Even though most prices are higher than they were last year (thanks, inflation), the ongoing battle remains — is Target or Walmart cheaper? When it comes to the lowest prices on household essentials, diapers, pet supplies, personal care items, and more, there’s still a clear winner. And it might not be who you'd think.
Between Walmart Rollbacks, Target Circle deals, and printable coupons you can use to save more at checkout, it’s impossible to know right off the bat which store is cheaper and for which items. That’s why I rolled up my sleeves and compared prices on over 60 common products sold at Walmart and Target (with added insight from our KCL Price Tracker data on grocery essentials).
So, in the Walmart vs. Target battle for the lowest prices, who takes the lead? I’ll give you a hint — your 5% Target Circle Card discount makes a huge difference here.
The numbers presented below are based on online prices at the time of writing this article, so what you see in stores and online may vary.
Target Circle vs. Walmart Plus: Which program is better?
It’s kind of like comparing apples to oranges, but I’ll try my best to compare the two programs side-by-side:
Target Circle is Target’s free rewards program. Honestly, shopping at Target without a Circle account is just a waste of savings, once you understand how Target Circle works. And if you’re a Circle Card holder (it’s free to sign up), you get the exclusive 5% Circle Card discount on Target purchases whether you have the Target reloadable card, the debit card version, or the credit card.
On the other hand, Walmart Plus costs $12.95 a month (or $98 for a full year) and comes with exclusive member-only benefits. You get free 2-day shipping, free returns from home, free grocery delivery, and early access to Black Friday sales (plus a few extra perks sprinkled in).
With that said, signing up for Target Circle is worth it no matter what. But if you’re a die-hard Walmart shopper, a Walmart Plus membership is worth it if you can justify the $12.95 monthly cost. The good news is, Walmart lets you sign up for a 30-day free trial, so you can give it a monthlong test drive to see if you like the perks.
KCL TIP: If free, unlimited same-day delivery from Target sounds intriguing, consider joining the Target Circle 360 program, which costs $99 per year (or as low as $49 for your first year if you sign up during special promotions like Circle Week).
Food Items: Walmart beats Target prices about half the time.
When I dug into answering the question, " Is Target or Walmart cheaper?" , I discovered that Target and Walmart grocery prices are pretty competitive. Especially when it comes to classic food staples like ground beef, bread, and canned tuna.
Of the prices I compared, Target only had one food item that was cheaper than Walmart before you applied any Circle Card discount (eggs). But Walmart has other items for less even with the extra 5% factored into the Target price.
Ultimately, where to shop for groceries will come down to Target’s weekly ad prices and Circle offers versus Walmart Rollback deals happening at that time. And don’t forget to grab all your food coupons before shopping at either store.
Here’s the breakdown for prices on food items (with Target’s 5% Circle Card discount factored in):
Baby Items: Target is cheaper than Walmart for formula, diapers, and other essentials we compared.
At regular prices, Walmart is cheaper for popular baby items, but only by a matter of cents. So when you factor in the 5% Target Circle Card discount, Target takes the lead. But of course, a Walmart sale price might just beat Target’s Circle Card price every once in a while. So keep the latest Walmart deals close by.
Target also gives Walmart a run for their money when it comes to the best diaper deals . They regularly drop Target gift card promos on Huggies or Pampers, like these:
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Buy Two Diaper Packs, Get a $15 Target Gift Card
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Spend $100 on Diapers & Wipes, Get a $20 Target Gift Card
In the Walmart vs. Target battle for baby items, you’ll get lower prices at Target with your Circle Card than you’d get at Walmart.
KCL TIP: Use the Ibotta app for cash-back deals on diapers from Target or Walmart, like $3 back on Huggies or $2 back on Pull-Ups.
Household Essentials: Target has the edge over Walmart's prices.
Target’s everyday prices on household items like toilet paper, paper towels, and bleach spray are often within cents of Walmart’s. But when you throw in your 5% Circle Card discount, Target immediately has an edge over Walmart — sometimes by a whole $1.
Keep an eye out for gift card promos like “Get a $10 Target gift card when you buy three select household essentials,” or Target Circle offers for $1 - $5 off various household products.
Laundry Products: Target beats Walmart in most categories (except Tide Pods).
I feel like a broken record, but with your 5% Circle Card discount, Target’s prices on laundry products are lower than Walmart’s. Even though Walmart beat Target with their price on Tide Free & Gentle Pods, Target Circle Card prices won (within cents) on liquid detergent, dryer sheets, and Gain pods. This is true even before you factor in Circle offers and gift card promos, which Target regularly has for top laundry brands.
