Supermarket home delivery: slots, passes and substitutions
Last checked November 2026. Offers and rules change: confirm with the provider before you rely on them.
With supermarket home delivery you choose your groceries on the supermarket's website or app, pick a delivery time, and a driver brings the shopping to your door, usually for a delivery charge of a few pounds. It is especially useful for heavy and bulky items, and if getting to the shops has become harder.
Who delivers
Most of the large supermarket chains offer home delivery across much of the UK, alongside online-only grocers. Coverage depends on your postcode, particularly in rural areas and on islands, so the first step on any supermarket's website is to enter your postcode to see whether it delivers to you. The discount chains have generally offered little or no home delivery of their own.
Prices online are normally the same as in that chain's large stores, and loyalty-card prices usually apply too once you add your card number to your account; see loyalty cards compared.
Placing your first order, step by step
- Register. Create an account with your name, address, email and a password. If the whole idea is new, read online shopping for beginners first.
- Book a delivery slot. A slot is the window of time when the van will arrive, commonly one hour, or a longer "saver" window of several hours. Book the slot before filling your basket, because the site will hold it for you for a limited time while you shop.
- Fill your basket. Search for items by name or browse the aisles by category. Check sizes and weights carefully; a picture can make a small jar look large.
- Set your substitution choices (see below).
- Check out and pay by debit or credit card. Your card is normally charged on the day of delivery, once the final total is known.
- Change your mind if you need to. You can usually add or remove items until a cut-off time, often the evening before delivery.
What it costs
Delivery charges and slots
The delivery charge depends on the slot. Busy times, such as weekend mornings and the days before Christmas, cost most. Midweek afternoons, late evenings and wider flexible windows cost least. Charges vary by supermarket and change, so check the price shown beside each slot.
Minimum spend
Most supermarkets set a minimum order value for delivery, and several add a surcharge if your basket is below a set amount. If you live alone and buy little, this matters: it may be better to order less often and stock up on tins, toiletries, cleaning products and frozen food each time. Our guide to shopping and cooking for one has ideas.
Delivery passes
A delivery pass is a subscription: you pay a fixed amount each month or year and delivery itself is then free, as long as each order meets the minimum spend. Cheaper passes cover midweek days only. A pass is worth it only if you order often enough.
| How often you order | Usually the better choice |
|---|---|
| Weekly | A delivery pass, midweek if your days are flexible |
| Fortnightly | Work it out: compare the pass price with two cheap slots a month |
| Monthly or less | Pay per delivery and choose the cheapest slot |
Passes often renew automatically, so note the renewal date.
Substitutions
If something you ordered is out of stock, the supermarket may send a similar item instead, called a substitution. You are in control:
- You can allow or refuse substitutions for the whole order or for individual items, which is important for anything you need in a specific form, such as a special-diet product.
- The driver or the receipt will tell you what has been substituted, and you can hand back any substitute you do not want at the door and not be charged for it.
- Supermarkets' policies on what you pay for a dearer substitute differ, so check the retailer's terms.
On delivery day
- Many supermarkets text or email a narrower arrival time on the day.
- Drivers will normally carry the shopping to your door, and many will bring it into the kitchen if you ask and it is safe to do so. Mention at checkout, in the delivery notes box, if you need this or if you take a while to reach the door.
- Check the "use by" dates on chilled food as you unpack. If something is damaged, missing or too short-dated, report it through your account or by phone and ask for a refund.
- Someone needs to be in. Groceries cannot be left unattended, and age-restricted items such as alcohol may need proof of age.
If you cannot get out or cannot use the internet
- Telephone ordering. Some supermarkets have offered phone ordering lines for customers who cannot shop online. Ring the supermarket's customer service number and ask what is available now.
- A relative ordering for you. A family member anywhere in the country can place an order on their own device for delivery to your address. See shopping for someone else for safe ways to handle payment.
- Local help. Your local Age UK, council or voluntary organisations may run or know of shopping services, volunteer shoppers or community transport to the shops. The Age UK website lists local branches, and your council's adult social care team can advise if you are struggling to get food in.
- Smaller shops. Many local butchers, greengrocers, milk rounds and farm shops deliver, often with a simple phone call.
- Collection. If the delivery charge is the obstacle, click and collect is often cheaper or free.
Common questions
Is online grocery shopping more expensive than going in?
Shelf prices are generally the same as in the chain's larger stores. You add the delivery charge, but many people find they spend less overall because there are fewer impulse buys and a running total on screen.
Can I use coupons and my loyalty card online?
Usually yes. Add your loyalty card number to your online account, and look for a box at checkout for voucher or coupon codes.
What if I am not happy with the fresh food chosen for me?
Tell the supermarket promptly, the same day if you can. They will normally refund items that are damaged or of poor quality. Fresh food must still be of satisfactory quality; see your consumer rights.
Do I have to tip the driver?
No. Tipping is not expected for supermarket deliveries.