At a time when penny-pinching is more of a necessity than an option, paying full price for brand names can feel like wasted money — especially when there are products that do the same job for a lot less.
Dollar Tree has some of the best-kept dupe secrets out there, offering everyday items that work just as well as their expensive brand-name counterparts. Here are eight of them.
Girl Scout Fudge Mint Cookies Dupe
We all love Girl Scout Cookies, but not everyone can afford to drop a fortune on them. While there’s no shortage of Thin Mint knockoffs, the Oven Baked fudge mint cookies at Dollar Tree beat the rest on price at just $1.25 a box.
The only real giveaway is that the cookie beneath the chocolate of Dollar Tree’s Oven Baked fudge mint has a lighter, shortbread-like color, while the Girl Scout Thin Mint is distinctly chocolate brown.
“The best kept Dollar Tree secret!!! We stock up on these when we go,” one shopper wrote on Reddit.
“I always have some of these in my freezer. You can’t even tell the difference,” said another.
Personal Care 3-in-1 Leave In Conditioner
The Personal Care Revitalizing Appearance 3-in-1 Leave-In Hair Conditioner sells for $1.25 at Dollar Tree and is commonly cited as a low-cost alternative to Sun Bum’s Revitalizing 3-in-1 Leave-In Conditioner, which typically goes for $16 to $18. Marketed to detangle, condition, and smooth hair, shoppers say the knock off is basically the same at a fraction of the price.
“This is my favorite hair care product from Dollar Tree,” shared one shopper.
Pottery Barn Outdoor Lantern Dupe
Pottery Barn sells gold-and-glass lanterns for around $40, and yes, they’re cute. Dollar Tree sells a suspiciously similar version that’s also cute and costs about $5.
Add a candle and it works on a dining table, console, or shelf when you want things to look pulled together without pretending you tried that hard.
Touchland Power Mist Dupe
Touchland’s Power Mist hand sanitizer is everywhere for a reason. It smells good and looks appealing as much as any hand sanitizer can look appealing. It’s also about $10 a pop. Dollar Tree sells a look-alike in the form of B. Pure hydrating hand sanitizer sprays for $1.25. It comes in the same pocket-friendly spray format, and has a similar fine mist and a lineup of two scented options.
Formula 409 Dupe
Formula 409 is the go-to for everyday kitchen and bathroom messes, but it’s not exactly cheap anymore. Dollar Tree’s answer comes from the aggressively named L.A.’s Totally Awesome line and costs about $1.50. The all-purpose cleaner does the same basic job without charging name-brand prices.
Airheads Xtremes Dupe
Candy has gotten criminally overpriced lately, and Airheads are a good example. As popular as they still are, a standard pack often runs close to $3 at regular stores for what’s essentially fruit-flavored taffy. They’re fine, but the price has gotten a little unhinged. Sour Dudes at Dollar Tree, on the other hand, stick to what cheap candy should be, and shoppers say they’re the same—if not better.
“In my opinion these are every bit as good as the Airhead Extremes but without robbing you of your candy money!” shared one Redditor. “They better than airheads extremes imo. More sour, thicker too,” shared another.
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Vaseline Cocoa Butter Stick Dupe
If you want the feel of a Vaseline Cocoa Butter Stick without the price tag, Dollar Tree’s Extra Care Cocoa Butter Stick does the same job for way less. The Vaseline version typically sells for around $6 to $8 at drugstores, while the dupe stick costs about $1.25.
“This is the most convenient thing I think I’ve ever bought at DT,” said one shopper.
Pottery Barn Red Plates Dupe
You don’t have to spend Pottery Barn money to get that dressed-up table look. Pottery Barn sells charger plate sets with prices hovering around $99 for a set of 12. Dollar Tree, however, sells nearly identical charger plates for about $1.50 each. That puts a full set of 12 at roughly $18.
More From Cheapism
- Aldi Dupes That Shoppers Say Taste Better Than Name Brands — and Cost Less — Aldi’s aisles are full of spot-on dupes that look and taste like the name brands, just without the name-brand prices.
- Because Flowers Die Anyway: Dollar Tree Gifts for Valentine’s Day Under $2 — This Valentine’s Day, you can show affection with something decent and cute without breaking the bank.
- 12 Dollar Tree Finds That Make Winter a Lot More Bearable — Dollar Tree still has plenty of winter necessities to help you get through the season for $1.25 or less.