If you don’t have a Target Circle Card yet, shop for laundry items at Walmart instead and look for Ibotta offers to save more. And don’t forget your laundry coupons for top brands like Tide, Gain, and Bounce.
Pet Supplies: Target usually has cheaper prices than Walmart.
After comparing Walmart vs. Target prices on top pet supplies, Target comes out a step ahead of Walmart. Even though Walmart’s regular prices are slightly lower for items like wet cat food and toys, they can’t beat Target’s prices with the extra 5% Circle Card discount factored in (except for Arm & Hammer cat litter, where Walmart wins).
Target also regularly drops Circle offers that offer pet coupons and deals like "Get a $5 Target gift card when you buy two select pet food items and treats" or "Get a $10 Target gift card when you buy three Iams dry cat food products." Combining offers like these with your Circle Card discount makes Target a true winner in the pet category.
Toys: It's a close call, but Target still takes the lead on price.
Walmart and Target have similar prices for some of the hottest toys on the market right now, like Lego Star Wars sets and popular card games. But once again, that 5% Circle Card discount makes all the difference.
Don’t forget that Target Toy Clearance and Walmart Toy Clearance both happen in June and December. That’s when you’ll find the most competitive prices on top toys. However, comparing Walmart vs. Target prices during these sales isn’t easy. All the best deals are in stores, and selections vary by store location.
KCL TIP: Keep an eye out for the famous Target toy coupon to arrive in mid-October. You’ll score 25% off a toy purchase with Target Circle.
Medicine and First Aid: Target beats Walmart on price, plus you'll often earn gift cards.
Target wins over Walmart with lower prices on most of the medicine and first aid supplies I compared. Once again, this is all thanks to their exclusive Circle Card discount.
Also, remember those Circle offers and gift card promos that Target releases weekly? You’ll find them on a bunch of medicine, pain relief, and first aid items. They’ll look like this:
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25% off Oh My Vit gummy vitamins with Target Circle
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Buy 2 Select Health Items, Get a $5 Target Gift Card
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$10 off Zyrtec Allergy Products with Target Circle
These offers will help you save even more on medical items from Target, bringing their prices even lower than Walmart’s.
Feminine Supplies: They're a bit cheaper at Target compared to Walmart.
We’re talking about a $0.70 difference at most, but still, your Target Circle Card will get you lower prices on tampons, liners, and more. So in the Walmart vs. Target battle for feminine care products, Target takes the lead again.
Be sure to check for Tampax coupons , Poise coupons , and Always coupons before you shop, and look in the Ibotta app for cash-back offers on these items too.
Personal Care: Always compare Walmart vs. Target prices, but Target has cheaper soap and deodorant.
The Walmart vs. Target battle for personal care items surprised me. With your Target Circle Card, prices were lower at Target for just about everything I researched — except for Jergens body lotion.
When you need to buy soap, mouthwash, lotion, body wash, or toothpaste, which store you visit will have to be a game-time decision. Again, be sure to check both Target and Walmart weekly ads to see which store has better deals at that time.
Hair and Makeup Products: Target has the cheaper prices (except for hair color).
So who wins for lower prices on hair care and makeup? You guessed it. Target again inches ahead of Walmart by about $0.30 - $0.40 per item at Circle Card prices. The only item where Walmart had the lower price? Clairol hair color.
When looking at Walmart vs. Target prices without the Circle Card discount factored in, Target and Walmart had pretty much the same regular prices. But that extra 5% discount brought Target’s prices down even lower. For the most part, you’ll find slightly better prices on shampoo, conditioner, lipstick, and mascara at Target.
Overall, Walmart is cheaper at regular prices, but Target beats Walmart with the 5% Circle Card discount on most things.
Walmart’s regular prices are often cheaper than Target's regular prices. But when you factor in the 5% discount offered to Circle Card members, Target comes out with lower prices than Walmart the majority of the time.
So, with your Circle Card, you’ll often pay less at Target than you’d pay for the same item at Walmart. While this isn’t always the case, it’s true for most, if not many items, since Target and Walmart prices are generally close as it is.
Also, Target Circle deals and gift card promos make Target stand out even more. You could save anywhere from 5% - 50% on common household essentials, pet supplies, hair care, makeup, and even clothing. And when you combine that with your 5% Circle Card discount, Walmart doesn’t stand a chance.
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