Does Instacart Provide Bags in 2024? The Complete Guide

Starting out as a new Instacart shopper can be daunting between figuring out the app, finding items efficiently, and getting groceries safely to the customer. A common question that arises is: does Instacart provide bags for carrying and transporting orders?

As a veteran shopper with over 5 years of experience and 500+ batches, I‘ll cover everything you need to know about the types of bags Instacart provides, best practices for keeping items organized and damage-free, and why proper bagging is so critical for great customer ratings.

What Bags Does Instacart Use?

Instacart shoppers use two main types of bags:

1. Insulated bags to keep cold and frozen items at proper temperatures
2. Retailer plastic or paper bags to hold and transport the order

Insulated Cooler Bags

Instacart heavily promotes their signature green and black insulated cooler bags:

• Over 80% of new Instacart shoppers opt to purchase these branded bags
• Bags cost $25 for a pack of 4, but new shoppers get credit to obtain their first set for free
• High quality construction with foam insulation and waterproof lining

While Instacart‘s bags are popular, any insulated bag that can fit grocery items and maintain temperatures works. I personally prefer sturdy reusable grocery totes with built-in insulation.

Retailer Plastic and Paper Bags

For bagging the actual groceries, Instacart shoppers use whatever bags the store provides. This includes:

• Plastic bags from chains like Kroger, Safeway, etc
• Paper bags from stores like Aldi and Trader Joe‘s
• Reusable plastic bags at Costco, Sam‘s Club, BJ‘s Wholesale etc

Does Instacart Provide Reusable Shopping Bags?

No, Instacart does not provide reusable shopping bags – you must supply your own. Their insulated cooler bags are designed specifically to transport orders rather than for shopping.

In areas where plastic bags have been banned, this can pose an issue for delivery-only if the customer hasn‘t supplied reusable bags. As a shopper, I always carry a personal set just in case.

Proper Bagging Techniques

Bagging properly is critical when shopping for Instacart for a few reasons:

• Food safety: Raw meat and seafood juices can leak and contaminate other items if not bagged carefully
• Damaged items: Overstuffed paper bags can rip or break open
• Melted items: Putting frozen goods in the same bags as room temperature items worsens melt
• Spilled liquids: Contents will spill out if bags tip over during transport
• Ratings/tips: Customers will reduce stars and tips if items arrive damaged, melted or leaking

That‘s why I always follow these best practices for bagging Instacart orders:

• Group like items (frozen, produce, pantry goods)
• Double bag meats and tie closed
• Make sure bags are not overfilled
• Redistribute weight if certain bags seem too heavy
• Add insulation for transporting frozen goods during summer

Taking a little extra time to bag mindfully makes a huge difference in ensuring orders arrive intact and customers have a great experience.

Does Instacart Pay for Aldi Bags?

Yes, Instacart builds in flexibility to pay for Aldi‘s paper bags without shoppers having to pay out of pocket.

When shopping at Aldi, the app will prompt you to add the bag fees manually for reimbursement. Instacart charges a bit more upfront for the order total to cover potential fees like this.

So no need to worry about being stuck footing the bill for Aldi bags!

Top Insulated Bag Picks for Instacart

If you opt not to purchase Instacart‘s signature bags, here are my top recommendations for insulated grocery totes:

Key Takeaways

As an expert Instacart shopper, the main things to remember about bags are:

• Instacart provides credits for signature insulated cooler bags
• Shoppers use retailer-provided plastic or paper bags
• Carefully bagging orders prevents damage and improves ratings
• Instacart covers the cost of paper bags at Aldi

Let me know if this helps explain whether Instacart supplies bags! I‘m happy to answer any other questions.