The share of small and midsize retailers using self-checkout fell to 36% in 2026 from 43% in 2025, a Toast survey found. Retailers cited theft and inefficiency; shoppers complained about self-scanning and monitoring. 75% said they would keep investing heavily in other technology.
A June report from retailer-backed research group ECR Retail Loss found grocery-store merchandise losses averaged 22% higher in the year after self-checkout was installed. Stores with self-checkout had average losses 33% higher than stores without it; the figures include theft and accidental errors such as missed scans.
Some retailers have restricted or removed self-checkout. Target set a nationwide 10-item limit in 2024, while Walmart tested a 15-item cap at some stores. Dollar General removed self-checkout from about 12,000 stores that year, and Five Below reduced its use. Meanwhile, Toast found electronic shelf-label use rose 11 percentage points year over year and order-ready-board use rose 9 points; 88% of respondents believed AI would make their businesses more efficient.
