Supermarket Christmas delivery slots 2026: when Tesco, Waitrose, Ocado and Morrisons open
Waitrose and Morrisons have already opened Christmas slots and Tesco follows on 3 November. Here are the dates, minimum spends and delivery pass costs.
It may only be early October, but supermarket Christmas delivery slots are already opening, and the best times go fast. Consumer group Which? has rounded up when each of the big grocers will let you book, and some open to delivery pass members first.
What's happened: when you can book
- Waitrose opened Christmas slots to all customers on 30 September, for deliveries from 20 to 24 December, plus New Year slots. The minimum spend is £40, Waitrose says it has 10,000 more slots than last year, and you can change your order until 15 December.
- Morrisons opened slots to Delivery Pass holders on 1 October, covering 18 to 31 December. A date for other customers hasn't been confirmed yet. The minimum spend is £25.
- Tesco opens bookings at 6am on 3 November for Anytime and Click+Collect delivery subscribers, then at 6am on 5 November for everyone else. To get early access you need to sign up for Anytime delivery by midnight on 2 November. Slots run up to 23 or 24 December, depending on where you live, and Tesco has added 60,000 extra slots this year.
- Ocado gives early access to Anytime Smart Pass members who signed up by 1 September, with a staggered release for other customers. Deliveries run from 20 to 24 December, and the minimum spend in Christmas week is £90.
- Asda and Sainsbury's hadn't confirmed their dates when Which? updated its guide on 5 October. For a rough guide, last year Sainsbury's opened to pass holders on 16 October and everyone else on 23 October, while Asda opened on 15 October for pass holders and 20 October for everyone else.
Who's affected
Anyone hoping to have the Christmas food shop delivered, especially between 20 and 24 December. Pass holders get first pick at Morrisons, Tesco and Ocado, so without one you'll be booking after members. Tesco's last slots vary by area, so don't assume Christmas Eve is available where you live.
What the passes cost
Passes can get you in the queue early, but they aren't free. The Morrisons Anytime Pass costs £8 a month, £45 for six months or £70 a year, and its Midweek Pass £5 a month, £25 for six months or £40 a year; both include free click and collect. The Waitrose pass is £8 a month, £45 for six months or £85 a year. Tesco's Anytime 12-month plan is £6.99 a month, its Off-Peak plan £3.99 a month and its Click+Collect-only plan £2.49 a month. Ocado's Smart Pass is £9.99 a month. Tesco customers who sign up by 18 October also get free Whoosh same-day delivery on orders over £25 until 11 January 2027.
A worked example
Here's what those prices mean in practice:
- Paying monthly vs yearly. Twelve months of the Morrisons Anytime Pass at £8 a month comes to £96, so the £70 annual pass saves £26. At Waitrose, £8 a month for a year is also £96, against £85 for the annual pass, a saving of £11.
- Cost per weekly shop. If you have a delivery every week for a year, the Tesco Anytime plan works out at about £1.61 a delivery (£83.88 ÷ 52), the Waitrose annual pass about £1.63, the Morrisons annual Anytime Pass about £1.35 and Ocado's Smart Pass about £2.31 (£119.88 ÷ 52).
- Minimum spends. A £75 Christmas basket clears the Morrisons (£25) and Waitrose (£40) minimums easily, but would need another £15 to reach Ocado's £90 Christmas-week minimum.
What to do now
- Put the opening dates in your diary: Tesco at 6am on 3 November (subscribers) and 5 November (everyone else). Set an alarm.
- Decide on a pass before the deadline. For Tesco early access, that's midnight on 2 November; for the free Whoosh offer, 18 October. Only buy one if you'll use it beyond Christmas.
- Book first, then build your basket. Waitrose lets you amend until 15 December; check your supermarket's own cut-off.
- Buy long-life and frozen food early to spread the cost and keep the Christmas order smaller, as Which? suggests.
- Use your loyalty points. Which? points to Morrisons More, MyWaitrose, Sainsbury's Nectar and Tesco Clubcard, and says Christmas saver schemes pay bonuses of between 3% and 6%. On £200 saved, that's £6 to £12 extra.
- Plan a back-up such as click and collect, in case you miss out on a delivery slot.
Your questions answered
When do Tesco Christmas delivery slots open?
At 6am on 3 November for Anytime and Click+Collect subscribers, and 6am on 5 November for everyone else.
When do Sainsbury's and Asda Christmas slots open?
Neither had confirmed when Which? last updated on 5 October. Last year both opened in mid to late October.
Can I change my Christmas order after booking?
Usually, yes, until a cut-off. Waitrose allows changes until 15 December; check your supermarket for its deadline.
Ways to save
Ordering long-life food and drink earlier from specialists such as ClearanceXL, or getting the wine sorted ahead of time with Winebuyers, can take the pressure off the big shop. If you already shop with Ocado, check its page for current offers before you book.
Sources: Which?
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Codes & deals for this story
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