Supermarket Christmas delivery dates revealed - when to book

To help navigate what can be a festive minefield we've put together a table below containing everything you need to know. But a couple of quick points to bear in mind first: 

• New and existing Asda, Co-op, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose shoppers can all sign up for Christmas slots. 

• When you can place bookings varies widely, although most slots are now available. 

• When Christmas groceries will be delivered also varies, although most supermarkets will deliver up to and including Christmas Eve. 

• Not all shops release specific Christmas slots; some will simply run their usual delivery services.

For full help on cutting the cost of your grocery bill, see our Supermarket Shopping Tips. 

More booking tips

Before you book your slot, here are a couple more tips:

• Delivery pass customers may get early access. For example, Sainsbury's customers with delivery passes can already bag a Christmas delivery slot, while most of those without will have to wait until the end of the week.

• Consider click and collect. If you do miss out on a delivery slot with your favourite supermarket, stores are generally offering click-and-collect slots which may have more availability – so this could be an option if you're able to collect your groceries. Many supermarkets also offer free click and collect, so you could save on delivery costs too. Aldi, Asda, Co-op, Sainsbury's, Tesco, and Waitrose all offer Christmas click and collect at certain branches or from all of their outlets. 

What to watch out for when booking delivery slots

And here's what to watch out for: 

• Get in quickly as supermarkets are likely to be busy this year. With ongoing coronavirus restrictions, it's likely supermarket delivery slots will be in even greater demand this year with some households keen to avoid the shops, so it's best to get in while you can. Tesco shoppers reported long waits when Christmas slots became available to its Delivery Saver customers earlier this month, and the supermarket has apologised that some may not be able to get the delivery time they want. Ocado has also sold out of slots already. 

• Watch out if booking close to delivery date. Co-op and Iceland, for example, could be riskier options as you'll be waiting until nearer the time to get your slot as they don't have specific Christmas releases. This may leave you with fewer options if you miss out. But on the other hand, it could be a good back-up plan if you miss out on the initial delivery slot release at other retailers.

• Check if you can edit orders. Given there are still lots of question marks over what kind of Christmas many families will be having this year, it's worth checking if you can edit placed orders. Many shops, including Asda, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose let you make an unlimited number of changes to your order by certain deadlines. So even if you're not sure what your final shopping list will be, it could be worth getting your order in with just a few items and making edits later.

• Beware delivery fees. It's also worth weighing up how much your delivery will cost – for example, many Asda and Sainsbury's shoppers will now be paying more for delivery after the supermarkets changed their pricing this month. Also remember to factor in food costs, as these will vary by supermarket.

See our 40 Christmas MoneySaving Tips guide for more on how to reduce financial stress over the festive season, including banning unnecessary presents and free (or very cheap) ways to create Christmas magic for kids.