How many retailers offer curbside pickup in the United States?

There is no single, official count of U.S. retailers with curbside pickup. Adoption changes weekly as chains add or retire the service. However, virtually every national grocery, big-box, home-improvement and pharmacy chain now promotes curbside pickup, alongside thousands of regional and independent stores across all 50 states.

Approximately 72 million Americans (25.3% of U.S. consumers) used curbside pickup within the past year as of 2024, with U.S. curbside pickup retail sales projected to reach $54.3 billion in 2025. While only about 24.8% of the Top 1,000 retail chains offered curbside pickup in 2024—down from a pandemic peak of 55.1%—the service remains a cornerstone of omnichannel strategy for major retailers including Target, Walmart, Kroger, and Home Depot.

The fluid nature of curbside adoption reflects retailers’ ongoing evaluation of operational costs, consumer demand, and competitive positioning across different market segments.

Numbers at a glance

• 72 million Americans used curbside pickup in the past year (2024)
• $54.3 billion projected U.S. curbside pickup sales for 2025
• 24.8% of Top 1,000 retailers offered curbside pickup in 2024
• 12% of grocery shoppers used curbside pickup in 2024 (doubled from 6% in 2022)
• 50% of Food & Beverage chains offered curbside pickup in 2024
• 97% customer satisfaction rate reported by major grocery chains
• 3.9% online conversion rate for retailers with curbside vs. 3.1% average

Market-wide adoption snapshot

Current curbside pickup availability varies dramatically across retail segments, with clear leaders and laggards emerging based on operational fit and consumer expectations.

Big-box and grocery chains

Virtually all major grocery and big-box retailers maintain curbside pickup services. Target’s “Drive Up” service fulfills over half of its digital orders through same-day services including curbside pickup. Walmart leverages store-fulfilled models that contributed to a $2.5 billion monthly e-commerce run rate by late 2024. Kroger continues attracting millions of users through its grocery pickup model, with 97% of customers rating the service as “very satisfied.”

Food & Beverage chains lead all retail sectors with 50% offering curbside pickup as of 2024, reflecting strong consumer demand for contactless grocery shopping that doubled from 6% usage in 2022 to 12% in 2024.

Specialty and apparel retailers

Apparel retailers show more conservative adoption, with many viewing curbside pickup as operationally complex due to sizing, returns, and inventory management challenges. However, retailers maintaining curbside services report higher online conversion rates (3.9% vs. 3.1% industry average), indicating value for specific customer segments.

Home improvement chains like Home Depot continue offering curbside pickup, particularly valuable for bulky items and professional contractors seeking efficient pickup processes.

Independent and regional stores

Small business adoption faces significant barriers including increased staffing costs, inventory management complexity, and technology investment requirements. However, many independent retailers recognize curbside pickup as essential to compete with larger chains, particularly in markets with high car ownership rates.

Key drivers behind the growth of curbside pickup

Multiple factors continue driving curbside pickup adoption despite post-pandemic service reductions among some retailers.

Shopper preferences for speed and safety

Consumer behavior research shows sustained preference for contactless shopping options, with millennials leading adoption at two-thirds favoring curbside pickup. The service appeals to time-pressed shoppers seeking convenience without sacrificing product selection or pricing available through online ordering.

Cost and margin considerations for retailers

Curbside pickup offers retailers a middle ground between expensive last-mile delivery and traditional in-store shopping. The model reduces delivery costs while maintaining customer engagement and potentially increasing basket sizes through online browsing behavior.

Advances in inventory visibility technology

Modern point-of-sale systems and inventory management platforms enable real-time stock visibility across channels, making curbside pickup operationally feasible for retailers that previously struggled with inventory allocation between online and in-store customers.

Barriers slowing wider adoption

Despite consumer demand, several operational challenges limit broader curbside pickup adoption across retail segments.

Logistics and staffing complexity

Curbside pickup requires dedicated staff to manage order fulfillment, customer communication, and vehicle-side delivery during peak periods. This creates dual supply chain challenges as employees must simultaneously serve in-store customers and fulfill pickup orders, often leading to increased labor costs and potential service delays.

Real-estate and parking-lot constraints

Many retail locations lack adequate parking infrastructure for designated curbside pickup zones, particularly in urban areas or older shopping centers. Retailers must balance curbside spaces with traditional customer parking while ensuring compliance with accessibility requirements.

Integration with legacy POS systems

Older retail technology systems may require significant upgrades to support real-time inventory visibility, mobile payment processing, and customer notification systems essential for efficient curbside operations.

How analysts estimate adoption levels

Industry researchers use several methodologies to track curbside pickup availability, each providing different perspectives on market penetration.

Using Top-500 retailer benchmarks

Digital Commerce 360 and similar research firms regularly survey major retail chains to track omnichannel service availability. Their 2024 finding that 24.8% of Top 1,000 retailers offer curbside pickup provides a baseline for large-chain adoption while excluding smaller regional and independent retailers.

Survey-based methodologies

Consumer research firms like eMarketer conduct regular surveys measuring usage rates rather than retailer availability. Their data showing 25.3% of Americans used curbside pickup in the past year provides demand-side perspective on service penetration.

Industry association reporting

Trade associations in specific sectors—grocery, pharmacy, home improvement—track member adoption of various fulfillment methods, though reporting standards and definitions vary across organizations.

Segment-by-segment roll-out timeline

Curbside pickup adoption followed predictable patterns based on operational fit and consumer expectations within different retail categories.

