When to book supermarket Christmas delivery slots for 2023

Supermarket Christmas delivery slots for 2023 are opening! Find out when you can order food, how much delivery will cost and when they’ll take the payment.

It may take place on the same day every year, but somehow, the run-up to Christmas happens very fast and comes out of nowhere!

Instead of rushing around, playing trolley wars in the supermarket, many people look to get their Christmas food shop delivered instead to save the stress of it all.

If you’re shopping in store, there are extended Christmas opening hours.

Supermarket Christmas delivery slots 2023

To make sure you’re fully prepared, here’s when you’ll need to book your Christmas supermarket delivery slot.

Whether you’re planning to have your Christmas food shop delivered or you want to book a collection slot for click and collect, you still need to book in advance.

We cover all the major online supermarket delivery details, when you’re able to place your order, the costs for the delivery, plus we let you know when the supermarket will take payment for your order.

But first, take a look at where you can get the cheapest Christmas dinner.

Tesco Christmas delivery slots 2023

Booking for Tesco is much earlier than in previous years, so don’t miss out.

If you have an Anytime Delivery Saver, you can access Christmas booking from 7th November at 6 AM.

If you don’t have a Tesco Delivery Saver, you can start booking slots for Tesco delivery a little later.

Standard delivery slots for Click+Collect for everyone become available from 21st November at 6 AM.

Slots book up really quickly.

If there isn’t a 1 hour fixed slot, check to see if there is a flexi saver slot instead. This will mean you’ll be given a slot on a day, rather than get to pick a time.

Delivery on 24th December is only available in selected stores, so check before you get your hopes up.

Depending on what slot you pick, delivery will cost £2 – £7.

The minimum order is £40, but if you need to spend less a £4 basket charge will be added.

Even though there aren’t many delivery slots, there are still plenty for Click+Collect.

Same day collection is available in some locations. You will need to spend over £25, and there’s no minimum basket charge.

Tesco Click+Collect costs £1.50, and you still have the flexibility to amend your order no later than 11:45 pm on the night before your Click+Collect date.

If you have a Delivery Saver pass, then you can get access earlier to festive bookings.

A Tesco Delivery Saver pass is a win-win! Yes, you need to pay, but if it doesn’t save you money versus what you’d usually pay for delivery they give you a refund for the difference. 

You’re even able to use your Clubcard points to get a Delivery Saver Plan, where 50p in vouchers is worth £1.50 to spend on the plan.

When will Tesco take the payment for online shopping?

While you’re ordering 3 weeks in advance, it can be a worry about when you’ll pay.

When you first place your order, Tesco needs to validate your card and will pre-authorise £2 from your account.

On the day of delivery (or click and collect), the full amount will be taken from your bank (and the £2 pre-authorisation will be removed).

Morrisons Christmas delivery slots

Booking your Morrisons Christmas delivery slots open on 18th October for Delivery Pass customers.

All other customers can book a Christmas slot from 25th October 2023.

Delivery slots for Christmas are usually open between 20th and 22nd December, and you will need to spend a minimum of £40.

You’ll pay from £1.50 through to £5 as a delivery, depending on what slot you want to book.

When you’ve got your slot, it’s reserved for 60 minutes, so be sure to add foods and check out or you’ll possibly need to book a new one. (Remember, you can always edit your shop later on).

A Delivery pass can cost you from £5 a month with Morrisons.

When will the payment be taken?

Morrisons will reserve £1 from your account to make sure the payment card is valid.

The full amount for your food shop will be taken within two days of delivery.

Asda Xmas delivery slots

You can book a Christmas delivery slot with Asda up until 24th December, and their slots open from 3rd October for Delivery Pass holders.

There will be over one millions delivery and click and collect slots available.

If you don’t have a delivery pass, you can book a slot from 10th October.

Delivery costs from £1 – £7. If you’re buying less than £40 of food for delivery, you need to pay a minimum basket charge of £3.

There will also be 1 hour Click & Collect slots available on some days.

Asda Click & Collect can be free, and you need to spend a minimum of £25.

When is the payment taken?

Asda takes a pre-authorisation amount of 1p to check your card works, although you won’t pay that as it’s just held back.

The full amount will be taken either on the day of your delivery or collection, or the day before.

If you choose same-day delivery or collection, they will authorise your card a few hours before your slot time.

