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DoorDash and Instacart announced a definitive agreement for DoorDash to acquire Instacart at $65 per share, valuing its equity at about $17 billion. The deal is 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 for $65 per share, a transaction that values Instacart at about $17 billion in equity and would unite two major U.S. delivery platforms. The companies said the deal would combine DoorDash’s delivery network with Instacart’s grocery technology, subject to closing conditions that were not detailed in the supplied announcement.
The agreement sets consideration at $65 for each Instacart share, which DoorDash said is a 26% premium to Instacart’s October 22, 2026 closing price. The total consideration will be at least 75% cash. Instacart stockholders may elect cash, DoorDash stock or a combination, with proration applying so that DoorDash shares do not exceed 25% of the aggregate consideration. Instacart’s board unanimously approved the agreement.
DoorDash said the combined company would bring its delivery network together with Instacart’s grocery and fulfillment technology, advertising tools and artificial-intelligence products. The companies say the services could be offered through their apps and on retailers’ own websites. DoorDash expects Instacart’s brand, enterprise technology products and app to remain in place after closing; until then, the businesses will continue to operate separately.
DoorDash also outlined proposed customer and worker benefits. It said Instacart customers could gain access to more than 50,000 additional stores, beyond nearly 100,000 already on Instacart’s platform. DoorDash estimates that DashPass and Instacart+ members would save a combined $100 million a year on membership fees if the memberships were combined into one fee. Those figures are company projections, not outcomes already in effect.
A Broader Network for Grocery Delivery
The proposed acquisition would join a delivery network known for restaurant orders and local retail with a platform built around grocery shopping and retailer services. For shoppers, the companies are promising more store options and a simpler membership arrangement. For grocers, the pitch is access to delivery, online ordering and advertising technology without having to build every capability themselves.
The deal also matters to workers who take delivery orders. DoorDash said Dashers and Instacart Shoppers could have more opportunities across grocery and restaurant deliveries while retaining choice over when and how they work. Instacart Shoppers, DoorDash said, would keep the ability to choose batches and decide whether to accept DoorDash orders or continue taking only Instacart orders. These are commitments described by DoorDash; their implementation and practical effects would follow only if the transaction closes.
More broadly, the agreement could reshape competition in online grocery and local delivery. DoorDash argues that independent retailers need shared technology and logistics to compete with large companies that operate their own delivery and online-shopping systems. Whether the combination delivers lower costs, faster service or increased sales for local businesses remains to be seen.
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Two Platforms With Different Strengths
DoorDash describes its business as serving restaurant customers and people ordering other local goods, while Instacart has focused on grocery orders and technology for retailers. Instacart says it has spent 14 years helping retailers of different sizes sell groceries online. The transaction announcement frames their assets as complementary: DoorDash brings consumer reach and logistics, while Instacart brings grocery-specific fulfillment tools and retailer relationships.
The companies say most grocery shopping still takes place in stores, even as online ordering grows. They argue that smaller grocers often lack the resources to build their own delivery operations, websites, advertising businesses and shopping technology. Under DoorDash’s stated plan, grocery stores would remain able to work with other delivery platforms; the company described the arrangement as an open platform with no grocery exclusivity.
DoorDash also said retailers could use its DashMart Fulfillment Services to add capacity for online orders. It did not provide further operating details in the supplied material. The combination’s effects on store partners, shoppers, brands and competitors will depend on how the businesses integrate and what services are ultimately made available.
“Grocery is one of the hardest things to get right online. Someone has to pick a ripe avocado, find a substitute you’d choose yourself, and get the ice cream to you before it melts.”
— Tony Xu, DoorDash co-founder and CEO
Approval, Timing and Deal Terms
The announcement does not specify a projected closing date or list the remaining regulatory, shareholder or other closing conditions. It also does not explain how any required approvals will be pursued or provide detail on the companies’ integration plans. The final mix of cash and stock received by individual Instacart stockholders may differ from their elections because of the stated proration rules and the cap on DoorDash shares.
The consumer savings and expanded-store figures are expectations put forward by DoorDash, not guarantees. The announcement does not set out the exact membership terms, which stores would be added, or when any combined offering could begin. It also remains unclear how the deal would affect pricing, service availability, competition among delivery platforms or the day-to-day experience of retailers and delivery workers.
The Path From Agreement to Closing
DoorDash and Instacart will continue operating independently until the transaction closes, according to their announcement. The companies have not stated when a closing is expected. In the meantime, the next material updates would be details on required approvals, the transaction timetable and how stockholders may make elections under the cash-and-stock terms.
If the deal closes, DoorDash says it plans to retain Instacart’s brand, app and enterprise technology products and to honor the stated commitments on retailer choice and shopper flexibility. Any resulting changes to memberships, store access or fulfillment services will need to be confirmed by the companies as they provide implementation details.
Key Questions
What did DoorDash agree to buy?
DoorDash agreed to acquire Maplebear Inc., which operates as Instacart, under a definitive agreement announced by the companies.
How much is Instacart worth in the deal?
The agreement values Instacart at $65 per share, or about $17 billion in equity value. DoorDash said the per-share price represents a 26% premium to Instacart’s October 22, 2026 closing price.
How will Instacart shareholders be paid?
At least 75% of the aggregate consideration will be cash. Shareholders may elect cash, DoorDash stock or a combination, but elections are subject to proration and DoorDash shares cannot exceed 25% of the aggregate consideration.
When will the acquisition close?
The supplied announcement does not give a closing date or detail the remaining conditions. DoorDash and Instacart said they will operate as separate, independent companies until closing.
What changes are promised for customers and workers?
DoorDash says Instacart customers could gain access to more than 50,000 additional stores and that DashPass and Instacart+ members could pay one fee instead of two. It also says Dashers and Shoppers may have more earning options, while Instacart Shoppers would retain flexibility over which orders they accept. These are commitments and estimates, not changes already in effect.
Source: about.doordash.com
