Go Back-to-School With Instacart’s Season of Savings

Daily Freebies, Big Discounts & Smart Shopping for Families

The back-to-school season is here, and according to our recent nationwide survey conducted online by The Harris Poll, nearly two-thirds (64%) of parents with children in school or college are concerned about how much the back-to-school season will cost them this year, including essentials like school supplies, clothing, and groceries. What’s more, nearly half (47%) say that shopping for school supplies is one of the most stressful parts of back-to-school prep, tied with concerns about cost of those supplies (47%). Further illustrating the pressures parents face, 51% of parents say they spend four or more hours prepping for their kids to go back to school.

Whether you’re meal planning for the week, stocking up on school lunchbox favorites, or grabbing last-minute supplies, Instacart is here to help make the back-to-school season a little easier – saving families both time and money. The season of savings includes Back-to-School Deal Week (August 11-17) featuring free* daily lunchbox essentials with your Instacart order, a dedicated Back-to-School Shopping Hub, and exclusive discounts on supplies and everyday must-haves from top retailers, including 20% off** from select retailers from August 11 - September 2.

*Taxes, fees, and terms apply. Eligible items only. Terms apply.

**Promotion varies by retailer. Exp 9/2. Min purchase necessary. Terms apply.

Instacart’s Deal Week: August 11-17

Free, Daily Back-to-School Snack Items

Deal Week couldn’t come at a better time – Instacart purchase data shows this is the peak time for back-to-school shopping***, so we’re giving away some of our most popular lunchbox favorites:

• August 11: Start the week with a free box of Cheerios Cinnamon Protein, perfect for back-to-school mornings.
• August 12: Snack time is made easier with a free 6-pack of Danimals® Strawberry Smoothie.
• August 13: Sweeten up lunchboxes with a free box of Welch’s® Fruit Snacks, Mixed Fruit (40 count).
• August 14: Enjoy a free block of Land O Lakes® Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese Chunk for after-school snack boards.
• August 15: Fuel kiddos’ busy days with a free 4-pack of Orgain® Kids Protein Shake (Chocolate).
• August 16: Crunch into snack time with a free bag of Pringles® Mingles Cheddar and Sour Cream Puffed Snacks.
• August 17: Wrap up the week with a free pack of Mott’s No Sugar Added Applesauce Pouches (12 count), perfect for on-the-go convenience.

Taking advantage of these free daily items is easy.

• Open the Instacart app or visit  www.instacart.com/store/pages/deal-week.
• Add the day’s featured free item to your cart.
• There’s no minimum spend to claim these items – just make sure your cart totals at least $10 to be eligible for delivery!

More Savings All Season Long

In addition to Deal Week, Instacart’s Back-to-School Shopping Hub features a wide range of discounts across groceries, school supplies, and essentials. Here’s how we’re helping families keep costs down:

• Save up to $8 on popular items like Uncrustables®, Bounty®, and Dawn® while supplies last through stock-up-and-save offers, automatically applied when you purchase qualifying amounts. 
• Save 20% Off School Supplies: Between August 11 - September 2, shop here to access deals from participating retailers – including Staples, Michaels, Ulta Beauty, Family Dollar, The Container Store, The Home Depot, Dollar Tree, and Sally Beauty – and save on everything from notebooks and backpacks to electronics and beauty supplies (discount applied at checkout).

Your Shortcut to Saving Time & Money

According to our survey, 43% of parents with children in school or college say that using same-day delivery for back-to-school shopping allows them to spend more time with their family. Meanwhile, 40% use the time saved to run other errands, and 37% take the opportunity to relax or unwind.

Whether you're packing lunchboxes or checking off a school supply list, Instacart is helping families get back-to-school ready – without the stress or the overspending. With a full week of free daily deals, major discounts on essentials, and a seamless shopping experience, Instacart is making it easier for parents to stay organized, stick to their budgets, and focus on what matters most. 

Start your school year with time and money saved! Visit our Back-to-School Shopping Hub to start shopping today.

Survey Method:
This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Instacart from July 17 - 21, 2025 among 710 parents ages 18 and older with kids in school/college. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval.  For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 4.4 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact press@instacart.com.

***Instacart Purchase Data Method:
Instacart analyzed the rolling 7-day share of orders containing the top 10 office and back-to-school supply categories on its platform in 2024. For 9 out of 10 of these categories, their highest order share of the year occurred during the two-week period from August 5 to August 18, 2024.