Family Dollar, Dollar Tree or Dollar General: Which One Is Cheapest?

Q: Which of the three stores is the cheapest overall?

Based on the sample basket in the article, Dollar Tree had the lowest total ($20) because of its near-uniform $1.25 pricing, though items are often smaller or non‑name brands.

Q: When is Family Dollar a better choice?

Family Dollar may be preferable when you need specific brand items or larger package sizes that Dollar Tree doesn’t carry; its prices can be competitive for certain goods.

Q: Why might Dollar General be the best option for some shoppers?

Dollar General often offers larger sizes and more brand-name options, making it a better choice if you’re buying in volume or want familiar brands.

Q: Are dollar stores always cheaper than Walmart or Amazon?

Not always. The article’s example basket showed Walmart and Amazon were more expensive overall, but pricing varies by item, brand, size and location, so comparisons should be made item-by-item.

Q: What trade-offs should shoppers expect at dollar stores?

Common trade-offs include smaller package sizes, fewer brand-name choices, and sometimes lower-quality or private-label items. These trade-offs can still yield good value depending on needs and budget.

Published by

Clara

Apr 12

Whats The Best Dollar Store: Which is Cheapest?

On paper, dollar stores look like a dream: shelves packed with things you need and, yes, some things you want—all for roughly a dollar. What could be more appealing?

That appeal is widespread. A 2023 Tufts Universitystudyreported that dollar stores are the fastest-growing food retailers in the contiguous U.S., doubling their locations in rural regions. In low-income and rural neighborhoods, households spend on average over 5% of their grocery budget at dollar stores. This growth comes alongside expansion plans from major chains like Dollar General and Dollar Tree, which aimed to open more than 1,300 new outlets this year,per the Wall Street Journal.

Still, it’s worth separating authentic dollar stores from imitators, of which there are many. Toward the end of 2021, popular chain Dollar Tree announced it would raise most item prices from $1 to $1.25. By this spring, they revealed plans to increase their maximum price to $7. There may now be only one chain that still captures the literal idea of a dollar store: Mighty Dollar, which notes on itswebsite that everythingis $1.25.

Other retailers like Dollar General and Family Dollar maysoundsimilar, but they simply sell many low-cost items rather than strictly pricing everything at a dollar. Dollar Tree was the last of the big players to truly embrace the old-school dollar-store concept.

Still, here’s a positive: dollar stores remain a cheap alternative to big-box outlets for essentials like laundry detergent, trash bags and body wash. You might be surprised at the bargains you can find on things like socks, vases, greeting cards and even party decorations.

But are they genuinely cheaper — and worth any extra hassle — compared to your neighborhoodgrocery store, Walmart orAmazon? We compared prices to see how three dollar-store chains stack up on everyday items and how they measure against larger retailers.

By crunching the numbers, we mean price comparisons. We can’t tell you which option is best for your personal situation — that depends on location, availability and preference. But we can point out which gives the most value for your money.

Stretch Your Dollars at Dollar Stores With These Easy Ways to Make Money

We’re fans of dollar stores. But small purchases add up fast. Need extra money for a shopping trip? From finishing quick surveys to doing short online tasks to sharing your honest feedback, a few simple side hustles can help fund your thrift-store runs.

What I Bought (and How Much It Cost)

Our approach was straightforward. We selected 10 common household items and compared prices at three dollar-store chains: Family Dollar, Dollar Tree and Dollar General. Sometimes theexactsame brand or size wasn’t available across all three, but this offers a useful comparison.

