Whether you pronounce the T or add a French twist to the name, one thing most of us can agree on is that shopping at Target is always a good time. Even when you go with a short grocery list, you’re likely to end up with a few items in your cart that you didn’t plan to purchase. Those impromptu “treat yourself” add-ins are part of the fun, and we highly encourage them—but they’re not always worth the money. Knowing which items to avoid and which to make room in your budget for is one of the best ways to remain savvy on your shopping trip.
That’s why we gathered insight from shopping experts, Redditors, food writers, and certified Target-fanatics across the ‘net to get the inside scoop on the best and worst items at the superstore. Find all of their recommendations and warnings below.
Best Target Grocery Items
Despite these duds, not all items on Target shelves are misses! In fact, All Recipes writer Terri Peters says she drives 45 minutes to get the best Target groceries, sharing her top picks in an article. Below are some of the best items money (but not too much of it!) can buy.
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1. Good & Gather Broths
Whether you're cooking up a healthy soup or just sipping on some broth for salty fix, it's always good to have chicken, beef, and veggie broth stocked in your pantry. According to Peters, Target offers an "elevated version at an affordable price." Beyond your typical selection, you can find ramen broth and even a Tuscan-seasoned variety. All for just $2.19 each!
2. Good & Gather Simmer Sauces
Target's Good & Gather simmer sauces can help you enjoy a delicious dinner even on a busy weeknight. All you need to do is throw in your favorite veggies and protein, serve it up over rice, and you've got yourself a comforting meal without a lot of labor. Peters recommends the tikka masala simmer sauce, but you can also find green curry, creamy lemon and garlic, and more for $3.29 each.
3. Good & Gather Chopped Salad Kits
A great dinner should include a salad. You gotta get those greens, girl! But sometimes a homemade salad can be a whole lot of work. That's where chopped salad kits, like Target's, come in handy. These include everything you need: dressing, fixings, and all. Simply add a protein for a substantial meal. "The sweet kale and Caesar varieties are my family’s go-to choices, but with blends with flavor profiles mimicking avocado toast, Nashville hot chicken, and Asian cuisine, there’s truly a salad that pairs well with every meal," Peters raves. And for just $3.99 each, why not stock up on a few to enjoy every week?
4. Good & Gather Sparkling Water
Stay hydrated (and kick your soda habit for your health) while still enjoying great flavors. Sparkling water may feel fancy, but it doesn't have to break the bank. Target sells Good & Gather Sparkling waters at just $3.29 per eight-pack! Plus, Peters points out, you'll find unique flavors that aren't offered by big brands like La Croix (although we do love those guys): Madarin and yuzu, caffeinated cherry cola, and more. Yum!
5. Good & Gather Kettle Chips
Attention, snack lovers! You might find your new favorite chip and an unsuspecting place: Target's Good & Gather brand. Not only are they tasty and crispy, but they're also extremely affordable at $1.99 for an eight-ounce bag. According to Peters, "they taste exactly like pricier versions." Sign us up, please! Salt and vinegar is a classic, of course, but there are plenty of flavors to choose from. Take your pick(s) and stock your cart.
6. Good & Gather Hummus
If you're anything like us, you can't get enough hummus. And there are tons of brands and flavors out there to enjoy, but according to Peters, sticking to the affordable variety offered at Target isn't a bad idea. "It's as delicious as any I’ve made at home from scratch, and much less messy," she says, highly recommending the Olive Tapenade Hummus in particular. "It’s priced at $3.49, about 50 cents less than the popular Sabra brand, and is perfect for dipping everything from pita chips to carrot sticks. I’ve been known to stock up on more than one container in a shopping trip, as it goes fast in my house," she adds. We're convinced!
7. Good & Gather Fresh Soups
Soup lover? You're not alone. Soup is one of the most—if not the most—most comforting meals out there. But canned varieties come with consequences, and we don't always have the energy to cook up a homemade pot. Luckily, fresh soups from Target can really come in handy. And according to Peters, they "always hit the spot." At $4.99, they're perfectly affordable, too. From chicken noodle to creamy tomato basil and chicken and wild rice soup, what's not to love?
8. Good & Gather Charcuterie Bites
Get a charcuterie board in a pinch and enjoy easy, simple snacking with these pre-packaged charcuterie bites available at Target. Peters fondly calls them "a perfectly-elevated adult Lunchable," raving that they "make a fabulous mid-day snack and are great for tossing into lunch boxes when you’re short on time." Our stomach is grumbling just thinking about it! At $2.99 per pack, you can keep these stocked in your fridge to grab on the go, throw into lunch boxes, or just reach for when cravings strike.
Worst Target Items
Below are a few Target options you're better off leaving out of your cart.
1. Gift Wrap
When it comes to birthdays and special events, there's another item you might want to buy elsewhere: gift wrap. Similar to greeting cards, you'll probably need to spend a bit more for wrapping paper at Target. Financial advisor Andrea Woroch told Best Life that Walmart has slightly cheaper options, "but the best deals on gift bags and tissue paper are at the dollar store," says Woroch.