Grocery and big-box (early adopters)

Grocery chains pioneered curbside pickup pre-pandemic, with services expanding rapidly during 2020-2021. Usage doubled from 6% to 12% between 2022-2024, establishing grocery as the most mature curbside pickup segment. Big-box retailers like Target and Walmart quickly followed, integrating curbside into broader omnichannel strategies.

Home improvement and automotive

Home improvement retailers adopted curbside pickup to serve professional contractors and DIY customers purchasing bulky items. The operational fit—large parking areas, heavy products, business customers—made curbside pickup a natural extension of existing pro-customer services.

Apparel, luxury and slow adopters

Fashion and luxury retailers remain cautious about curbside pickup due to concerns about product presentation, sizing issues, and brand experience control. Many prefer traditional BOPIS services that maintain in-store customer interaction while offering online ordering convenience.

What adoption means for your business

Understanding curbside pickup trends helps retailers evaluate competitive positioning and customer service strategies.

Competitive table-stakes checklist

• Inventory visibility: Real-time stock levels across all channels
• Mobile-optimized ordering: Seamless smartphone purchasing experience
• Customer communication: Automated notifications for order status and arrival
• Designated pickup zones: Clearly marked, accessible parking areas
• Staff training: Efficient order fulfillment and customer service protocols

ROI levers (basket size, loyalty, labor)

Retailers with curbside pickup report higher online conversion rates (3.9% vs. 3.1% average) and increased customer satisfaction scores. However, success requires careful management of labor costs and operational efficiency to maintain profitability.

Tech and process roadmap

Successful curbside implementation typically requires 3-6 months for technology integration, staff training, and process optimization. Key investments include mobile app development, inventory management system upgrades, and customer communication platforms.

Why a single “official” number doesn’t exist

The absence of a definitive retailer count stems from the dynamic nature of curbside pickup adoption and the lack of centralized industry reporting.

Rapid rollouts and removals

Retailers frequently adjust their curbside offerings based on seasonal demand, staffing constraints, and profitability analysis. Many chains that expanded curbside services during the 2020-2021 pandemic have since scaled back or eliminated the service as foot traffic normalized. The 55.1% peak adoption rate among top retailers in 2021 dropped to 24.8% by 2024, illustrating this volatility.

Lack of centralized reporting

Unlike other retail metrics tracked by industry associations, curbside pickup availability isn’t systematically monitored across all retail segments. The National Retail Federation and similar organizations focus on broader omnichannel trends rather than specific fulfillment method adoption rates.

Variations by retail vertical

Different retail categories define and implement curbside pickup differently. Grocery stores may count drive-through pharmacy services, while apparel retailers distinguish between curbside pickup and traditional buy-online-pick-up-in-store (BOPIS) services that require customers to enter the building.

Frequently asked questions

How common is curbside pickup among U.S. retailers?

About 24.8% of the Top 1,000 U.S. retailers offered curbside pickup in 2024, though this varies significantly by sector, with grocery and big-box chains showing much higher adoption rates.

Which store categories adopted curbside pickup first?

Grocery stores were early pioneers, followed by big-box retailers like Target and Walmart. Home improvement chains also adopted quickly due to operational fit with bulky products and professional customers.

Why can adoption rates drop year-to-year?

Many retailers scaled back curbside services after pandemic peaks as foot traffic normalized and operational costs became more apparent. The service requires ongoing investment in staff, technology, and parking infrastructure.

Do small businesses offer curbside pickup, too?

Yes, though adoption faces barriers including staffing costs, technology requirements, and inventory management complexity. Many independent retailers view it as necessary to compete with larger chains.

How do analysts measure curbside availability?

Researchers use multiple approaches: surveying major retail chains, tracking consumer usage rates, and monitoring industry association reports. No single methodology captures complete market penetration.

What costs do retailers face when adding curbside service?

Primary costs include additional staffing, mobile app development, inventory management system upgrades, parking lot modifications, and ongoing customer communication technology.

Does curbside pickup boost average order value?

Retailers with curbside pickup report higher online conversion rates (3.9% vs. 3.1% average), though impact on basket size varies by retailer and customer segment.

What technology is required to enable curbside fulfillment?

Essential technology includes real-time inventory visibility, mobile ordering platforms, customer notification systems, and integration with existing POS and payment processing systems.

Key takeaways

• No definitive count exists — Curbside pickup adoption fluctuates weekly as retailers add or remove services based on operational costs and consumer demand
• Grocery leads adoption — Food & Beverage chains show the highest adoption rate at 50%, with usage doubling from 6% to 12% between 2022-2024
• Post-pandemic consolidation — Overall adoption among Top 1,000 retailers dropped from 55.1% in 2021 to 24.8% in 2024 as foot traffic normalized
• Higher conversion rates — Retailers offering curbside pickup achieve 3.9% online conversion rates versus 3.1% industry average
• Significant consumer base — 72 million Americans used curbside pickup in 2024, generating projected sales of $54.3 billion in 2025
• Operational complexity matters — Success requires balancing staffing costs, technology investments, and parking infrastructure against customer satisfaction benefits

Sources and references

• UniformMarket — Omnichannel Shopping Statistics — Consumer usage data showing 72 million Americans used curbside pickup in 2024
• Digital Commerce 360 — Omnichannel Feature Conversion Rates — Retailer adoption rates (24.8% of Top 1,000) and conversion performance metrics
• Fit Small Business — BOPIS Statistics — Consumer behavior trends and small business adoption challenges
• Driver Research — Online Grocery Shopping Statistics — Grocery sector adoption growth from 6% to 12% usage
• Away Co — Click and Collect Transforming Retail — Industry analysis and major retailer case studies