Ultimate Guide To Coupon Policies of Top Retail & Grocery Stores

Everyone wants to save money.

Whether you clip coupons from the Sunday paper, print them from a website, or use your store club card, there are lots of ways make your grocery bill smaller. We’ve compiled the coupon policies from some major retailers so you’ll be ready for your next shopping trip.

Most stores accept manufacturer’s coupons but coupons for free items will only be honored when a purchase is required. The majority of stores do not accept expired coupons and they require coupons to be presented at checkout. Many do not accept digital coupons scanned from a mobile device. Most stores do not allow coupon overages and will not offer cash back. Policies change so be sure to check before you shop.

Walmart

Walmart accepts paper manufacturer’s coupons and print-at-home coupons. There is no limit on the number of different coupons that may be used, although you may not use two BOGO coupons to get both items for free. They do not accept BOGO coupons that have a percentage off for the second item.

Dollar General

Dollar General accepts manufacturer’s coupons, print-at-home coupons, and their own digital coupons. Dollar General digital coupons can be scanned from your phone. They have a limit of five identical coupons per household per day, provided they are separate purchases. Two coupons may be used per purchase for a single item when one is a manufacturer’s coupon and the other is a Dollar General coupon, and neither coupon states that they cannot be combined with other offers. Coupon overages will be applied to the balance of the transaction.

Target

Target accepts manufacturer’s coupons and uses the Cartwheel app for digital coupons. A maximum of one manufacturer’s coupon (paper, print-at-home, or Cartwheel digital), one Target coupon (paper or digital), and one Cartwheel offer can be applied per item. There is a limit of four identical coupons per household per day. Cartwheel coupons may be scanned from your mobile device.

Kroger

Kroger accepts up to five paper manufacturer’s coupons per transaction with a limit of one per item and has a Plus Card program for digital coupons. In some cases print-at-home coupons may be limited to two per day per customer. The pharmacy may accept competitors’ coupons but the retail store only accepts manufacturer’s coupons and Kroger offers. Their website and the Kroger app offer deals allowing the same coupon to be used multiple times within a certain timeframe.

Walgreens

Walgreens accepts manufacturer’s coupons, including their own Register Rewards®/Savings Rewards coupons. Walgreens processes paper coupons before digital ones. They only honor digital coupons that are attached to a Walgreens Balance® Rewards account. Walgreens reserves the right to limit the number of an item purchased based on their stock.

CVS

CVS accepts ExtraCare® coupons and other store‐issued coupons, ExtraBucks® Rewards, and manufacturer’s coupons. You may send digital CVS coupons to your ExtraCare® account and they’ll be applied when your card is scanned at checkout. CVS has the right to process coupons in any order. If a coupon exceeds the value of an item, CVS will alter the coupon to match the item’s price. You may use up to one manufacturer’s coupon and one CVS coupon per item. There is no limit on the number of items that may be purchased unless a store manager deems it necessary due to supply.

Publix

Publix accepts manufacturer’s coupons and print-at-home coupons. Some locations accept competitors’ coupons—the policies vary by store. The pharmacy accepts competitors’ coupons for prescriptions. A maximum of two coupons may be used per item – one manufacturer’s coupon and one Publix or a competitor’s coupon. A manufacturer’s print-at-home coupon may not be combined with the manufacturer’s paper coupon for the same item. Coupon redemption is limited to eight identical coupons per household per day. If an item is out of stock and a rain check is issued, an expired coupon may be used for the purchase when the item is available, provided the coupon was valid the day the rain check was given. Manager’s approval is needed for coupons valued at $5 or more. One Publix and one competitor’s coupon for dollars off the entire transaction will be honored with a limit of one per household per day. Any overages will be issued in the form of a Publix gift card.

Dollar Tree

Dollar Tree accepts manufacturer’s paper coupons. They accept one coupon per item purchased. Dollar Tree accepts coupons that are valued at more than one dollar but they may reduce the value of the coupon to match the price of the item. They accept up to four identical manufacturer’s coupons per customer per day. Dollar Tree accepts two print-at-home coupons per customer per day.

Family Dollar

Family Dollar accepts paper coupons and print-at-home coupons. They also have Family Dollar digital coupons, known as Smart Coupons, that can be accessed via their website or app and added to your Smart Coupon account. To redeem Smart Coupons, give the cashier your phone number at checkout. One manufacturer’s coupon and one Smart Coupon may be used per item per transaction. Up to four identical coupons per household per day may be used if there’s no other limit noted on the coupon. No more than two phone numbers per household may be used for setting up Smart Coupon accounts. Coupons may be used for sale and clearance items. Smart Coupons will be processed after manufacturer’s coupons. Smart Coupons for dollars off a total amount are applied if that total amount meets the requirement after all other coupons and discounts have been applied. They do not accept coupons that have a value higher than the price of the item or that show a different value than printed when scanned.

Rite Aid

Rite Aid accepts manufacturer’s coupons, including print-at-home coupons, and their own digital coupons. Rite Aid digital coupons are applied when a customer’s wellness+ account card is scanned at checkout. They accept BOGO coupons provided one is used per pair of items–you cannot use two coupons to get both items free. You may use a cents-off coupon for the “buy” item of the BOGO pair. Rite Aid coupons for dollars off a total amount are applied if that total amount meets the requirement after all other coupons and discounts have been applied. Coupons may not exceed the value of the item. Up to four identical coupons may be used for the same number of items being purchased, at the manager’s discretion based on stock.

