Costco same day delivery in Canada: Instacart, the real cost, and when a local helper is cheaper

Costco same day delivery in Canada is run by Instacart, and you pay for it three ways: item prices marked up above your local warehouse, Instacart's delivery and service fees, and a tip. If the markup were 15% (Costco doesn't publish it), it alone would add $45 to a $300 order. For big orders, bulky items or things same-day won't carry, a local helper who shops at warehouse prices for a set fee can cost less.

How does Costco same day delivery work?

You order at sameday.costco.ca, a site Instacart hosts for Costco, and an Instacart personal shopper buys your items and brings them to your door. You can order up to 5 days ahead. Delivery runs Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with holiday changes. Our Costco delivery page covers same-day alongside Costco.ca shipping and Business Centre delivery. Same-day delivery hours aren't the warehouse's; for those, see Costco hours in Canada.

What does Costco same day delivery cost?

From Costco's same-day help page (via our delivery page, checked October 1, 2026) and Instacart Canada's fees page and Instacart+ page, checked October 27, 2026.

How much does the markup add?

Costco doesn't say how big its same-day markup is, so here's what three sizes add to an order, before any fees or tip. Check yours by comparing a few staples on sameday.costco.ca with your last warehouse receipt.

The bigger the order, the more the markup costs. Against a sample $40 fee for a local helper who buys at warehouse prices, the markup alone costs more once your order passes about $267 at 15% (about $400 at 10%, $200 at 20%). Helpers set their own prices, so ask for a quote first.

Is Instacart+ worth it for Costco orders?

Only if you order often. Instacart+ costs $99 a year or $9.99 a month and removes the delivery fee on Costco orders of $35 or more, but service fees, the markup and the tip stay. It pays off if you'd otherwise pay roughly $99 a year in Costco delivery fees; compare the delivery fee on your usual order at checkout. There's a free trial of 2 weeks that renews at $99 a year unless you cancel.

What can't Costco same day delivery bring you?

• Prescriptions (Costcopharmacy.ca ships refills instead, in participating provinces)
• Over-the-counter items that need ID
• Food court and catering items
• Special orders
• Gift cards and postage stamps

It also won't help with what you already bought in the warehouse, like a TV or patio set that doesn't fit your car. An independent helper can do a Costco pickup and delivery for that, or the whole run as a personal shopper.

Why use a local helper instead of same-day?

Because it does more than deliver. A helper buys at warehouse prices, can bring what same-day won't, carries it in and, if they offer it, sets it up or takes a return back on the same trip. It isn't always cheaper on a small order, but on a big run or a bulky buy it often does more for the money:

Shop at Costco a lot and have a car? You can be that helper: see how Flatcart compares with TaskRabbit for local helpers.

Which should you choose?

• A small grocery top-up, today: same-day. At a 10% to 20% markup, a $100 order costs $10 to $20 more, and it's fast.
• You order every week: same-day with Instacart+, if your delivery fees would pass $99 a year.
• A big stock-up: ask a local helper for a quote. At a 15% markup and a sample $40 fee, a helper costs less from about $267; you pay warehouse prices plus their fee.
• Bulky or warehouse-only items, or something same-day won't carry: a local helper with the right vehicle.
• Big-ticket electronics: Costco.ca, which includes standard shipping on TVs and room-of-choice delivery from 65 inches; see Costco online shopping.