Book your Xmas supermarket delivery slots now with spots at Asda, Sainsbury's and Waitrose all still available - here's when and how to do it

But, before we begin, here are a few quick points to bear in mind first: 

• The time and date of when you can place bookings varies considerably. 

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

• Not all shops release specific Christmas dates for orders: some will just run their usual delivery services.

• Click and collect will invariably be cheaper than choosing a delivery but fees may also apply for click and collect.

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

Christmas Delivery Slots 

The majority of Britain's supermarkets offer Christmas food deliveries up until Christmas Eve but the timeframes at which they accept bookings vary.

The table below shows the policies for each supermarket chain and when you can book slots. Be sure to act quickly, however, as slots often get snapped up quickly. 

What to watch out for when booking delivery slots

• Get in quickly. Ocado has largely sold out of Christmas delivery 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 big day to get your slot as they don't have specific Christmas delivery dates. This may leave you with fewer options if you miss out but it could be a good back-up plan if you miss out on slots elsewhere.

• Check if you can edit 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 of delivery fees. Also remember to factor in food costs, as these will vary by supermarket.

Remember that customers who pay for a delivery pass often get early access. For example, Ocado customers were given priority when booking a Christmas delivery slot.

Click and Collect Slots

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 (See the table below).

Many supermarkets also offer free click and collect, so you could save on delivery costs too. 

See our 44 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.