Here’s what we discovered:

1. Toilet Paper

Family Dollar: Scott ComfortPlus, 4 regular rolls: $1.25 each
Dollar Tree: Scott ComfortPlus, 4-ct packs: $1.25 each
Dollar General: Scott ComfortPlus, 4 rolls: $1 each

2. House Cleaner

Family Dollar: Mr. Clean antibacterial cleaner, 28-oz.: $1.50 each
Dollar Tree: Fabuloso antibacterial cleaner, 16.9-oz.: $1.25 each
Dollar General: Fabuloso all-purpose antibacterial cleaner, 48-oz.: $3.15 each

3. Body Wash

Family Dollar: Tone Havana Nights Cuban Blue Rose body wash, 16-oz.: $3.75 each
Dollar Tree: SpaSoap Cocoa Butter body wash, 20-oz: $1.25 each
Dollar General: Suave Men body wash, 28-oz: $2.50 each

4. Canned Vegetables

Family Dollar:Chestnut Hill cut green beans, 14.5-oz.: $0.85 each
Dollar Tree: Green Giant mixed vegetable blend, 15-oz.: $1.25 each
Dollar General: Clover Valley canned cut green beans, 14.5-oz: $0.85 each

5. Pasta

Family Dollar: Chestnut Hill rotini pasta, 16-oz.: $1 each
Dollar Tree: Columbina penne pasta, 20-oz.: $1.25 each
Dollar General: Barilla penne pasta, 16-oz.: $1.50 each

6. Spices

Family Dollar: Tony Chachere’s original Creole seasoning, 17-oz.: $3.50 each
Dollar Tree: Kingsford Cajun-style all-purpose seasoning, 2.75-oz containers: $1.25 each
Dollar General: Tony Chachere’s original Creole seasoning, 8-oz.: $2.50 each

7. Laundry Detergent

Family Dollar: Gain laundry detergent, 46-oz.: $5.50 each
Dollar Tree: Gain laundry detergent, 10-oz.: $1.25 each
Dollar General: Gain laundry detergent, 46-oz.: $5.50 each

8. 13-Gallon Trash Bags

Family Dollar: Glad 13-gallon trash bags, 20-ct.: $4.47 each
Dollar Tree: Hefty Ultra Strong 13-gallon trash bags, 25-ct.: $5 each
Dollar General: Glad 13-gallon trash bags, 22-ct: $5.95 each

9. Coffee

Family Dollar: Maxwell House original roast coffee, 27.5-oz.: $10.95 each
Dollar Tree: Folgers Classic Roast medium ground coffee, 9.6-oz.: $5 each
Dollar General: Maxwell House ground coffee, 30.6-oz.: $10.80 each

10. Cereal

Family Dollar: Honey Nut Cheerios, 12.25-oz.: $3.95 each
Dollar Tree: Honey Nut Cheerios, 3.5-oz. bags: $1.25 each
Dollar General: Honey Nut Cheerios, 10.8-oz. box: $4.15 each

So, Which Dollar Store Wins?

Below are our total sums, keeping in mind these aren’t always exact like-for-like products.

Family Dollar: $36.72
Dollar Tree: $20
Dollar General: $36.32

The best choice depends on what you value. Dollar Tree’s near-uniform $1.25 pricing explains why its total is much lower than the other two chains. But that lower price often comes with smaller sizes and fewer brand-name options. Instead of a familiar Dove or Suave body wash, you’ll find SpaSoap. Items are generally smaller and not sold in bulk — think 10-oz. Gain detergent or 3.5-oz. Cheerios bags.

If you’re trying to buy in volume, Dollar General may be a better fit. Dollar Tree tends to carry many items in smaller packages.

One more comparison: how do these dollar stores compare to non-dollar alternatives like Walmart and Amazon?

Here’s what those roughly equivalent purchases would cost:

Walmart: $52.26
Amazon: $54.66

Those figures show you often pay for convenience and shopping experience at Walmart and Amazon versus a dollar store. That doesn’t even factor in shipping or an Amazon Prime fee. It’s easy to be tempted by Amazon’s convenience, but the sticker prices aren’t alwaysactuallylower.

Overall, our comparison highlights the affordability and practicality of dollar stores. One of these chains could help you stock your home without overspending.

Writer Maria Bennett is a contributor to Savinly, frequently covering ways to sell online through social platforms. Her work has been featured in Teen Vogue, Smithsonian Magazine and the Tampa Bay Times.