How to Maximize Your Earnings With Instacart

Instacart has quickly grown into one of the most popular side hustles in the gig economy. For people who want flexible work that doesn’t involve driving passengers or delivering hot food, shopping for groceries and delivering them to customers can be a great way to make extra income.

But while signing up for Instacart is easy, maximizing your earnings takes strategy. You can’t just accept any batch that comes your way and expect to make top dollar. The difference between an average shopper and a high-earning one often comes down to knowing when to work, how to choose the best batches, and how to cut down on wasted time.

In this guide, we’ll break down the most effective ways to boost your Instacart income in 2025 so you can make the most of your time on the road.

Understand How Instacart Pays You

Before you can start optimizing your earnings, you need to understand exactly how Instacart calculates pay. Instacart shoppers earn money from a combination of:

• Batch Payment – A set amount based on the size of the order, the number of items, and the delivery distance.

• Tips – Customers can tip in the app when placing their order, and they can adjust it afterward.

• Promotions – Bonuses for completing a certain number of batches or working during high-demand periods.

Tips can make up a significant portion of your earnings, so developing strategies to increase your tip amounts is essential. Large, complex orders often pay better than small ones, but they also take more time—so striking the right balance is key.

Choose the Right Hours to Work

Not all hours on Instacart are equal. To make the most money, you need to work when demand is high.

Best times for Instacart in most areas:

• Weekday mornings (8 a.m.–11 a.m.) – Busy for grocery shoppers stocking up for the week.

• Evenings (4 p.m.–8 p.m.) – After-work grocery runs.

• Weekends (all day) – Many people order groceries on Saturdays and Sundays, especially before events or family gatherings.

Avoid low-demand times, like mid-afternoons on weekdays, unless you’re in a particularly busy zone. The goal is to maximize your batches per hour while taking advantage of high-demand bonuses.

Learn How to Select the Best Batches

One of the biggest mistakes new Instacart shoppers make is accepting every order. Experienced shoppers know that batch selection is the single most important factor in maximizing hourly earnings.

Look for:

• High pay-to-time ratio – Orders that pay $20+ and can be completed in under an hour are ideal.

• Good tip amounts – Tips that make up a significant portion of the pay often mean more generous customers.

• Short driving distances – The less time you spend driving, the more orders you can complete.

• Smaller item counts with high pay – This lets you earn good money without spending hours in the store.

Declining low-paying batches is crucial. While it might feel counterintuitive, rejecting bad orders frees you up to take better ones that increase your average hourly rate.

Get to Know Your Local Stores

The faster you can shop, the more batches you can complete per hour. This is where knowing your local grocery stores gives you a huge advantage.

• Memorize product locations – The quicker you can find items, the faster you finish.

• Build relationships with store staff – Friendly employees can help you locate out-of-stock items quickly.

• Learn store layouts – This helps you shop more efficiently and avoid backtracking.

• Understand common substitutions – Knowing what customers will likely accept helps you avoid order issues.

Some shoppers even stick to a few preferred stores they know like the back of their hand, which drastically cuts down on shopping time.

Maximize Your Tips

Since tips make up such a large percentage of your earnings, it pays to make an effort to impress customers.

• Communicate professionally – Send polite updates if items are out of stock.

• Be proactive with substitutions – Suggest alternatives that match the customer’s preferences.

• Handle groceries with care – Damaged items can result in lower tips or complaints.

• Deliver quickly and neatly – A smooth delivery process leaves a positive impression.

Some shoppers even leave a short thank-you note with orders, which can lead to repeat customers and better tips.

Use Promotions and Peak Pay to Your Advantage

Instacart often offers peak earnings during high-demand periods. These can add anywhere from $2–$10 extra per batch. Promotions like “Complete 3 batches for an extra $15” can also boost your income if you plan your schedule around them.

To make the most of promotions:

• Check your app daily – Promotions can change based on demand.

• Plan around high-demand weekends – Holidays, sports events, and bad weather often trigger big bonuses.

• Stack bonuses with good batches – Combine peak pay with high-paying tips for maximum profit.

Manage Your Expenses

It’s easy to focus on earnings and forget about costs, but expenses can quickly eat into your profits if you’re not careful.

Main costs to watch:

• Gas – Plan routes efficiently and use gas rewards programs.

• Car maintenance – More driving means more wear and tear.

• Taxes – Set aside at least 20–30% for self-employment taxes.

Apps like Stride or MileIQ can help you track mileage for tax deductions, which can save you hundreds of dollars a year.

Work Smarter, Not Just Harder

The top Instacart earners aren’t necessarily working the most hours—they’re working the right hours and making smart choices.

• Cherry-pick high-paying orders instead of taking everything.

• Avoid long delivery distances that eat up time without much pay.

• Use waiting time wisely by positioning yourself near busy stores.

• Stack orders strategically when possible.

Your goal should be to consistently maintain a high average hourly rate rather than simply chasing more hours.

Should You Multi-App?

Many top earners don’t just work Instacart—they also use apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Shipt to fill in gaps when Instacart is slow.

Multi-apping lets you:

• Switch between platforms to keep working during downtime.

• Choose the most profitable orders across all apps.

• Avoid wasted time waiting for batches when demand is low.

However, multi-apping takes practice. You need to be organized and careful not to overcommit yourself.

The Reality of High Earnings With Instacart in 2025

In 2025, most part-time Instacart shoppers earn between $15–$25 per hour before expenses. Highly skilled shoppers in busy metro areas can push that to $30+ per hour by following the strategies in this guide.

It’s important to remember that earnings will always vary based on location, customer demand, and how efficiently you work. But with the right approach, Instacart can be one of the most lucrative delivery gigs available.

Final Thoughts: Making Instacart Work for You

Instacart can be an easy way to make extra income, but to truly maximize your earnings, you need to treat it like a business. Work during peak demand, choose the right batches, shop efficiently, and manage your expenses.

The difference between a $15/hour shopper and a $30/hour shopper isn’t luck—it’s strategy. Learn your market, develop good customer service habits, and work smarter, not harder. If you follow these tips, you can turn grocery shopping into a serious side hustle that pays off in 2025 and beyond.