Best Discount Stores for Everyday Savings

The best discount stores are off price chains such as TJ Maxx, Marshalls and Ross for clothes and home goods, Aldi and warehouse clubs such as Costco for groceries, and dollar stores such as Dollar Tree for party supplies and basics. Each saves money in a different way, so the right store depends on what you buy. This guide compares them, as part of our money saving tips.

What a discount store is

A discount store sells at lower everyday prices than traditional department stores and supermarkets, by cutting costs elsewhere: fewer services, simpler stores, buying overstock and closeouts, selling its own brands, or selling in bulk. Discount stores do not rely on coupons or sales events; the low price is the everyday price.

The main types, with what keeps their prices low:

Best discount department stores

The best known discount department stores are Walmart and Target, which sell groceries, household goods, clothes and electronics at everyday low prices and add savings through free loyalty programs and paid memberships. Walmart+ costs $98 a year and Target Circle is free, as of October 2026, and both add member deals on top of regular prices.

• Walmart keeps prices low across groceries and household basics. Walmart+ costs $98 a year or $12.95 a month and includes free delivery from stores on orders of $35 or more and fuel savings at participating stations, as of October 2026.
• Target runs Target Circle, a free program with weekly deals and a birthday reward, and Target Circle 360, a paid tier with same day delivery. Our guide to Target price match and Target Circle explains each tier.
• Kohl's is a department store rather than a discounter, but its everyday markdowns, Kohl's Cash and stacking rules often beat discount store prices on brand names; see our Kohl's vs Macy's guide.

Best off price stores for clothes and home

Off price stores such as TJ Maxx, Marshalls and Ross sell brand name clothes, shoes and home goods below department store prices, because they buy extra stock and closeouts from brands. TJX, which owns TJ Maxx and Marshalls, and Ross both say their prices are generally 20% to 60% below regular department store prices, as of October 2026.

These figures come from the companies themselves: TJX (TJX, checked October 2026) and Ross (Ross Stores, checked October 2026). They compare against regular prices, not other stores' sale prices, so check a brand's own sale section before assuming the off price store is cheaper.

How to shop off price stores well:

• Go often, buy little. Stock changes constantly, so frequent short visits find more.
• Check the brand and the tag. Know what the item normally costs at full price.
• Inspect it. Overstock can include items with small flaws.
• Use the senior discount. Ross takes 10% off on Tuesdays for shoppers 55 and older; our senior discounts list covers the rules.

Best discount grocery stores

The best discount grocery stores keep prices low by stocking mostly their own brands and running leaner stores. Aldi is the best known: it uses a quarter deposit for carts, asks shoppers to bring their own bags, and sells mostly exclusive brands, as of October 2026. Warehouse clubs like Costco save on bulk buys.

• Aldi. Aldi says it keeps prices low through a 25 cent cart deposit, so it does not need staff to collect carts, exclusive brands that avoid national brand marketing costs, and shoppers bagging their own groceries (Aldi pricing FAQ, checked October 2026). Bring a quarter and your own bags.
• Costco. Membership costs $65 a year for Gold Star, or $130 for Executive with a 2% reward on most purchases, as of October 2026. It pays off for families who buy in bulk and use what they buy.
• Your regular supermarket's store brand. Most supermarket chains sell their own brand next to the national brand for less.

Our guide to saving on groceries covers when a warehouse membership pays for itself and how to compare unit prices.

Best dollar stores

Dollar stores sell most items at one low price, which makes them good for party supplies, gift bags, cleaning basics and seasonal decor. Dollar Tree moved its standard price to $1.25 in all US stores in 2022, and some stores carry Dollar Tree Plus items at $3 and $5, as of October 2026.

What to know before you shop:

• Dollar Tree's base price is $1.25, not $1, and some items cost more. Dollar Tree says the $1.25 price point rolled out to all US stores in 2022 (Dollar Tree, checked October 2026).
• Check the size. A lower price can mean a smaller package; compare the price per ounce or per count with the supermarket.
• Best buys: greeting cards, gift wrap, party plates and balloons, storage bins, seasonal decor and basic kitchen tools.

Online discount stores

Online discount stores sell overstock, closeouts and returns at reduced prices with home delivery. Amazon Outlet gathers markdowns and overstock in one place, Amazon Resale sells graded returns, Woot runs daily deals, and marketplaces such as Temu and Shein sell low priced goods from overseas sellers. Check return rules before you buy, because they differ widely.

• Amazon Outlet, Resale and Renewed. Our guide to Amazon Outlet, Resale and Renewed explains each section and its return rules.
• Woot. An Amazon owned daily deal site for overstock and refurbished items.
• Temu and Shein. Very low prices with longer shipping; our guide is Temu legit? compares their returns and buyer protection.

For more places to find bargains online, see our ranking of the best deal websites.

What to buy and skip at discount stores

Buy at discount stores what you would buy anyway and what you can easily judge: brand name clothes and home goods at off price stores, staples and store brand groceries at Aldi, party and seasonal basics at dollar stores. Skip electronics with no warranty, items cheaper per unit elsewhere, and anything you only want because it looks cheap.

The rule that saves the most: a discount is only a saving if it was on your list. Our guide on how to find the best deals explains how to tell a real bargain from a low looking price.

Discount stores FAQ