Five Below vs. Dollar Tree: Americans Weigh in on Which Retailer Has the Better Deals

Dollar Tree and Five Below are both popular discount retailers in the U.S. and for good reason. Shoppers can find an assortment of inexpensive household essentials, including bath and body care, cleaning supplies, games, books, party supplies and basic accessories.

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At Dollar Tree, most items are $1.25, while most items at Five Below range in price from $1-$5.55. Even though Five Below is more geared toward families or younger shoppers, such as pre-teens and teens, you can still find some great deals there even if you don’t have kids or are a little bit older. As for Dollar Tree, the selection is such that you can find something for nearly anyone — all at low prices.

In terms of cost alone, Dollar Tree might appear to be the clear winner. But quality and other factors, like variety, are also important. So, we surveyed our readers to see which place they prefer when it comes to saving money.

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Survey Says: Five Below Has the Better Deals

GOBankingRates conducted a survey of nearly 1,000 American adults (ages 18 and up) to determine which retailer they think has the better deals. These are the results:

• 43.54%: Both Five Below and Dollar Tree have great deals
• 29.93%: Five Below has better deals
• 26.53%: Dollar Tree has better deals

Based on the results, there’s not a significant difference between the two in terms of which one American consumers prefer.

If you’re going for cheapest pricing above all else, Dollar Tree might actually win out in some cases. It’s often price alone driving consumers to Dollar Tree over Five Below. After all, almost everything is $1.25, and many things come in packs, meaning the per-unit price is much lower than that.

“I shop at Dollar Tree much more than Five Below as I believe the pricing is better across the board, and the merchandise selection is more comprehensive especially for moms and DIY makers like me,” said Julie Loven, also known online as the Effortless Girl .

“Although the selection of novelty items may be better at Five Below (sometimes), the consistent low pricing and general household items you use daily selection is better at Dollar Tree.”

Five Below Has a Better Selection

Dollar Tree and Five Below both have a surprisingly diverse selection of items. And while the margin is pretty narrow, Five Below might win in this category — at least for some shoppers.

“Dollar Tree is best for basic essentials like cleaning supplies, party goods and canned foods,” said Nguyen Huy, a consumer trend analyst, luxury brands expert and the founder of Kory Threads . “The prices are low, but the quality is questionable.”

On the other hand, Huy said, “Five Below tends to have higher quality items, especially when it comes to tech, beauty, home decor and fitness gear. You’ll pay a bit more, up to $5, but it’s worth it if you want your items to last. They also have a bigger selection at Five Below.”

Looking at the selection at Five Below, here’s what consumers said are their must-buy items:

• 37.14%: Household essentials like kitchen and bath supplies, storage bins, rugs, party supplies and furniture
• 31.93%: Candy and snacks
• 26.23%: Clothes
• 24.32%: Bedroom essentials like bedding, blankets, decorative accents, and pillow
• 8.51%: Other items

But Dollar Tree has some great deals, too.

“In my opinion the best deal at Dollar Tree (best of any retailer I’ve found including online) is the party wear and disposable tableware,” said Loven.

The pricing and color selection of their disposable party supplies make Dollar Tree her preferred choice

“Dollar Tree beats Walmart, Target and Dollar General in this department,” said Loven, adding that the “holiday tableware is superb in selection and price at Dollar Tree compared to other retailers.”

She also suggested getting glassware at Dollar Tree since it’s so cheap and versatile.

“The vases, drinking glasses and plates may be used for many different DIY [projects] and household uses,” she said. “They’re durable and inexpensive. If they break, you can reasonably replace them.”

Plus, she added, “The vases are awesome for crafts.”

It Depends on What You Need

Like anything else, it ultimately comes down to what you’re looking for. For example, if you’re shopping for seasonal or holiday-themed items, you actually might want to try shopping at both places.

“Both stores have great seasonal items,” said Huy. “Holiday decor is super cheap at Dollar Tree, whereas Five Below tends to carry trendier, seasonal stuff.”

As for name brands, both stores sometimes carry these, too. These name-brand items might come in smaller packaging than what you’d get elsewhere, but if you’re only spending a couple of dollars, it might be worth getting a little less.

And again, there’s the quality and selection to consider.

“Dollar Tree excels for bare essentials,” said Huy. “Five Below offers quality and selection if you don’t mind spending a dollar or two more.”

Shopping Strategies To Save More Money

In either case, consumers tend to shop at Five Below or Dollar Tree because they want to save money. In the survey, we asked people whether or not they started shopping at these places in 2024 to save money . Here’s what they said:

• 58.46% of those surveyed started shopping at Dollar Tree to save money this year.
• 30.43% of respondents said they started going to Five Below to save money this year.

But even though both places are known for their deals, there are ways to save even more when shopping.

“Make a list before you go shopping so you don’t overspend on impulse buys,” suggested Huy. “Compare unit prices. Something might seem to be cheaper at Dollar Tree, but the packaging is actually smaller.”

Be wary of electronics and beauty products at both retailers. You might find some good bargains, but the quality isn’t always there.

“Before buying electronics or beauty items from Five Below, read the reviews,” said Huy. “Being informed on others’ experiences will save you from wasting money on low-quality products.”

And in both cases, check the clearance sections for more discounts. In particular, items that have just gone out of season are often on sale, so you can stock up now and use them next year.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : Five Below vs. Dollar Tree: Americans Weigh in on Which Retailer Has the Better Deals