15 Grocery Store Etiquette Rules We’d Love Everyone To Follow (Please?)

Going to the grocery store can be quite a headache. It’s loud, bright, noisy, and, worst of all, busy. You're there to save money on groceries, but it can be even more stressful when inconsiderate shoppers make it downright unpleasant.

Many of us have left the grocery store in a bad mood due to pushy, rude, or ignorant shoppers. But what is grocery store etiquette, and how do you know if you’re following it? 

Here are 15 basic rules you should absolutely be following to ensure you’re the best shopper you can be for employees and other customers.

Not all grocery stores are made the same. Shopping at your local big-box store — whether that’s Meijer, Kroger, or Publix — is different from a store like Aldi, for example. There are different rules and expectations.

At Aldi, for example, you’ll need to bring a quarter for a cart and your own bags or be prepared to pay per paper bag. There’s also a specific flow of the store you should follow, or else risk getting in people’s way.

Understanding how to shift your shopping habits based on where you are is also a smart shopping hack to potentially help you save more.

This one should be a no-brainer, but one of the most important grocery store etiquette rules is to be respectful and kind to employees.

It’s natural to get occasionally frustrated about prices, store policies, and other issues that arise, but taking it out on employees is never appropriate. Avoid yelling or arguing with cashiers and floor employees.

If you realize you don’t want an item, leaving it on the nearest shelf may seem harmless enough, but it’s inconsiderate to employees and shoppers alike. In fact, 97% of people surveyed find it rude, especially if the item is perishable.

Ideally, it would be best if you took the time to return the item to its original spot. However, if you’re at a larger store or don’t have the time, give it to the cashier when checking out so they can see that it gets properly reshelved.

Some grocery stores, like Target or Kroger, have cafes inside, allowing you to peruse the shelves with a coffee or drink in hand. When you’re done, though, throw the cup out.

You’ve likely seen half-drunk Starbucks cups or water bottles scattered around store shelves. Not only is this inconsiderate to employees and other shoppers, but it’s also unhygienic. 

It only takes a few seconds to toss your trash. Don’t be rude and make a mess of the store.

Returning your shopping cart is the bare minimum of grocery store etiquette. It takes only seconds, and it makes employees’ lives much easier. Not only that, but stranded shopping carts can pose more troublesome issues.

A stranded cart inside the store creates a roadblock and makes it hard to maneuver around. In the parking lot, though, carts not in their receptacles can damage cars. One social study even revealed that people are more likely to litter when they see scattered carts.

While not as problematic as carts, it’s still in poor taste to not return your shopping basket to its stand. It clutters up the store and creates more unnecessary work for employees.

More than that, though, there usually aren’t that many baskets to begin with. If you don’t return your basket, it can lead to an inconvenient shortage. 

There are usually stands throughout stores and at entrances and exits. You can afford to spare the 30 seconds it’ll take to return it.

Most people don’t like it when strangers stand too close, and that doesn’t magically change when you’re at the grocery store. A survey found that 94% of people strongly dislike it. 

We’ve all been there — you’re standing in front of a shelf looking for something when someone starts breathing down your neck, violating your personal space.

Generally, give people space of 18 inches to four feet, or use social distancing markers as reference.

The line is perhaps the most aggravating part of a grocery store trip. You just want to get home, but there’s a large queue of people ahead.

If you forget an item, don’t make everyone else suffer the consequences by ditching your cart to grab it while the cashier rings up your other items. One survey revealed that 68% of customers consider the behavior inappropriate.

Don’t incessantly line hop, either. Once you find a queue, don't jump around unless another cashier calls you to their lane.

Most grocery stores do their best to get people through the line as quickly as possible, and one way they encourage this is with express lanes, usually capping purchases at 10 to 12 items or fewer.

Don’t be the jerk that takes their huge haul through these lines. The cashier may not turn you away, but you’ll certainly sour their mood and that of other customers (one study revealed that 89% find it upsetting). 

Even if the lane is empty, it may not be in a few minutes.

While giving an avocado or melon the occasional squeeze may be necessary to test if it’s ripe or past its prime, avoid manhandling grocery store produce.

Watching someone pick up every item and give it a harsh squeeze before tossing it back down is infuriating. Not only does it tarnish and bruise the food for everyone else, but it’s just aggravating to witness.

Food sample stands are a lovely way to test a product before purchasing or satiate your hunger as you shop, but that should be the extent of what you taste before checking out.

You’ve likely seen people leisurely snack on a bag of chips as they peruse the aisles, or eat a few grapes out of the bag before purchasing. 

Not only is this just poor grocery store etiquette, but it can impact the weight and overall price. A study found that 80% of customers found this to be in poor taste.

Finding a good sale or deal at the grocery store is always a pleasant surprise, but don’t get greedy and take every last item.

This doesn’t just apply to sales. If there’s an essential item, like formula, toilet paper, or cleaning/sanitary products, don’t buy them all up just because you can. Take only what you need to avoid inconveniencing other customers.

There’s nothing wrong with taking your kids to the grocery store with you, but there is if you let them run amuck. This can be incredibly disruptive to other customers, not to mention dangerous for your children.

A study revealed that 91% of shoppers get upset when parents let their kids misbehave and run around the store. No one wants to hear children scream or worry about hitting an errant kid with their cart because their parents weren’t paying attention.

Be respectful to grocery store workers and avoid coming in just before closing. A quick trip is usually fine if you only have a few items you need to grab.

But if you know a store closes at a certain time, don’t rush in 30 minutes before with an extensive grocery list. 

Employees have other duties to attend to once the store is closed that they can’t start until all the customers are gone, so don’t be inconsiderate by making them stay later than they have to.

Seeing someone you know at the grocery store is often a pleasant surprise, and it’s perfectly fine to strike up a conversation as long as you don’t inconvenience other shoppers.

If you want to stop and have a conversation with an employee or another shopper, move your cart out of the middle of the aisle. Don’t stand in the middle of a busy area and mindlessly block the flow of foot traffic.

Grocery store etiquette is pretty intuitive — respect other peoples’ time and space, and be mindful of what’s around you.

The grocery store can be a sensory nightmare for many, and even the best trips are rarely enjoyable. 

Do your part to be a good shopper for employees and shoppers alike. And don’t forget to bring a cash back credit card so you save a little money too.