Christmas Delivery Slots: Tesco, Morrisons and Waitrose

Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last updated October 1st 2026

Trying to squeeze a trolley full of Christmas food through a busy supermarket isn’t everyone’s idea of festive fun. Having the turkey, vegetables and party food brought to your door can take one job off your list, but the booking dates arrive long before you’re ready to write the shopping list. If you have a particular day in mind, it’s worth checking now rather than leaving it until December.

Waitrose Christmas booking is already open, and Morrisons Delivery Pass holders can book too. Tesco opens priority booking on the 3rd of November, followed by general booking on the 5th. You don’t need to buy a delivery subscription simply to shop online, so compare the booking rules and total cost before paying for one.

Dates below refer to this Christmas; availability depends on your postcode and the slots left when you book.

When do Christmas delivery slots open?

The table below puts the three supermarkets together, including the different Tesco membership groups. A delivery pass is a paid subscription that covers qualifying delivery charges and can include earlier access to Christmas bookings. Earlier access gives you a head start, but it doesn’t reserve a slot for you automatically.

Tesco: set a reminder for the right booking window

Tesco’s Christmas booking opens at 6am, so a reminder the evening before gives you time to check your account details. Make sure you know which Delivery Saver plan you have: the Click+Collect plan’s priority benefit is for collection, while Off Peak members join the general release. There may be an online waiting room, and Christmas Eve delivery is only available in selected areas.

Once you choose a slot, add at least one item and check out within 10 minutes to secure it. You can return to build the rest of the order, but check out again after making changes so they’re saved. That first item gets the booking started; your finished order still needs to meet the relevant spending threshold if you want to avoid a small-order charge.

Morrisons: passholders can check the calendar now

Morrisons Christmas delivery and collection booking is open for Delivery Pass holders, with a wider festive booking window running from the 18th to the 31st of December. That doesn’t mean every date is offered at every address, so use the calendar for your postcode. A confirmed general-release date wasn’t available when this guide was checked.

If you’re buying a pass now, priority slots can take up to 48 hours to appear. The special pass rules for the 20th to the 24th of December allow up to two deliveries without a delivery fee, with no more than one across the 23rd and 24th. Your pass must cover the chosen day, and the usual order minimum still applies.

Waitrose: public booking has already opened

Waitrose Christmas slots cover the 20th to the 24th of December, with New Year slots from the 29th to the 31st. You can check delivery or collection through the website or app. Finish checking out rather than leaving a slot sitting in your basket, as selecting a time alone doesn’t complete the order.

Buying a Waitrose Delivery Pass now won’t give you this year’s early-access benefit: you needed an active pass bought before the 1st of September. Public booking is already open anyway, so there’s no reason to buy one just to reach the calendar. It may still reduce delivery costs if you’ll use it enough, which is a separate decision.

How much will your Christmas delivery cost?

A convenient slot isn’t necessarily the cheapest way to get the shopping home. Add the delivery charge to the basket price, then compare collection if you’ll already be passing the supermarket. The figures below are published standard charges, not a promise that the cheapest slot will be available over Christmas; the booking screen gives you the price for your address and date.

Tesco’s delivery and collection prices exclude its small-order charge. If your grocery basket is £48, for example, adding £2 of food you actually need can cost less than paying the £5 charge. Buying another £10 of things you won’t use simply to avoid that fee would leave you worse off.

Morrisons’ published terms put the small-order charge on delivery baskets from £25 to £40, and remove it above £40 or for paid pass members. Check the final total, especially if you’re ordering a few festive extras rather than doing a big shop. Waitrose’s free collection can be useful if you can meet its £40 minimum without adding unnecessary shopping, but include the cost of getting there.

Is a delivery pass worth buying just for Christmas?

Work out how many deliveries you’d actually use during the subscription, then add up their likely fees. Compare that amount with the full cost of the pass, including any minimum term. If you only want one delivery, paying for that slot may cost less than signing up for months of deliveries you won’t use.

