Dollar Tree vs. Target: I Bought the Same 7 Items — Here's How Much I Saved
Can any other retailer beat Dollar Tree on the simple joys that don't need to be buy-it-for-life?
Dollar Tree already boasts some of the best deals around on party supplies, box candy and essentials for health and wellness. The bargains only get better when you compare their offerings to the same products sold at big-box retailers.
Today it’s Dollar Tree vs. Target as we compare essentials you can buy at both stores to see how much more money you can save by going the discount route. Here’s what’s way cheaper to buy at Dollar Tree.
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Kitchen Trash Bags
You’re getting a better deal on kitchen trash bags shopping for the Goodsense brand at Dollar Tree.
For $1.50, you’ll receive 15 tall trash bags in a fresh lemon scent. It’s worth stocking up and spending $3 on two boxes for 30 trash bags. A 25-count box of Target's house brand up&up tall kitchen trash bags comes out to $7.19.
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Drawing Paper
Head to Dollar Tree’s arts and crafts aisle to pick up a heavyweight pad of Crown Jewlz drawing paper for $1.25.
While you can find similar drawing pads from the Mondo Llama brand at Target, they typically retail for $4 per pad. You could buy three pads of the Crown Jewlz brand and still stay under that $4 price tag.
Muffin Pans
Always shop for the Cooking Concepts brand if you need a six-cup muffin pan. Their $1.25 pricing costs a lot less than Figmint’s $9 six-cup muffin pan.
Water Bottles
Eagle-eyed Dollar Tree shoppers save $5 purchasing a 64-ounce motivation and time stamp water bottle compared to similarly sized water bottles sold at Target. Shopping for an All in Motion brand water bottle will set you back $10.
Top Coat Nail Polish
Few retailers, discount or otherwise, can best Dollar Tree when it comes to inexpensive nail polish and nail accessories.
A simple top coat from Color Vibe only costs $1.25 to keep your manis and pedis looking flawless. One of the cheapest top coat options we found at Target was from the L.A. Girl brand and still priced at $4.29.
Ceramic Bird Décor
The price difference for ceramic bird décor at Dollar Tree compared to Target must be seen to be believed.
You can choose between a simple ceramic bird sculpture for $1.25 at DT or spend $15 on the Threshold brand’s ceramic beaded birds. That’s up to $13.75 in savings.
Straw Baskets
While you do save some money buying decorative straw baskets at Dollar Tree, the savings aren’t as steep as you might imagine.
Dollar Tree’s straw basket tray retails for $5. That’s already a bit on the pricey side, but it’s still cheaper than Brightroom’s $8 decorative gifting baskets. A $3 savings win is still a win.
Editor’s note: Prices and availability are accurate as of April 20, 2026, and are subject to change.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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