Most savvy shoppers know that certain store-brand foods are just as good as pricier name-brand versions, but what about other products? We’ve examined expert and consumer feedback on a range of household essentials, from paper towels and plastic wrap to leggings and sheets, to see if the same holds true outside the grocery aisles at Costco, Walmart, and Target. We found 26 great buys that won’t do you — or your wallet — wrong.
Prices and availability are subject to change.
Related: 12 Reasons Why Shoppers Are Addicted to Costco
Ozark Trail Tumbler
$8 from WalmartShop Now
A store-brand product doesn’t so many thousand of glowing reviews without being the real deal, and everyone says this tumbler is worth the hype. A dead ringer for the trendy, pricey Yeti tumbler, Walmart’s version performs just as well as the Yeti, reviewers say — but as Prevention notes, it’s less than a third of the price.
Related: These Walmart Tumblers Rival Yeti’s at a Fraction of the Price
Project 62 Round Decorative Brass Wall Mirror
$70 from TargetShop Now
Target has perfected the art of store-brand chic, so it’s no surprise that design lovers have gone gaga over a mirror from its Project 62 home-decor line. The on-trend piece has inspired hundreds of happy reviews. As one buyer points out, it’s “literally 1/5 the cost of similar mirrors I’ve found elsewhere.”
Related: 14 Secrets for Shopping at Target
Kirkland Signature Men’s Crewneck T-Shirts
$20 for a 6-pack from CostcoShop Now
Costco members declare these T-shirts a great deal for a wardrobe staple. The soft, substantial cotton doesn’t disintegrate after many trips through the washer and dryer, despite the cost of only about $3 a shirt. Some buyers say the shirts are a little too long; others like the length because they don’t come untucked.
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Made by Design Stainless Steel Cookware, 11-Piece Set
$120 from TargetShop Now
Believe it or not, this inexpensive cookware from one of Target’s newer store-brand labels outperforms an All-Clad set that is five times the price in independent expert testing. In fact, Made by Design’s stainless-steel pieces get good reviews across the board from owners, too, who say they’re surprisingly sturdy for the price.
Related: Target Shoppers Love These 50 Highly Rated Items
Great Value Paper Towels
$15 from WalmartShop Now
Paper towels are not created equal, but that doesn’t mean you have to overspend on a name brand. Experts who tested these paper towels gave them above-average marks in all major categories, including absorbency, scrubbing power, and ability to resist tearing when wet.
Related: 14 Hacks and Secrets for Shopping at Walmart
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Smartly Summertime Scented Liquid Hand Soap
$1 from Target Shop Now
The bottle says this soap from Target’s new Smartly line “smells like summertime,” and happy buyers say that’s true. They also love the value for the money, noting that you get 10 ounces for the same price as a 7.5-ounce bottle of name-brand Softsoap. “One little bottle lasts me about a month in my busy kitchen,” one buyer said.
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Kirkland Signature AA Batteries
$14 for 48 from CostcoShop Now
Of course store-brand batteries are cheaper than other name brands. But are they as good? Happily, expert testing has revealed that Kirkland Signature batteries are just as powerful as Duracell Coppertops (unsurprising, as Duracell actually makes them) so go ahead and save a few bucks.
A New Day Women’s Midi Slip Skirt
$23 from Target Shop Now
A big-box store may not seem like a destination for workwear staples, but devotees say this slip skirt from Target’s A New Day fashion line is worth a special trip. They love the elasticized waist and flowy fabric, which they say is comfortable and luxurious, flatters, and can be dressed up or down. “It’s got a silky feel, fits just right (stretchy waist), and does not poof out at the hips. I’ll be buying another color!” one customer said.
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Tranquility Weighted Throw Blanket
$49 from TargetShop Now
Weighted blankets have exploded in popularity lately, with devotees saying they help combat anxiety and insomnia. Target has seized on the opportunity to make its own weighted blanket, and at a much friendlier price than other brands. It passes a test by Reviewed.com with flying colors, and owners rave that it provides a comfortable amount of pressure without being too heavy.
Threshold Performance Sheet Set
$35 and up from TargetShop Now
You can spend big on sheets, but Target’s Threshold Performance 400-thread-count sheet set proves it’s not necessary. Testers at The Wirecutter declare these sateen sheets nearly as good as much pricier competitors, and they ace tests of softness, wrinkle resistance, and durability.
Mainstays Format Picture Frames
$2 to $15 from WalmartShop Now
Buyers say Walmart’s store-brand frames are the cheapest way to buy frames in bulk for kids’ rooms, special events, or large projects such as gallery walls. Although they aren’t weighty or expensive-looking, the frames get particular praise for a front-loading design and thin edge, which lets artwork shine.
Related: 11 Cheap Ways to Print and Display Your Photos
Threshold Waffle Weave Shower Curtain
$25 from TargetShop Now
Crisp and white, this shower curtain impressed testers at The Wirecutter with its substantial, durable fabric and metal grommets, which make it easier to hang. Most owners give it high ratings, but a few warn that it might shrink after washing.
