There’s a massive misconception that all dollar stores are the same. If you think you’re getting the same deal at Dollar Tree that you’d get at Dollar General, you’re likely throwing money away.
The truth is that these stores have completely different business models. One is a true “dollar” store (mostly), while the others are just mini-grocery stores with prices that often creep higher than Walmart.
With grocery prices still making us wince at the checkout, it’s critical to know where your dollar actually stretches. Here’s the breakdown of who wins, who loses, and the traps you need to avoid.
1. The fundamental difference
Before we talk price, you have to understand the game each store is playing.
- Dollar Tree: This is the closest thing to a “true” dollar store left. While they bumped their base price to $1.25 a few years ago, much of the store is still at that fixed price point. However, they’ve introduced “Dollar Tree Plus” aisles with items priced at $3, $5, or more, so you have to watch the shelves.
- Dollar General: This isn’t really a dollar store; it’s a general store. Think of it as a condensed Walmart or Target. They have a massive footprint in rural areas where big-box stores won’t go. Prices vary wildly here, from $1 to $10 or more.
- Family Dollar: Owned by Dollar Tree, Family Dollar often sits in an awkward middle ground. They focus more on urban neighborhoods and offer a mix of groceries and household goods. Like Dollar General, their prices vary and aren’t capped at a dollar.
2. The unit price trap
This is where most shoppers get burned. You see a bottle of cleaner for $1.25 at Dollar Tree and think it’s a steal compared to the $3.50 bottle at Dollar General. But you have to look at the ounces.
Dollar Tree is notorious for “shrinkflation”—selling you smaller, non-standard sizes to keep that $1.25 price tag. If you’re buying a 10-ounce bottle at Dollar Tree for $1.25, you’re paying 12.5 cents per ounce. If Dollar General sells a 32-ounce bottle for $3.50, you’re paying about 11 cents per ounce.
The verdict:
- Dollar Tree wins for single-use items, greeting cards, party supplies, and cleaning tools like scrubbers or buckets where size doesn’t matter as much. (See 21 of the Best Things to Buy at the Dollar Store)
- Dollar General wins for name-brand cleaning solutions, laundry detergent, and pantry staples—if you buy the larger sizes and use their digital coupons.
3. The “Saturday” secret
If you shop at Dollar General without their app, you’re overpaying. Dollar General has a standing offer that is arguably the best deal in the discount world: the $5 off $25 coupon.
It’s almost always available on Saturdays. You load the digital coupon to your account, buy $25 worth of goods (pre-tax), and the register knocks $5 off instantly. That’s up to 20% savings on top of other sales. Neither Dollar Tree nor Family Dollar consistently matches this level of “stackable” savings.
4. Store experience and safety
We can’t ignore the elephant in the room: the shopping experience.
Family Dollar has faced significant criticism regarding store cleanliness and clutter. While corporate is working to clean this up, the in-store experience can be hit-or-miss depending on your local management.
Dollar Tree tends to be brighter and more organized, largely because their inventory is simpler. It’s less of a grocery store and more of a treasure hunt.
Dollar General varies by location, but because they operate with thin staffing (often just one or two employees per shift), boxes can pile up in the aisles. However, they are generally considered safer and more reliable for food items than Family Dollar has been in recent years.
5. What you should never buy
Regardless of which store you choose, there are items you should generally skip for safety or quality reasons.
- Electronics: I avoid power strips, chargers, and cords at dollar stores. They often lack proper safety certifications (like the UL label) and can damage your devices or pose a fire risk.
- Vitamins: Consumer Reports and other watchdogs have frequently found that discount vitamins may not contain the nutrients claimed on the label, or worse, they don’t dissolve properly in your system.
- Toys with small parts: Cheap plastic toys break easily, creating choking hazards for young kids and pets.
See also: 15 of the Worst Things to Buy at a Dollar Store
The final verdict
So, which one is better? It depends entirely on your mission.
Go to Dollar Tree if:
- You need party supplies, gift bags, or greeting cards (2 for $1 is unbeatable).
- You’re buying organizing bins or kitchen gadgets.
- You’re on a strict cash budget and can’t risk spending more than $20 total.
Go to Dollar General if:
- You’re doing a mid-week grocery run for milk, eggs, and cereal.
- It’s Saturday and you can use the $5 off $25 coupon.
- You want name-brand cleaning supplies in standard sizes.
Skip Family Dollar unless:
It’s the only option in your immediate neighborhood. Their prices rarely beat the other two, and their store quality record is the weakest of the trio.
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