Yes — Kroger accepts EBT at all store locations and for online grocery orders. Every Kroger store is an authorized SNAP retailer, and Kroger.com accepts EBT for grocery pickup and delivery in most states. Kroger is one of the largest grocers in the United States — and one of the most EBT-accessible, with over 2,700 stores nationwide under the Kroger banner alone, plus dozens of regional chains it owns.
Which Stores Are Part of Kroger?
Kroger operates under many regional banner names. All of the following are Kroger-owned and accept EBT:
- Kroger (primary banner)
- Fred Meyer (Pacific Northwest)
- King Soopers (Colorado)
- Ralphs (Southern California)
- Fry’s Food Stores (Arizona)
- Smith’s Food and Drug (Mountain West)
- QFC (Pacific Northwest)
- Harris Teeter (Southeast)
- Food 4 Less (California, Midwest)
- Foods Co (California)
- Pick ‘n Save / Metro Market / Mariano’s (Midwest)
- Baker’s (Nebraska)
- Gerbes (Missouri)
- Jay C Food Stores (Indiana)
- Pay Less Super Markets (Indiana)
- Ruler Foods (Midwest)
If you shop at any of these banners, your EBT card is accepted in-store and for online orders through their respective apps and websites.
What Can You Buy at Kroger With EBT?
You can use your EBT card to purchase any SNAP-eligible food item at Kroger. This includes everything in Kroger’s grocery section:
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Meat, poultry, and seafood
- Dairy products — milk, cheese, eggs, yogurt, butter
- Bread, cereals, and grains
- Canned and packaged foods
- Frozen foods — frozen vegetables, frozen meals, frozen proteins
- Snack foods — chips, crackers, cookies, nuts, candy
- Non-alcoholic beverages — bottled water, juice, sports drinks, soda
- Baby food and infant formula
- Seeds and plants that produce food
- Kroger store-brand products (Simple Truth, Kroger Brand, Private Selection) — most are SNAP-eligible food items
What you cannot buy with SNAP at Kroger?
- Alcohol and tobacco
- Vitamins and supplements with a Supplement Facts label
- Non-food items — cleaning supplies, paper goods, personal care, household products
- Pet food
- Hot prepared foods from Kroger’s deli sold hot
- Pharmacy prescriptions and medicine
- Kroger fuel points cannot be purchased with SNAP
For the complete list of what SNAP covers, see the SNAP-eligible foods guide. For items that may surprise you, see 30 surprising things you can buy with EBT.
Does Kroger Accept EBT Online?
Yes — Kroger accepts EBT for online grocery orders through Kroger.com and the Kroger app. EBT is available for both grocery pickup (curbside) and home delivery at most Kroger locations.
How to use EBT on Kroger.com:
- Create or log into your Kroger account at Kroger.com or the Kroger app
- Go to Account → Wallet → Payment Methods
- Select Add EBT Card and enter your card number
- Shop for SNAP-eligible grocery items and add them to your cart
- At checkout, select EBT as your payment method
- Enter your EBT PIN to complete the purchase
- A backup credit or debit card must also be on file to cover delivery fees, service fees, tips, and any non-EBT items
Pickup vs. Delivery: Both Kroger curbside pickup (sometimes called ClickList) and home delivery support EBT payment. Pickup is available at most Kroger store locations. Delivery availability depends on your address.
Fees: Delivery fees, service fees, and tips cannot be paid with EBT. These are charged to your backup card.
Does Kroger Accept EBT Through Instacart?
Yes — Kroger and many of its banner stores are available through Instacart, and EBT is accepted at participating locations. Look for the “EBT SNAP” label on the Kroger store tile in the Instacart app before ordering. For the full guide to using EBT on Instacart, see does Instacart take EBT.
Does Kroger Accept EBT Cash Benefits?
Yes — Kroger stores accept EBT cash benefits (EBT Cash/TANF cash assistance) for any eligible purchase. EBT cash works like a debit card and can be used for any item, including non-food products. Cash back is available at the register with EBT cash at most Kroger locations — typically up to $100 per transaction.
Does Kroger Accept EBT at Self-Checkout?
Yes — Kroger’s self-checkout lanes accept EBT. Select EBT as your payment method on the screen, swipe or insert your card, and enter your PIN when prompted.
