Walmart vs. Target back-to-school prices: Which is cheaper?

It’s that time of year when back-to-school sales abound. If you’re looking for school supplies, it’s time to do some shopping.

Two of America’s favorite stores — Walmart and Target — are competing for your back-to-school dollar. But who’s cheaper?

Back to School supplies: Walmart vs. Target

Since the stores offer many of the same items, I decided to conduct a price comparison to find out which one is friendlier to your wallet.

Team Clark’s price comparison between Walmart and Target looked at more than 50 items, but we narrowed it down to 12 items that were exact matches only.

Take a look at the findings…

Target vs. Walmart Back to School price comparison — July 2019

Item

Target price

Walmart price

Avery D-Ring Dura-Hinge Binder $4.69 $4.74 Elmer’s Glue Re-Stick, 6 Count $4.99 $4.48 Elmer’s Giant Sticks – 3 Count $3.19 $4.97 Crayola Jumbo Crayons, 8 Count $2.99 $5.44 Elmer’s Glue, 1 Gallon $13.89 $10.88 Elmer’s Glue, 7.6 Oz. $0.50 $1.44 Composition Book, Wide Ruled $0.50 $0.50

Sharpie Black Permanent Marker, 10 Count

$7.99 $5.97 Ticonderoga Pencils, 30 Count $5.99 $5.97 Typing Paper, 500 Sheets $3.99 $4.47 Crayola Marker, 10 Count $2.39 $2.97 Crayola Construction Paper, 240 Sheets $4.99 $4.96 Total $56.10 $56.79 Price comparison conducted week of July 23, 2019

Key takeaway

One main theme in this price war between the retailers is that they are very keen on offering the same or similar products packaged in totally different ways. For the best deal, you have to read the labels carefully. 

For example: Target has a five-pack of Expo markers labeled as “4 + 1” for $4.49. Meanwhile, Walmart offers a 4-count with two extra markers in it for $4.46. That’s six markers labeled as four!

In many other cases, prices between the two stores are just a few pennies different.

Of course, other things that could affect the total price — like rebate apps, coupons and cash back credit cards — were not accounted for in this price comparison.

Want to save money on back-to-school supplies? Make a list of items that you’ll most likely need and do your own price comparison. Don’t hesitate to use Google Shopping and other online tools to help you find great prices.

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Do you prefer to shop at Walmart or Target? Let us know why in the comments below!

More Clark.com stories you may like:

Walmart, Target, Macy’s and other retailers plan big sales on Prime Day

It’s official: Amazon says Prime Day 2019 is going to be a two-day event starting on July 15 — but don’t think the other retailers are just sitting around twiddling their thumbs.

Stores like Walmart, Target, eBay and more are “primed” for success as well: Big sales, discounts and deals will be the order of the day for retailers not named Amazon.

Other retailers holding sales on Amazon Prime Day 2019 

“Even now we are seeing these retailers be very attentive to what Amazon is doing,” says Charis Brown, managing editor of ClarkDeals.com. “For example, as Amazon released its first official Prime Day deal for a Toshiba 43” smart LED Fire TV for $179.99, Walmart dropped the price of an RCA 43″ TV to $159.99.”

Here’s the upshot: Amazon is likely going to win its annual shopping holiday, but don’t think the competition is going to lay down for Prime Day 2019. Here are the other stores with Prime Day sales:

“eBay this year it’s hosting a humorously titled July 15 “Crash Sale,” referring to Amazon’s rocky start to Prime Day last year with a site crash that lasted for hours,” Charis says.

The retailer is also offering free shipping without a membership and and up to 80% off from top brands like Adidas, Apple, Dyson, Garmin, and Samsung at eBay.com/deals.

The retailer says its plan to counter Prime Day will be to release “thousands” of rollbacks and special buys online from July 14-17. Walmart is also promising free shipping on select rollback items and two-day shipping on others.

Target has launched “Deal Days” to counter what Amazon is doing on Prime Day.

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Target is promising to have select items delivered to your home by Shipt within hours. If you have a REDcard, you can get free two-day shipping on most items.

“This year, we’re giving guests more discounts across even more of our assortment with two days to save on hundreds of thousands of items and offering the best options in retail for delivery and pick up on their terms, including same-day,” Target VP Mark Tritton says in a written statement.

Best Buy is a doing what it can to attract shoppers in the days surrounding Prime Day, including throwing an Apple Sales Event and putting more products on its Hottest Deals page online.

Not to be outdone, Macy’s is countering Amazon by throwing its Black Friday in July sales event, which features deals on jewelry and more. The store is also offering free shipping for a limited time.

Prime Day 2019: How to get a good deal online

With so many retailers offering sales, you may want to know the best way to approach this sales holiday to get some great deals. Here’s what Charis says:

“There is going to be lots of competition leading into and during Prime Day, and you might get a better deal on a similar item at another retailer! In this case, it’s very important to price compare by using a tool like Google Shopping.”

Find deals from retailers like Amazon, Best Buy and Target on ClarkDeals.com every day!