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DoorDash and Instacart announced a definitive agreement for DoorDash to acquire Instacart at $65 per share, an equity value of about $17 billion. The deal’s consideration will be at least 75% cash, with stockholders able to elect cash, DoorDash shares or a mix, subject to limits and proration. The companies have not provided a closing date in the supplied announcement.
DoorDash has agreed to acquire Instacart in a transaction valuing the grocery-delivery company at about $17 billion, bringing two major delivery and commerce platforms under one owner if the deal closes. The companies said the agreement sets a price of $65 for each Instacart share, with the consideration to be at least 75% cash.
Instacart stockholders may elect to receive cash, DoorDash stock, or a combination, subject to proration. DoorDash shares may make up no more than 25% of the aggregate consideration. Instacart’s board unanimously approved the agreement, according to the companies’ announcement.
The $65-per-share price represents a 26% premium to Instacart’s closing price on October 22, 2026, the reference date cited by DoorDash. That comparison describes the announced offer against that specific closing price; it does not establish the value shareholders will ultimately receive if the transaction’s terms change or the deal does not close.
DoorDash says it expects the combined company to bring its delivery network together with Instacart’s grocery and fulfillment technology. The companies say their services could be offered through their apps and through retailers’ own websites, with advertising and artificial-intelligence tools also part of the proposed offering. Until closing, they said, DoorDash and Instacart will operate separately.
A Broader Network for Grocery Orders
The deal would combine DoorDash’s delivery reach across restaurants and local businesses with Instacart’s grocery platform and retailer technology. For shoppers, that could mean access to more stores and delivery options through the combined services. For grocers, the companies argue, the arrangement could provide tools for online ordering, fulfillment and advertising without requiring each retailer to build a full technology and delivery system on its own.
Those outcomes are company projections, not guaranteed results. DoorDash estimates Instacart customers could gain access to more than 50,000 additional stores, on top of nearly 100,000 stores already on Instacart’s platform. It also estimates that DashPass and Instacart+ members could save about $100 million a year on membership fees if they pay one membership fee rather than two. The announcement does not detail how the combined membership would work or how the estimate was calculated.
The companies also say a larger pool of orders could give Dashers and Instacart Shoppers more opportunities to earn. Actual effects will depend on order volume, the services’ eventual structure and how workers choose to participate. DoorDash has promised that local grocers will not face grocery exclusivity and that Instacart Shoppers can retain the choice to accept DoorDash orders or continue shopping only on Instacart.
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Two Platforms With Different Strengths
DoorDash describes its core role as connecting customers with restaurants and local businesses, while Instacart has built a business focused on grocery shopping and retailer services. Instacart’s technology supports online grocery ordering and fulfillment for retailers, including through store websites; DoorDash brings a delivery network and services that connect consumers with a wider range of local businesses.
In announcing the deal, both companies framed it as a way to help local retailers compete with large online businesses that can invest in delivery fleets, warehouses, memberships and shopping technology. That is their stated rationale, rather than an independently established outcome. The proposed combination would also bring together services that currently compete for customers and retail partners, making the companies’ commitments about choice and open access relevant to how the deal is presented.
DoorDash says it expects to keep the Instacart brand, app and enterprise technology products after closing. The companies have also said retailers will remain free to work with delivery platforms of their choice. These plans describe DoorDash’s stated intentions; the announcement does not provide a detailed integration plan or set out how every product and partnership would be handled.
“Grocery is one of the hardest things to get right online.”
— Tony Xu, DoorDash co-founder and CEO
Closing Terms and Integration Still Open
The announcement does not state when the transaction is expected to close, or provide a full list of regulatory, shareholder or other closing conditions. It also does not explain the process or timetable for stockholder elections, how proration would work in practice, or what happens if holders’ elections exceed the available cash or stock allocation.
There is no detailed account yet of how the two apps, memberships, pricing, retailer agreements or fulfillment operations would be integrated. DoorDash has made commitments on keeping Instacart’s brand and products and preserving shopper flexibility, but the announcement leaves implementation details unresolved. The projected gains in store access, membership savings and earning options remain estimates until the deal closes and the combined services are operating.
Awaiting Closing Conditions and Details
DoorDash and Instacart will continue as separate companies while the transaction moves toward closing. The companies will need to complete the steps required under the agreement; the supplied announcement does not specify a target completion date or enumerate those steps. Further information is expected to clarify the timetable, stockholder election mechanics and any required approvals.
For customers, retailers, Dashers and Shoppers, the practical changes will depend on what DoorDash implements after closing. Readers should watch for updates on the combined membership offer, store access, retailer platform arrangements and worker options. Until then, the stated consumer and business benefits should be treated as plans and forecasts, not changes already in effect.
Key Questions
How much is DoorDash paying for Instacart?
The agreement values Instacart at $65 per share, or approximately $17 billion in equity value. DoorDash says the share price is a 26% premium to Instacart’s October 22, 2026 closing price.
Will Instacart shareholders receive cash or DoorDash stock?
Shareholders may elect cash, DoorDash stock or a combination. At least 75% of the aggregate consideration will be cash, and DoorDash stock cannot exceed 25%; elections are subject to proration.
When will the acquisition close?
The announcement does not give a closing date. DoorDash and Instacart said they will continue operating separately until the transaction closes.
Will Instacart keep its name and app?
DoorDash says it expects to retain Instacart’s brand, app and enterprise technology products after closing. The announcement does not provide a detailed integration timetable.
What could change for customers and shoppers?
DoorDash says customers could gain access to more stores and that DashPass and Instacart+ members could pay one membership fee. It also says Dashers and Instacart Shoppers could have more earning options. These are proposed benefits, and the companies have not yet described all implementation details.
Source: about.doordash.com