Sainsbury’s Christmas delivery slots

Slots for Sainsbury’s Christmas delivery are bookable from 16th October for Delivery Pass holders.

Depending on when you want your food delivered, there are different booking dates which are released in batches.

If you don’t have a delivery pass, you can start to book a slot from 23rd October.

The last time you can book a Christmas slot is on 16th December at midnight (if there are any slots left).

Fresh turkeys and desserts will usually be available to add to your basket from late December.

You’re able to book your slot, checkout, but then update your basket (and remember to check out again) right up until 11 pm the day before your delivery is due.

You’ll look to pay from £1 to £6.50 as a delivery charge depending on the day and time you want your food to arrive.

Click & Collect 1 hour slots will also be available from 20th November.

For Christmas Food To Order (rather than a standard food delivery), the slots are open now.

When is the payment taken?

Online payments for Sainsbury’s will be taken when your order is ready for delivery.

Iceland Christmas delivery slots

Iceland dates for Christmas delivery have not been released as yet. They are currently showing dates for around a week in advance.

I have reached out to Iceland to find out when Christmas bookings will open and will update this soon. It’s usually 6 days before delivery.

With Iceland, you’re able to get free next day delivery when you spend over £40.

They’ve got 1,000s of current delivery slots available one week in advance.

Also, remember that when you shop in Iceland, you’ve got the chance to win the cost of your shop back.

When does Iceland take the payment?

Iceland will pre-authorise and reserve for the full value of your order as soon as you checkout. The money will be held to one side by your bank.

The actual payment will then get taken on the date of your delivery.

Waitrose Christmas delivery slots

Delivery slots for Christmas are not yet open now for Waitrose. When they do, you can book a slot up to Christmas Eve.

Slots book up fast! And, you are limited to two slots during the Christmas period (20th-24th).

For collection, you can book free collection with no minimum spend.

You need to spend a minimum of £40 to get food delivered from Waitrose, but you won’t need to pay a delivery charge.

It’s not necessarily a skint person’s supermarket option, but there are some Waitrose discount codes about, which will bring the cost of your shop down.

When is the payment taken?

Your payment card won’t be charged until your order is packed and goes through the checkout in store on the day of delivery or collection.

Ocado Christmas slots

Delivery slots for Ocado always go fast! Slots are usually released for Smart Pass members first. Members will get a text or email to confirm that slots have opened.

You can book two deliveries between the Christmas delivery slots, although only allow only delivery on 23rd and 24th to give everyone a chance.

For other customers, they generally release slots in early December for delivery between 20th and 24th of December.

When is the payment taken?

Payment for your food shop from Ocado isn’t taken until after it has been delivered.

However, they will take a pre-authorised payment a day or so before the delivery. This means you will need to have the full amount in your account a few days ahead.

Supermarket Christmas delivery tips

If you’re new to online shopping, or are a pro, and want to make sure things go as smoothly as possible, here are some tips to make sure you save both time and money on your supermarket Christmas delivery.

Don’t put it off

The slots can go QUICK. 

Last year, some of the slots for Tesco Christmas deliveries sold out in minutes! And, even this year, many slots are gone at other supermarkets.

Even if you don’t know what the full shop is, book a slot, add a few things to your basket to get it booked in. Then come back later to amend the shop and get everything you need.

Supermarkets allow you to make edits to your order before the delivery, but check where you’ll be shopping for when their cut off is.

Get cashback

You can make money back on your online food shop, bringing the cost of Christmas down a bit! YAY!

Sign up to the Skint Dad newsletter, and you get access to an exclusive £16 cashback offer with Quidco (plus get sent our awesome money-saving tips).

To take advantage of the offer, you just shop at any supermarket online via Quidco, and you’ll be credited with £16 cashback. Happy Christmas!

Don’t get it delivered at the 11th hour

You will want your food to be as fresh as possible, which is why I understand people want it delivered at the last minute.

However, if there are items out of stock, you may get substitutes that aren’t suitable. And I’ve heard some amazingly-silly supermarket sub-stories in my time!

If you have your food delivered a few days before Christmas, it gives you a chance to get to the shop if you need to grab anything else.

But, it won’t be that much of a panic as most supermarkets (and Express/Local stores) are open on Christmas Eve anyway, but will close early.

Also, keep in mind, if there’s adverse weather, it may cause delays to your food delivery.

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