Costco Rolls Out Nationwide Delivery via Uber and DoorDash

Costco has put its entire U.S. store fleet on two third-party marketplaces at once: nearly 600 locations on Uber Eats and nearly 630 on DoorDash, spanning 47 states and Washington, D.C.

The wholesaler and Uber announced their expanded, nationwide tie-up on Wednesday, Sept. 16. One day later, on Thursday, Costco and DoorDash confirmed a U.S. marketplace launch that builds on an existing global relationship between the two companies. DoorDash's spokesperson confirmed the location count to sister publication Grocery Dive.

For Costco, the moves signal a sustained push to scale e-commerce through partners rather than owned infrastructure. Both platforms now offer same-day and scheduled delivery from Costco warehouses.

Why is Costco widening its delivery footprint now?

The timing tracks with what Costco's own leadership has told investors. In May, President and CEO Ron Vachris said during an earnings call that the retailer's U.S. same-day delivery business is "growing at an even faster rate than our digital business overall." He added that delivery acts as a strong loyalty driver and is commonly used by Costco's highest-spending members.

That claim carries commercial weight, but Costco has not disclosed absolute sales figures for the same-day delivery segment — the growth rate is relative, not absolute.

What does each platform bring?

The Uber relationship started modestly. Costco and Uber began with a 2021 delivery pilot across 25 locations in Texas. In 2024, Uber announced an expansion into the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Japan, without specifying how many locations that expansion covered.

Today, nearly all Costco U.S. stores are live on Uber Eats, with on-demand and scheduled options. The expanded partnership adds several perks, according to Uber's press release:

• Uber One membership savings on Costco orders
• Discounted Uber gift cards
• A limited-time option to purchase a Costco membership directly through Uber Eats
• Waived Uber fees for Uber One members on eligible grocery and retail orders over $60

The DoorDash deal is newer U.S. territory. Before Thursday's announcement, the two companies' U.S. partnership existed only in Puerto Rico. DoorDash now carries Costco's full nationwide fleet of nearly 630 warehouses, and customers get the same same-day and scheduled delivery options they find on Uber.

Where does this leave Instacart?

Instacart has been Costco's default U.S. e-commerce partner since 2017, and that relationship is still expanding rather than retreating. In January, Costco and Instacart launched the retailer's first same-day delivery websites in France and Spain. Late last month, Instacart announced that Costco custom cakes and party platters were available for delivery through its marketplace.

Costco, in other words, is stacking delivery partners rather than choosing between them — a hedge that spreads volume, and dependence, across three platforms.

The unanswered question is margin. Neither announcement detailed the economics of the marketplace commissions, and third-party delivery fees can erode the thin margins that Costco's membership model depends on. Whether same-day delivery through Uber and DoorDash deepens loyalty or merely adds cost will show up in Costco's next earnings calls.