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DoorDash has agreed to acquire Maplebear, the company behind Instacart, in a transaction valuing Instacart’s equity at about $17 billion, or $65 per share. The offer is at least 75% cash, with stockholders able to choose cash, DoorDash shares or a mix, subject to limits. The companies say the deal will combine grocery technology with DoorDash’s delivery network, but it has not yet closed.
DoorDash has agreed to acquire Instacart in a deal valuing the grocery-delivery company at about $17 billion, combining Instacart’s grocery technology with DoorDash’s delivery network. The companies said the offer is worth $65 per Instacart share and is at least 75% cash; the transaction remains pending and the announcement does not specify a closing date.
DoorDash and Maplebear Inc., which does business as Instacart, announced a definitive agreement. Instacart stockholders may elect to receive cash, DoorDash stock or a combination, subject to proration. DoorDash stock cannot account for more than 25% of the total consideration, while at least 75% will be cash. Instacart’s board unanimously approved the agreement, according to the companies.
The $65-per-share value represents a 26% premium to Instacart’s closing share price on October 22, 2026, the reference date given in the announcement. DoorDash says the consideration represents an equity value of approximately $17 billion. The supplied announcement does not provide a cash-versus-stock election timetable or detail how proration would work if stockholder elections exceed the permitted stock portion.
DoorDash says the combined business would pair its delivery network with Instacart’s grocery and fulfillment technology, which retailers can use through consumer apps and their own websites. The firms also cite advertising and artificial-intelligence tools developed by each company. DoorDash expects to retain Instacart’s brand, app and enterprise technology products after closing. Until then, the companies say they will operate separately and independently.
A Wider Delivery Network for Grocers
The proposed combination would bring together two companies serving different parts of local commerce: Instacart’s focus on grocery orders and retailer technology, and DoorDash’s broader delivery network. For shoppers, a larger selection of stores and more delivery options could be a practical change if the companies’ plans are carried out. For grocery retailers, the companies say the deal could offer access to delivery, online storefronts, fulfillment services and advertising tools without requiring each store to build those systems independently.
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 says DashPass and Instacart+ members could use one membership fee instead of paying for both, estimating annual savings of $100 million in membership fees. These are company projections, not realized outcomes; the announcement does not explain how a shared membership would work or when it might become available.
The transaction also matters to delivery workers. DoorDash says more orders could create additional earning opportunities for Dashers and Instacart Shoppers, with more choice about when and how to work. The companies have made commitments on platform access and shopper flexibility, but the extent of any changes to order volume, pay or working conditions is not established by the announcement.
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Two Platforms, Different Retail Roles
Instacart, operated by Maplebear, provides online grocery ordering and fulfillment technology for retailers, including tools for stores’ own websites and advertising services. DoorDash operates a delivery marketplace and logistics network used by restaurants and other local businesses. The companies describe their services as complementary: customers often use Instacart for grocery shopping and DoorDash for restaurant meals and other local deliveries.
The companies frame the deal 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, not an independently established outcome. DoorDash says local grocers would remain free to work with other delivery platforms, and that Instacart Shoppers would retain the flexibility to choose which batches to accept and whether to take DoorDash orders.
DoorDash CEO Tony Xu said Instacart had spent years developing grocery capabilities, while DoorDash had built delivery infrastructure used by local stores. Instacart CEO Chris Rogers said combining the companies’ technology, retailer relationships and logistics could expand opportunities for retail and brand partners. Both executives presented those benefits as expected potential, not as results already delivered.
“Instacart has spent years learning to do that well for grocers, while DoorDash has built a delivery network and technology that local stores rely on every day.”
— Tony Xu, DoorDash co-founder and CEO
Approval and Closing Details Pending
The announcement does not specify a closing date, the remaining approval steps or whether the transaction requires regulatory or shareholder approvals beyond the board action described. It also does not set out detailed integration plans, job impacts, changes to fees or the operational terms of a combined membership. Those points should not be treated as settled based on the announcement.
Several consumer and worker benefits are presented as DoorDash expectations or commitments, not as changes already in effect. The companies have not provided the detailed mechanics for expanded store access, the estimated membership savings, or how orders and earnings opportunities would be distributed between Dashers and Shoppers. DoorDash says grocery exclusivity will not be required and that Shoppers can retain specified choices, but the announcement does not provide implementation details.
The Companies Move Toward Closing
DoorDash and Instacart will continue to operate as separate, independent companies while the agreement is pending. The next milestones are the completion of required transaction processes and any approvals that apply; the companies’ announcement does not provide a timetable or list those steps in detail.
If the acquisition closes, DoorDash expects to keep the Instacart name, app and enterprise products. Stockholders will be able to choose cash, DoorDash shares or a combination, subject to the transaction’s proration rules and 25% cap on stock consideration. Until the companies publish more details, the closing schedule and timing of any changes for customers, retailers and workers remain unknown.
Key Questions
How much is DoorDash offering for Instacart?
The agreement values Instacart at $65 per share, or approximately $17 billion in equity value. DoorDash says that price is a 26% premium to Instacart’s October 22, 2026 closing price.
Will Instacart stockholders receive cash or DoorDash shares?
Stockholders may elect cash, DoorDash stock or a combination. At least 75% of the aggregate consideration will be cash, and DoorDash stock is capped at 25%, subject to proration.
Will Instacart continue to operate under its own name?
DoorDash says it expects to keep Instacart’s brand, app and enterprise technology products after closing. The companies have not yet completed the transaction.
When will the acquisition close?
The announcement does not give a closing date or a detailed approval timetable. DoorDash and Instacart say they will operate separately until the transaction closes.
Source: about.doordash.com
