Instacart was founded in 2012, and one city where the company made a splash in 2014 was Boston, as Instacart teamed up with the beloved local chain Market Basket.
Today, that partnership is still going strong. However, whether you’re new to Boston or to Instacart, you might be wondering: what is Instacart Market Basket? Here’s your answer!
What Is the Instacart Market Basket In 2025?
Instacart Market Basket is the storefront for the popular family-owned, Massachusetts-based chain of grocery stores in 2025. The two companies have been partnered since 2014, a surprising move for Market Basket, since the chain didn’t even have a website until 2017. Delivery hours range from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and prices are higher on Instacart.
To learn more about how Market Basket’s Instacart storefront works, how much it costs to order from Market Basket on Instacart, and other frequently asked questions, read on for more facts!
How Does Instacart Market Basket Work?
As an early adopter of Instacart, Market Basket has been a convenient choice for groceries in the New England region, and it’s incredibly easy to use.
You will need an Instacart account and a valid form of payment. Log into your account and navigate to the Market Basket storefront.
Whether you’re online or on your phone using the mobile app, you will see rows of items, grouped by store department, e.g., Fresh Vegetables, Meat & Seafood, etc.
Add everything that you need to your cart (note that as you use Instacart Market Basket more, items will be added to your “Buy It Again” list).
When you’re done shopping, click or press on the cart icon in the upper-right corner and scroll down until you see the button “Check out.”
Press on that, and you will be taken to the check-out page. This is where you will choose your delivery (or pick-up) time, leave delivery instructions, and pick the payment method.
This is also where you’ll see your order total, including groceries, delivery fee, and service fees.
There is one more step: leaving a tip, which you can include now, and then change later if necessary.
Complete check-out, and then sit back and wait for your shopping to begin! Keep your phone nearby, because you will want to keep track of your shopper’s progress.
Your shopper may use the app to ask you questions about your order, such as what substitutions, if any, you want for out-of-stock items.
Therefore, make sure your notifications are on, because Instacart uses them to keep you apprised of your order’s progress.
Instacart will notify you of when your shopper is on their way to your location, when they’re just about there and delivering, and once they have left.
Most shoppers leave a photo of your order where they have left it.
If your Instacart Market Basket order was shopped/delivered exceptionally well, consider going back into the app, leaving a five-star rating, and upping their tip.
How Much Is Instacart Market Basket?
The good news is that Instacart Market Basket isn’t significantly more expensive than any other retailers partnering with the app.
You’ll pay at least $35 for groceries, since that’s the company’s store minimum for delivery.
Market Basket charges the regular $3.99 delivery fee, plus roughly five percent service fees, based on your grocery total.
Also, if you order delivery, you should also leave a tip, especially for exceptional service. Instacart recommends a minimum tip of $2.
However, if your order was large, with many bags or heavy items, consider tipping at least 20 percent.
Shopping Market Basket on Instacart isn’t a cheap endeavor, but neither is using Instacart in general. For those who can afford it, the convenience is worth every penny!
Is Instacart Market Basket More Expensive?
It’s more expensive to use Instacart Market Basket than to go and do your grocery shopping in-store.
Also, it’s not just the delivery fee and service fees; Market Basket, like all other retailers who price similarly, is upfront about the upcharge on its goods.
If you navigate to the Instacart storefront, you can click on “View pricing policy.”
This will open a window which reads, “Item prices are higher than in-store prices.”
Market Basket and Instacart aren’t trying to pull the wool over people’s eyes; rather, they are totally transparent when it comes to acknowledging that Instacart is more expensive.
How Late Does Instacart Market Basket Deliver?
Market Basket’s delivery hours run from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m., which is similar to its normal store hours of 7 a.m. until 9 p.m.
However, it does mean that deliveries end before the store closes, so if you need something at 8:30 p.m., you’re stuck running out to get it.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on whether or not Instacart delivers to hotels, why is Instacart so expensive, and Instacart Publix delivery.
Conclusion
Instacart Market Basket offers quick, convenient delivery for one of New England’s most beloved grocery chains.
While items on Instacart are priced higher than in store, and delivery fees start at $3.99 per order, the ability to get Market Basket delivered to your front door is, for some, priceless.