Equate Sunscreen
$7 from WalmartShop Now
Expert product testers say it’s hard to beat Equate sunscreen for the money, and it’s one of Cheapism’s top picks. It offers effective protection against UVA and UVB rays, and most buyers say it doesn’t require constant reapplication, although some complain about a strong scent.
Up & Up Kids’ Sport Sunscreen Sticks
$7 for a twin pack from TargetShop Now
If you prefer a sunscreen stick for quick protection, particularly on wiggly kids, Target’s Up & Up sunscreen sticks get great marks in consumer product testing for UVA and UVB protection. The SPF 55 sticks have no synthetic fragrance, either.
Great Value Dishwashing Detergent
$4 from WalmartShop Now
Good Housekeeping sings the praises of Great Value dishwashing detergent, saying it’s the best-performing powder out there, even at its budget-friendly price. It eliminated hard-water spots handily and cut through baked-on food residue in casserole pans.
Up & Up Ultra Soft Tissues
$5 from TargetShop Now
Testers at the Good Housekeeping Institute like the thickness and softness of these Up & Up tissues. They’re recommended for “strong blowers” because they resist tearing when wet, although testers say they can tear too easily when dry.
Kirkland Signature Aller-Tec Tablets
$14 from Costco (365 ct.)Shop Now
The only thing worse than seasonal sniffles is paying out the nose (pun intended) for them to subside. That’s why buyers are so enthusiastic about Costco’s allergy tablets, which many say are indistinguishable from Zyrtec. As Consumer Reports notes, there’s no reason to overpay for the same active ingredient.
Related: 23 Health Products and Services That Cost Less at Costco
Great Value Light Bulbs
$7 from Walmart
Walmart’s Great Value LED bulbs (equivalent to a 60-watt incandescent) impress CNET editors, who say these are some of the brightest and most affordable bulbs they’ve tested. They do note that these bulbs are not the best choice for buyers who use dimmers, as they didn’t get dim enough and flickered on the lowest settings.
Parent’s Choice Baby Wipes
$13 from Walmart (800 ct.)Shop Now
Hundreds of Walmart shoppers say these wipes are a great value for cash-strapped parents, calling them a gentle choice for sensitive skin. Hypoallergenic and alcohol-free, these quilted wipes also have aloe and vitamin E.
Kirkland Signature Clear Cutlery
$16 from CostcoShop Now
This is the disposable flatware to keep on hand for your next big bash, according to The Wirecutter. Why? The utensils are easier to hold and much stronger than most of the competition. The cutlery comes in individually wrapped 20-piece packages, so you don’t have to dive into the whole box for every occasion.
Kirkland Signature Diapers
$33 and up from CostcoShop Now
Buyers are passionate about Kirkland diapers, with many saying they beat not only other store brands, but name brands like Huggies and Pampers. Good Housekeeping agrees that they’re a top pick, saying they absorb and trap moisture quickly and effectively.
Great Value Strong Flex Trash Bags
$11 from Walmart (80 ct.)Shop Now
Who knew that a Walmart trash bag could hold its own against the big boys? Reviewed.com finds that these bags are thick, flexible and almost as sturdy as pricier Glad and Hefty bags. They’re available in a range of scents for extra odor control (or unscented, if you prefer) and happy buyers say they’re definitely good quality for the price.
Women’s Mad Love Keava Footbed Sandals
$23 from TargetShop Now
Target has always been a go-to for “cheap chic” fashion, and its Mad Love Keava Footbed Sandals have all that casual Birkenstock style for a fourth of the price. Like their more expensive inspiration, they have a flexible EVA sole, and owners say they’re much comfier than their price would suggest.
Equate Deep Moisturizing Body Wash
$6 from Walmart (2 ct.)Shop Now
Walmart has some surprisingly good dupes of popular beauty and personal care products, and one of the best is this moisturizing lotion, which reviewers say is creamy, long-lasting, and just as good as name brands like Dove for a much lower price.
Kirkland Signature 680-Thread-Count Sheet Set
$60 and up from CostcoShop Now
You might not expect to find high-end sheets in the same store where you buy your toilet paper in bulk, but buyers say Costco’s sheets are the real deal. Made from 100% pima cotton, they have more than a high thread count going for them, including wrinkle-resistant technology and specially fitted corners. “They are bright white and beautifully luxurious, but feel light as a feather on and sleep cool,” one buyer says in a review.
Related: I Shopped at Costco for the First Time and This Is What I Learned
Made by Design Plastic Mixing Bowl Set
$8 from Target Shop Now
Has Target made the perfect inexpensive mixing bowls? That’s what reviewers say about this nesting set. Each bowl is marked with measurement lines and outfitted with small handles and spouts for easy pouring. Owners especially love the non-skid bottoms that grip countertops.
Kirkland Signature Men’s Boxer Briefs
$14 for four from CostcoShop Now
It takes a lot to get a guy enthusiastic about his underwear, which makes the over 4,000 positive reviews of these tagless Kirkland boxer briefs all the more impressive. “My wife bought me a few pairs of $32 boxer briefs which I liked a lot,” one buyer says. “Then I tried the Costco version (for one-tenth price) and I really can’t tell the difference. These are really great.”
