How Aldi Pickup Works (And How to Avoid Their Added Fees)

Aldi pickup service has been a thing since 2020, and three out every five Aldi stores currently offer the curbside service. But unlike Walmart's grocery pickup service, Aldi pickup isn't free, and you'll need to spend a minimum of $10 to avoid a pesky $9.99 order fee.

But in addition to paying a curbside fee of $1.99 per order (plus Aldi's $0.12 paper bag fee), you'll also pay a little more for each item added to your cart. In fact, when I compared in-store prices to Aldi pickup prices, I found that the average markup is around 11%, which is similar to the markup I found with Publix curbside pickup. But for some items — like toilet paper — you'll pay up to 17% more with Aldi Pickup.

To help you shop smarter, here’s a quick rundown of what to expect when you use Aldi pickup — and how to squeeze out extra savings. We also have a guide for Aldi Delivery, a service with even higher fees.

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Check to be sure your store offers Aldi store pickup (it's currently available at 60% of locations).

Not every Aldi location offers curbside pickup, but about 60% of Aldi stores do as of April 2025. To find out if the service is offered at your local store, select “Pickup” on the Aldi website and enter your ZIP code. You can also check through the Aldi mobile app (download for iOS / Android).

If your store does have it, you'll see designated parking spaces out front with signs for curbside pickup.

How Aldi Curbside Pickup Works

To place an order for Aldi Pickup, just follow a few steps:

1. Start a pickup order on Aldi’s website or app (or through Instacart directly).

2. Add items to your cart. (Add at least $10 to avoid paying a $9.99 fee.)

3. Select a pickup time and location at checkout.

Once your order's ready, you’ll receive a notification from Aldi (or a text from your Instacart shopper if you went that way). You’ll follow the signs for Aldi pickup and pull into the designated area, follow the instructions on the sign, and the shopper will load the groceries into your car.

Keep in mind that your final order total may differ from what you were originally quoted, depending on the exact weight of a product or if an item is out of stock and needs replacing. When you place an order, you’ll be given the anticipated total, but what you’re actually charged may be different. You’ll be charged (or credited) the difference.

You'll need to pre-select substitutions or you won't get anything if an item isn't available.

Unlike pickup orders from other grocery stores, if you don’t pre-select a substitution in your order and your original item of choice isn’t available, you just won’t get anything. For Aldi pickup orders, the shopper typically doesn’t communicate back and forth like they do for delivery orders.

Do you have to tip with Aldi Pickup?

You’re not expected to tip, and the Instacart app doesn’t even have a tip option for pickup. In fact, the Aldi FAQ page states that "tips are not accepted" with curbside pickup, which is similar to Walmart's pickup service.

Unless you have Instacart+, you'll pay an Aldi pickup fee of $1.99 per order.

Not only will you pay a bag fee of $0.12 per bag, you’ll face a curbside pickup fee at Aldi too.

No matter your order size, they charge a $1.99 pickup fee per order. This helps cover the cost for Aldi’s team to gather, pack, and load up your goodies into your car.

Want to dodge the pickup charge? Sign up for Instacart+ before you place an Aldi pickup order. Not only will you get free delivery on Aldi pickup orders of $35 or more, but the pickup fee gets waived at all eligible local stores if you have the membership. You can go all in with a $99 annual membership or opt for the $9.99 monthly plan.

Related: Is Instacart Worth It?

Aldi pickup items are up to 17% more expensive than shopping in-store.

In most cases, in-store prices at Aldi are always going to be cheaper than Aldi pickup. In my experience, the only exceptions are for items where you pay by the pound (like bananas and meat), which are typically priced the same.

I researched prices for 12 different items and found that the potential markup on items ranged from 9% all the way up to 17% — and that's just for the items I selected.

Differences Between Aldi In-Store Prices vs. Pickup

*Keep in mind that local prices may vary.

For a cart with just the 12 items listed above, you’d pay an extra $6.04 if you ordered Aldi pickup instead of shopping in-store. That cost can really add up over time, especially if you order pickup often.

Make sure you spend a minimum of $10 with Aldi Pickup to avoid a $9.99 fee.

If you're thinking about ordering Aldi Pickup for a small order under $10, just don't. You'll face a $9.99 order fee at Aldi (in addition to the $1.99 curbside fee) for pickup orders that don't hit their $10 minimum.

Compared to other grocery pickup services, Aldi has one of the lowest minimum spends of the bunch (Target Pickup has no minimum spend, which is a definite plus). But Aldi's fee for spending under the minimum order requirement is also one of the highest we've seen.

You won't have access to special sale prices if you're placing a pickup order.

Unfortunately with Aldi Pickup orders, you can't take advantage of any of the sale prices featured in the Aldi weekly ad roundup.

For example, I recently spotted a bag of Happy Farms Shredded Mozzarella on sale for $3.59 (regularly $3.79) at my local Aldi. When I checked the pickup price at the same store, it was $3.95. That's 4% higher than the regular in-store price — and 10% higher than the sale price. So no savings there.

However, you can order limited-edition Aldi Finds, like candles, toys, and clothing for pickup, while supplies last. But just know that you'll pay a little more than you would in-store.

Use rebate apps like Ibotta and Fetch to earn money back on your Aldi pickup order.

Aldi doesn’t accept manufacturer coupons, because most of their items are an Aldi store brand (and because their pricing is already so low). However, you can use apps like Ibotta (sign up here) and Fetch Rewards (sign up here) to earn cash back on brand names that they do sell.

For example, here are some recent high-value Ibotta offers I've seen for items that you can buy at Aldi:

• $2 back on Bachan's Japanese Barbecue Sauce

• $2 back on Health-Ade Kombucha

• $1 back on any brand of local blueberries

I've also seen Fetch offers that'll earn you 400 in Fetch points when you buy two General Mills cereal products (worth about $0.40 in gift cards), and 750 points when you buy two Cheez-It Crackers (worth about $0.75). With Fetch, just make sure the email you use for Instacart is linked to your Fetch account. That way, Fetch will give you credit for the items listed on your emailed Instacart receipt.

KCL TIP: If you're new to using cash-back rebate apps, check our guides for how to use Ibotta and how to use Fetch Rewards. When you download the Fetch app, be sure to use the code KCL to receive 1,000 points for free.

Related Reading:

• Latest Aldi Coupons and Deals

• How to Save on Walmart Grocery Pickup

• Current Walmart Promo Codes