showed $7.59 on SameDay.Costco.com versus $8.07 on Instacart for the same Kirkland egg product. Instacart explains that retailers can set marketplace pricing policies, so prices can differ between platforms. Treat the figures as a specific comparison rather than a permanent price difference.
Does Costco same-day delivery have a delivery fee?
It can. Delivery fees vary according to factors including retailer, delivery window and order total. Instacart+ members receive $0 delivery fees on eligible orders, but service fees and other charges can still apply. Costco Same-Day has a $35 minimum order.
How much is Instacart+ for Costco members?
Costco members can currently receive an Instacart+ annual membership for $79, with additional eligibility rules for new-member trials. Costco also says Instacart+ members receive up to 3.5% savings on Same-Day orders.
What is the Costco Executive $10 monthly delivery credit?
Eligible Costco Executive Members receive one $10 credit each month for a qualifying Costco order of $150 or more through Same-Day or Costco on Instacart. The credit expires at the end of the month and does not roll over. Taxes, fees, tips and certain products do not count toward the qualifying amount under the program terms.
Does the Costco 2% Executive Reward apply to Same-Day delivery?
Costco's Same-Day pricing policy says qualifying Same-Day purchases can count toward the Executive annual 2% Reward based on the original warehouse price, subject to the normal reward terms and exclusions. Costco also says Costco Anywhere Visa by Citi cardholders receive their 2% rewards for Same-Day purchases.
Is SameDay.Costco.com cheaper than the Instacart app?
Prices can differ. In the comparison used for this article, a Kirkland egg product was $7.59 on SameDay.Costco.com and $8.07 on Instacart. Because prices can change by product and account, compare the same items on both platforms if the difference matters to you.
Does Instacart+ save 7% on Costco Same-Day?
Costco's current Same-Day pricing policy says Instacart+ members receive up to 3.5% savings on every Same-Day order. Older articles may quote different figures, but the current Costco policy is the more relevant reference.
When is Costco same-day delivery worth considering?
It can be useful when weather, mobility, time constraints or heavy products make a warehouse trip inconvenient. It can also make sense when you value the convenience enough to accept the additional costs. For regular shopping, compare the complete delivered total against the warehouse price rather than looking only at the delivery fee.
Bottom Line
Costco same-day delivery in 2026 is best understood as a convenience service with a higher total cost than warehouse shopping. The biggest mistake is looking only at the delivery fee. Costco confirms that the item prices themselves are higher than local warehouse prices, while Instacart adds service and potentially other fees.
The smartest way to evaluate an order is to compare the complete checkout total with what the same basket would cost at your local Costco warehouse.
The $7.59 versus $8.07 Kirkland egg example also shows why the ordering channel matters. Meanwhile, Costco members can currently get Instacart+ for $79 per year, receive up to 3.5% Same-Day savings, and eligible Executive Members can use a $10 monthly credit on qualifying $150+ orders.
For occasional emergency or convenience shopping, paying extra may be reasonable. For frequent Costco shopping, the warehouse remains the straightforward way to access the lower in-store pricing. The important part is knowing exactly what you are paying for before clicking Place Order.
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