DoorDash acquires Instacart in a deal worth about $17 billion. The two companies announced the agreement on Thursday, October 29, 2026. DoorDash will pay $65 for every Instacart share, and the offer is 26% above where Instacart stock closed before deal rumors started. The move joins the biggest restaurant delivery app in the United States with its top grocery delivery rival.
DoorDash Acquires Instacart: What Happened
On October 29, 2026, DoorDash and Instacart told the market that their boards had agreed to a full merger. Instacart’s board approved the agreement by a unanimous vote. Holders of about 19% of Instacart shares have already promised to vote yes.
The news did not arrive out of nowhere. Reports of advanced talks surfaced earlier in the week, and Instacart stock jumped while DoorDash stock slipped. The same report said Instacart had also spoken with Uber, but that Uber walked away from those talks. Once DoorDash confirmed the plan, DoorDash shares rose in early trading.
The announcement landed on the same day DoorDash shared strong quarterly results. Its gross order value grew 36% to $33.9 billion, which shows the company has plenty of momentum going into this deal.
How Much Is Instacart Worth? Instacart Valuation Explained
The Instacart valuation in this deal is about $17 billion in equity value. That works out to $65 per share. Before the offer, Instacart carried a stock market value of roughly $13 billion to $14 billion, so DoorDash is paying a clear premium to get the company.
The number also tells a bigger story. Instacart was valued at around $39 billion in a private funding round in 2021, during the pandemic boom in grocery delivery. It went public on the Nasdaq in 2023 at a much lower value. The $17 billion price sits well above its recent trading range but far below that 2021 peak.
On the business side, Instacart earned about $3.75 billion in revenue last year. DoorDash earned about $13.72 billion in the same period, which makes DoorDash roughly three and a half times larger by sales.
How DoorDash Will Acquire Instacart: Deal Structure
This is a cash-and-stock deal, and Instacart shareholders get to choose how they want to be paid. For each share they own, they can pick one of three options:
| Shareholder choice | What they receive per Instacart share |
|---|---|
| All cash | $65.00 in cash |
| All stock | 0.3372 shares of DoorDash common stock |
| Mix of both | $48.75 in cash plus 0.0843 DoorDash shares |
There is a cap. DoorDash will issue stock for no more than 25% of the total payment. If too many shareholders ask for stock, they will receive it on a prorated basis. In simple terms, at least 75% of the deal will be paid in cash.
DoorDash plans to pay the cash part with money it already has plus new debt. The deal has no financing condition, which means DoorDash cannot back out simply because it struggles to raise funds.
What still has to happen: Regulators must approve the deal, and Instacart shareholders must vote on it. Because these two apps sit at the top of US grocery and food delivery, regulators will likely look at the deal closely. You can read the formal terms in the official DoorDash deal announcement filed with the SEC.
Why DoorDash Wants Instacart
DoorDash built its name on restaurant delivery. Instacart built its name on the big weekly grocery shop. Together, the companies say they cover both habits. DoorDash chief executive Tony Xu said grocery is one of the hardest things to get right online, and that Instacart has spent years learning how to do it well.
Competition also pushes this deal. DoorDash has taken market share from Instacart for years. Five years ago, Instacart held a much bigger slice of US grocery delivery spending than it does now. Buying the rival ends that fight and gives DoorDash the lead in a fast-growing category.
The deal also fits a pattern. DoorDash has already bought Wolt, Deliveroo, and SevenRooms, and rival Uber has been making its own acquisitions this year. The delivery industry is consolidating, and the biggest names want more of the market before growth slows further.
What Changes for Instacart Shoppers and Customers
For most people, nothing changes right away. DoorDash says it will keep the Instacart brand, the Instacart app, and Instacart’s enterprise technology products. Instacart shoppers can keep fulfilling Instacart orders, and they can choose whether they also want to take DoorDash orders.
Over time, customers could gain more choice. Instacart users could shop at more than 50,000 extra stores that DoorDash already serves, on top of the nearly 100,000 stores on Instacart today. Grocers could also tap DoorDash’s delivery network to offer faster and cheaper delivery.
Benefits for grocery stores
- More grocers could use Instacart’s technology to run their own online ordering sites.
- Stores could grow advertising income through Instacart’s retail media tools.
- Stores can choose to work with Instacart, DoorDash, or both.
About Instacart: Company Profile
Instacart, which trades as CART and is run by the parent company Maplebear Inc., started in 2012. It specializes in grocery and convenience store delivery in the United States and Canada. Its network includes about 600,000 independent shoppers who picked and delivered roughly 338 million orders last year. Chris Rogers serves as chief executive.
Instacart also earns money from advertising and from software tools that help grocers sell online. Those enterprise tools are a big part of why DoorDash wants the company.
About DoorDash: Company Profile
DoorDash started in 2013 and is based in San Francisco. Tony Xu is the co-founder and chief executive. The company began with restaurant delivery, then added grocery, convenience, retail, and many other local categories. It went public in 2020 and trades on the Nasdaq under the symbol DASH.
DoorDash is far bigger than Instacart by revenue and stock market value. One report puts DoorDash’s market value near $73 billion, which explains why it can afford a $17 billion purchase while still using mostly cash.
What Happens Next
- Instacart shareholders will vote on the deal.
- Regulators will review whether the combination hurts competition.
- Instacart has cancelled its next scheduled earnings call because of the agreement.
- The Instacart brand and app should keep running as usual during the review.
If regulators sign off, DoorDash will own the top two names in US delivery apps for meals and groceries. That would reshape how Americans order dinner, weekly groceries, and last-minute essentials.
DoorDash Instacart Deal: Frequently Asked Questions
Did DoorDash really acquire Instacart?
DoorDash signed a definitive agreement to acquire Instacart on October 29, 2026. The deal is not final yet because it still needs regulator approval and an Instacart shareholder vote.
How much is the DoorDash and Instacart deal worth?
The deal values Instacart at about $17 billion, or $65 per share.
What is Instacart’s valuation?
Instacart’s valuation in this deal is about $17 billion. Its stock market value before the offer was roughly $13 billion to $14 billion.
Will the Instacart app shut down?
No. DoorDash says it will keep the Instacart brand, app, and enterprise technology products.
Is the deal paid in cash or stock?
Both. Shareholders can choose all cash, all stock, or a mix, but stock is capped at 25% of the total payment. For official wording, see the DoorDash press release exhibit on the SEC website.
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