Coles paper bags price increase: Coles quietly hikes online shopping charge | Supermarket Sleuths

Coles has quietly raised the price of their paper bags for online ordersincreasing their flat “paper bag fee” from $1.50 to $2.

This new load came into effect on May 11.

Coles customers were informed of the change via a message on the website supermarket websiteand only discovered at checkout the extra 50 cents that was about to be added to their orders.

It said: “We have increased our paper bag fee to $2 for online orders scheduled beginning Monday, May 11.”

A Coles spokesperson told nine.com.au: “We regularly review our online store offering to ensure it continues to provide customers with a convenient and reliable service.

“As part of a recent review, we have updated the packing fee for online orders from $1.50 to $2.00 per order, which will be displayed at checkout before customers place their order.”

Coles’ $2 paper bag fee will be charged regardless of the number of bags required for each order. Coles’ new paper bag charges are in line with Woolworths, where customers also pay $2.

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Coles reported a huge increase in online orders in their latest financial results, up 27 percent.

Coles’ e-commerce sales now represent 13.1 percent of the supermarket’s value.

Online orders at Coles include Click & Collect and home delivery. Coles groceries are also available via Uber Eats.

It wasn’t all good news for Coles in 2026, with the supermarket giant found to have misled shoppers with illusory discounts in a landmark case brought by consumer watchdog ACCC.

This finding comes after Coles reported solid sales growth in early 2026, driven by a 4.0% year-on-year increase in supermarket sales to $9.8 billion.

The ACCC has also taken action against Woolworths, with Today Money expert Joel Gibson saying a similar finding can now be expected to be made against the store.

A Coles spokesperson told nine.com.au in a statement: “We acknowledge the decision of the Federal Court in relation to the ACCC proceedings. Our priority has always been – and will continue to be – delivering value to our customers.

“The Court found that all price increases were due to increases in supplier costs and were therefore commercially justified. This case highlights the importance of clarity for both retailers and customers.

“And the need for clear, practical guidance on the setting of minimum prices to ensure that the retail sector can avoid unnecessary litigation in the future. We are in the process of reviewing the judgment.”

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