Harris Teeter

Harris Teeter accepts manufacturer’s coupons, print-at-home coupons, Harris Teeter coupons through the VIC program, and competitors’ coupons. One of each per item may be used. If a coupon exceeds the price of an item, the coupon’s value will be lowered to match the price. Coupons for a dollar amount off the total price will be applied after all other coupons and discounts have been applied. VIC card users may double up to 20 paper manufacturer’s coupons valued at up to $0.99 each per household per day. Competitors’ coupons and coupons that state “do not double” will not be doubled. Policies for accepting competitors’ coupons may change on a store-by-store basis. The VIC program includes in-store discounts as well as digital coupons that may be added to your account from the Harris Teeter website. Store managers may place limits on the number of identical items that may be purchased depending on stock and customer needs.

Food Lion

Food Lion accepts paper manufacturer’s coupons, print-at-home coupons, and their in-store paper and digital coupons. Food Lion digital coupons must be added to your MVP account and will be applied when your MVP card is scanned at checkout. Food Lion does not double or triple coupons. They may accept competitors’ coupons but each store has its own policy. Only one coupon may be used per item. Digital coupons from your MVP account count as one coupon. Up to 10 identical coupons may be used for the same number of items. Coupons for a dollar amount off of a total amount spent will be processed after other coupons and discounts have been processed.

BJ’s

BJ’s is a shopping club that requires a membership, with those fees translating into bigger savings for buying items in bulk. They accept manufacturer’s coupons for items that fit within the limits as described in writing on the coupons and they have their own In-Club Coupons, In-Club Clipless Coupons, and Online Instant Savings. One BJ’s coupon and one manufacturer’s coupon may be used per item. Limits on the number of identical items purchased may be in place at the manager’s discretion.

ShopRite

ShopRite accepts its own coupons, manufacturer’s coupons, print-at-home coupons, and any digital coupons that are added to your Price Plus® card. They accept digital coupons scanned from their own app on a mobile device. Customers who order groceries online may present paper coupons at the time of pickup or delivery. Each store has its own double coupon policy. Store managers may limit the number of items purchased and coupons used depending on customer demand.

Meijer

Meijer accepts its own coupons, manufacturer’s coupons, and mPerks discounts. Customers may use one manufacturer’s coupon per item and may use two identical coupons for two items per purchase. A manufacturer’s coupon may be combined with a Meijer coupon as long as it’s not prohibited by either coupon. Digital coupons are limited to those that are assigned to your mPerks account in grocery stores but select gas stations may accept digital coupons scanned from a mobile device. Transactions may not be broken down for coupon stacking. All coupons redeemed at self-checkout kiosks must have a value of $4.99 or less. All others must be redeemed at a staffed checkout line. Meijer does not accept competitors’ coupons.

Bed Bath & Beyond

Bed Bath & Beyond is known for its 20% off coupons. They also regularly offer coupons for $5 off a $15 purchase. Manufacturer’s coupons will be accepted but they cannot be combined with Bed Bath & Beyond coupons. Multiple identical coupons may be used for separate items. Individual stores may honor competitors’ coupons for similar items. They regularly accept their own expired coupons. If you receive one of their coupons after you’ve paid full price for an item, you may return to the store and ask for the coupon price. Bed Bath & Beyond has a membership club that offers 20% off every purchase and free shipping for $29 per year.

Safeway

Safeway accepts manufacturer’s coupons, including print-at-home coupons, and Safeway coupons. With the Safeway Club Card, digital coupons may be added to your account and applied when your card is scanned at checkout. Online orders, whether for pickup or delivery, can only accept digital Club Card coupons. Double coupon policies vary for each store. You may not redeem two or more manufacturer’s coupons for one item in one transaction–this applies to paper coupons and digital coupons.

PetSmart

PetSmart accepts manufacturer’s coupons, competitors’ coupons, and certain digital coupons. Only PetSmart coupons will be accepted for services or live pets. They accept digital coupons scanned from a mobile device if they are PetSmart coupons from their website, app, or social media pages.

Giant

Giant accepts manufacturer’s paper coupons and their own digital coupons. Only one coupon may be used per item, digital or paper. Digital coupons must be added to your Giant Card account and will be applied when your card is scanned at checkout. Product-specific checkout coupons cannot be combined with a manufacturer’s coupon. Print-at-home coupons with a value of up to $5 can be redeemed. Giant doubles manufacturer’s coupons with a value of $0.99 or less. If the doubled value is more than the item’s price, the discount is limited to the price. Up to four identical coupons for four items will be doubled. Coupons for free items will be redeemed for the price of one item and will not be doubled or tripled. Digital coupons may not be applied to online orders but other Giant Card discounts may apply. They accept some competitors’ coupons but the policy varies by store.

Whole Foods

Whole Foods accepts manufacturer’s coupon and its own store coupons. They accept one of each per item. Some Whole Foods locations accept competitors’ coupons. Whole Foods has paired with Amazon Prime so Prime members have access to additional deals, both in-store and online. To get the Prime deal in-store, give the cashier the phone number that’s attached to your Prime account.