Tesco Anytime Delivery Saver costs £7.99 a month on a six-month plan, or £47.94 across the term. The 12-month option is £6.99 a month, totalling £83.88, while the collection-only plan costs £2.49 a month for six months, or £14.94 altogether. Don’t treat the monthly price as the cost of a one-off Christmas booking.

Morrisons Anytime Delivery Pass costs £8 for a month, £45 for six months or £70 for a year. Its cheaper Midweek pass covers Tuesdays to Thursdays and costs £5 monthly, £25 for six months or £40 annually. Make sure the day you want is covered, as choosing a slot outside the pass can leave you paying a delivery charge as well.

Waitrose Delivery Pass costs £8 for a month, £45 for six months or £85 for a year. As an example, two deliveries that would otherwise cost £4 each would only cover the £8 monthly price, rather than save you money. Check renewal and cancellation terms when joining, and put a reminder in your phone if you only intend to use a short subscription.

Don’t miss the earlier Christmas food deadlines

Booking a delivery doesn’t give you until Christmas Eve to choose every item. Made-to-order festive food needs more notice than ordinary groceries, and that can mean an earlier deadline for the turkey or party platter than for your milk and bread. Save the food deadline alongside your delivery date so you don’t miss it while adding the rest of the shopping.

Tesco Festive Food to Order must be checked out by 11.45pm on the 14th of December. Its fulfilment window is the 20th to the 24th of December, or the 21st to the 24th in Northern Ireland, subject to availability. Ordinary grocery items can be changed later, up to the deadline shown for your order.

Waitrose Christmas Entertaining orders close on the 15th of December, and its New Year Entertaining deadline is the 21st. For ordinary Waitrose groceries booked for the 20th to the 24th, you can amend the order until 10pm the day before delivery or collection. For Morrisons, use the amendment deadline in your order details, and check any separate Food to Order conditions rather than assuming they match your groceries.

Could cashback help with the Christmas shop?

Once you’ve compared the basket and delivery costs, check whether an eligible cashback offer could bring the bill down further. Our guide to cashback websites explains how services such as TopCashback and Quidco work. Read the supermarket offer’s terms before ordering, including whether it’s restricted to new customers, particular delivery dates or certain purchases.

Gift-card cashback is another route worth checking, and our JamDoughnut review explains how buying a gift card can earn money back. Waitrose gift cards can be used for online grocery orders, but check the exact card’s online acceptance and exclusions before buying through a cashback app. Don’t assume a card that works at a supermarket till will also pay for an online order or delivery subscription.

If you shop at Waitrose, our myWaitrose Little Treats guide is worth a look before choosing your groceries. Check your own account for any relevant offers, rather than adding things you wouldn’t otherwise buy to qualify for a reward. A little cashback or a loyalty treat won’t make up for spending far more on the shopping itself.

If your preferred delivery is full, try collection or a different day before changing supermarkets. Check fridge and freezer space before choosing an earlier date, and plan a backup for any Christmas essentials that might be substituted or unavailable.

Once you’ve checked out, save the confirmation and set a reminder for the final amendment deadline so you can check quantities, prices and delivery details before the order closes.

Frequently asked questions

When do Tesco Christmas delivery slots open?

Priority booking starts at 6am on the 3rd of November for Anytime Delivery Saver members and for collection-only bookings by Click+Collect Delivery Saver members. Everyone else, including Off Peak members, can book from 6am on the 5th of November.

Are Morrisons Christmas delivery slots open?

Delivery Pass holders can book now, subject to local availability. A confirmed booking date for customers without a pass wasn’t available when this guide was checked on the 1st of October.

Do I need a pass to book Waitrose Christmas delivery?

No, public booking opened on the 30th of September. You can book an available slot without buying a pass, with a £40 minimum grocery spend and a separate delivery charge.

Does a delivery pass guarantee a Christmas slot?

No. Priority booking gives eligible members a chance to book earlier, but the dates and times available still depend on local capacity.

Can I change my Christmas food order after booking?

Usually, but follow the deadline for the products you’re buying. Tesco Festive Food to Order closes at 11.45pm on the 14th of December, while the Waitrose Christmas Entertaining deadline is the 15th of December; ordinary groceries can have later amendment deadlines.