How to Use Your EBT Card at Kroger In-Store
- Shop for your SNAP-eligible food items
- At checkout — staffed lane or self-checkout — select EBT as your payment method
- Swipe or insert your EBT card
- Enter your 4-digit PIN
- Your SNAP balance covers eligible items automatically
If you have SNAP-eligible food items and non-eligible items (alcohol, cleaning supplies, pharmacy items, personal care) in the same transaction, the register separates them automatically. You pay the food portion with EBT and cover the rest with cash, debit, or credit.
Kroger Loyalty Program and EBT
Kroger Plus Card: Kroger’s free loyalty card works alongside EBT. You can scan your Kroger Plus Card and pay with EBT in the same transaction. All Kroger Plus discounts and weekly sale prices apply to your EBT purchase — so you can stack sale prices with your SNAP balance for maximum value.
Kroger fuel points are earned on most purchases, but SNAP EBT purchases may not always earn fuel points — check with your local store or the Kroger app for current fuel point policy on EBT transactions.
Kroger digital coupons can be clipped in the Kroger app and applied to your order alongside EBT payment. This is one of the best ways to stretch your SNAP budget at Kroger — many digital coupons apply to items you’d buy anyway. See can you use coupons with EBT for how this works.
Does Kroger Accept WIC?
Yes — Kroger is a WIC-authorized retailer at most store locations. Kroger stocks a comprehensive range of WIC-approved products across all categories, and WIC-eligible items are labeled in store. Kroger is one of the most widely used WIC retailers in the country. See WIC income guidelines to check if your household qualifies for WIC in addition to SNAP.
Kroger Pickup — Free With EBT Orders
Kroger offers free curbside pickup on orders meeting minimum thresholds at most locations. Unlike delivery, pickup has no delivery fee — making it one of the most cost-effective ways to use EBT for online grocery ordering. You pay with EBT for the food items; no additional fee is charged for pickup service at most Kroger locations.
For a full list of grocers offering free pickup with EBT, see grocery stores with free pickup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does all Kroger accept EBT?
Yes — every Kroger-banner store in the United States accepts EBT. Kroger operates more than 2,700 stores under the Kroger name plus thousands more under regional banner names including Ralphs, Fred Meyer, King Soopers, Harris Teeter, Fry’s, Smith’s, QFC, and others. All accept EBT.
Can I use EBT at Kroger online for delivery?
Yes — Kroger accepts EBT for home delivery through Kroger.com and the Kroger app at most locations. Add your EBT card to your Kroger account under Wallet → Payment Methods, then select EBT at checkout. A backup credit or debit card is required for delivery fees and non-food items.
Does Ralphs, Fred Meyer, or King Soopers accept EBT?
Yes — Ralphs, Fred Meyer, King Soopers, and all other Kroger-banner stores accept EBT. They are all Kroger-owned and operate the same EBT policies as Kroger stores.
Can I use Kroger digital coupons with EBT?
Yes — Kroger digital coupons clipped in the Kroger app apply to eligible items regardless of payment method, including EBT. This is one of the best ways to stretch your SNAP budget at Kroger. Stack weekly sales with digital coupons for maximum savings on your EBT purchases.
Does Kroger accept EBT for hot deli food?
No — hot prepared foods from Kroger’s deli (rotisserie chicken, hot bar items, soup) are not SNAP-eligible under federal rules. Cold deli items sold pre-packaged and unheated are generally SNAP-eligible. See can you buy hot food with EBT for the full rules on hot food and EBT.
Does Kroger offer a discount for EBT shoppers?
Kroger does not have a dedicated EBT-only membership discount program like Walmart+ or Amazon Prime. However, the free Kroger Plus Card (no annual fee) combined with Kroger’s weekly sales, digital coupons, and fuel rewards makes Kroger one of the most discount-accessible grocery chains for EBT shoppers without paying any membership fee.
Can I get cash back with EBT at Kroger?
Yes — if you have EBT cash benefits (TANF/cash assistance), you can get cash back at most Kroger registers — typically up to $100 per transaction. SNAP food benefits do not allow cash back.
Does Kroger accept EBT for pharmacy purchases?
No — prescription medications and over-the-counter medicines are not covered by SNAP benefits. EBT cannot be used for any pharmacy purchase at Kroger.
For more on using your EBT card at grocery chains, see the complete grocery stores that take EBT guide. To check your SNAP eligibility or estimate your monthly benefit, use the SNAP calculator. To find your nearest authorized SNAP retailer, use the SNAP retailer locator.