Plus, "If you're looking for higher quality and thicker wrapping paper, head to a discount store like T.J.Maxx or Ross, where you can get nicer quality for less."
2. Greeting Cards
Is a loved one's birthday approaching? Consider looking for greeting cards somewhere other than Target. Woroch says that cards at Target can be as pricey as $7, while other retailers offer more affordable options. Take the Dollar Store, for example, where "You're looking at getting cards for as little as $.50 each."
She has some other advice regarding card shopping, too: "My tip—plan for 6 to 12 months in advance. Think ahead about all the events, holidays, and celebrations you have coming up, and pick up the necessary greeting cards for each. Generic birthday cards work great for any person, too." Got it!
3. Craft Supplies
It's clear that Target offers a wide variety of charming party and craft supplies. However, their prices leave something to be desired. For your next gathering or craft night, you might find it more economical to visit a party supply store or a specialized craft shop.
"If you're looking for specific supplies like paint brushes, acrylic paints, stitching supplies, and other craft goods, you're better off heading to a devoted store," consumer analyst Julie Ramhold told Best Life.
4. Books
Target is not particularly famous for its extensive book collection, and it seldom provides discounts on its literary offerings. In contrast, booksellers such as Barnes & Noble and Amazon frequently initiate sales and promotional events.
One customer on Reddit wrote: "The book we purchased for our kiddo was priced at $18 in the store today while on target.com it was $9 as it was on all other online stores."
5. Pet Supplies
Your pet is a cherished member of your family, making it essential to provide them with top-quality food, treats, and accessories. Pet enthusiasts suggest that Target may not be the ideal store for these products. Cheapism notes that the store typically has limited options when it comes to brands, sizes, and more—and on top of this, their prices usually aren't very competitive, either.
You're probably better off going to a specialized pet store for your furry friend. One employee on Reddit said they found cat litter "stacked" on "top of bags of pet food" at a Target location. Another wrote: "Cat litter shouldn’t be on its side either."
6. Up & Up Brand Diapers
Diapers are another product where spending a little more can ensure you get high quality. Based on a study by GearLab Baby, the Up & Up diapers are lower quality than leading brands like Huggies and Pampers. "This product did not perform well in our tests for absorption or leaks, two critical performance metrics for diapering," they warned. On top of this, Up & Up diapers may even have more common skin irritants.
7. Up & Up Brand Razors
Target's brand of household items may be cheaper than other name brands you'll find on the shelves, but according to some shoppers, what you save in money you'll lose in quality. "I wouldn't recommend buying the giant bag of single blade disposable razors," wrote one Reddit user. "Yes, they're cheap... but it's like shaving with an angry cat wrapped in barbed wire." Yikes! This may be a product that's worth a bit more money for a higher quality.
8. Beauty Products
Target is ever-expanding its beauty product selection, with many stores now housing mini-Ultas within their footprints. However, according to MSN, some customers have reported that certain products from name beauty brands are more expensive at Target compared to other retailers, including Ulta themselves. This includes popular skincare brands, like La Roche-Posay and CeraVe, and makeup brands, like Nars and Urban Decay.
As one employee wrote on Reddit: "I work in the Beauty section. We don’t have testers for any makeup products (except one line) or skin care items. The sheer amount of guests that open, use, and then put back makeup/skincare is tooooooo many." They added:" If it was me, I would only order the makeup online and never buy it in the store. your chances of getting an opened product is pretty high considering we can’t catch and salvage all of them!"
9. Everspring Paper Towels
Everspring is Target's brand of household products, ranging from hand soaps to paper products, cleaning supplies and sponges, even mops and dishwasher pods. However, users on Reddit aren't giving out good reviews, and suggest other brands, like Bounty, for your paper product needs.
"It's crappy quality and they have the gall to put it on markup," one person wrote, "but it does explain why it sells at an exceedingly slow rate. At this point I'm surprised it's still supported."
10. Heyday Charging Cables
Reddit users recommend skipping the charging cables in the technology section of Target, specifically the Heyday brand. "Any Heyday thing, really," one Reddit user said. "Those things are so cheaply made." And this user isn't alone. This comment got nearly 200 upvotes from agreeing customers.
"Those things will break after single digit uses sometimes," another person agreed. "Cheap electronics are cheap for a reason. Better to splurge on the cable from the company that produces your phone!"
11. Wild Fable Clothing
Target's Wild Fable line has more items each season than we can count, with products ranging from pants and skirts, jeans, tops and dresses, shoes, accessories, and even swimwear. But superfans on Reddit are warning customers to stay away: "I think most of that clothing is absolute garbage and ridiculously overpriced," one person wrote. "I won't even buy cheap tank tops anymore because they start to unravel so quickly."
