Price matching at Walmart can save your family hundreds of dollars per year, but most moms don’t take advantage of it because they think it’s complicated or embarrassing. After successfully price matching at Walmart for over two years and saving my family more than $1,200, I’m here to tell you it’s actually straightforward once you know the rules.

This complete guide will walk you through everything you need to know to confidently price match at Walmart, avoid common mistakes, and maximize your savings on every shopping trip.

What Is Walmart’s Price Match Policy?

Walmart will match the price of identical items sold by major online retailers, making it possible to get the best deals without driving to multiple stores or waiting for shipping. The policy is designed to ensure customers get competitive prices while shopping at their convenient neighborhood Walmart.

The Bottom Line: If you find a lower price on an identical item at a qualifying competitor, Walmart will match that price at checkout.

Current Walmart Price Match Policy (2025)

What Walmart Will Price Match:

• Walmart.com prices (automatic online price matching)
• Amazon.com (sold and shipped by Amazon)
• Target.com
• Best Buy
• Home Depot
• Lowe’s
• Costco.com (membership required)
• Sam’s Club (membership required)

What Walmart WON’T Price Match:

• Third-party sellers on Amazon or other sites
• Auction sites like eBay
• Membership pricing (unless you show membership)
• Flash sales or limited-time offers
• Prices that require additional purchases
• Gift card promotions
• Clearance or closeout prices
• Prices from apps or mobile-only deals

Step-by-Step Price Matching Process

Step 1: Find Price Differences Before You Shop

Use Price Comparison Tools:

• Honey browser extension: Automatically shows price comparisons
• InvisibleHand: Alerts you to better prices while browsing
• Google Shopping: Compare prices across retailers
• Flipp app: Browse competitor ads and prices

Manual Checking Method:

1. Make your Walmart shopping list
2. Check each item’s price on Walmart.com
3. Search the same items on Amazon, Target, and Best Buy
4. Note items with significant price differences (save screenshots)

Step 2: Gather Your Price Match Evidence

What You Need:

• Smartphone with internet access (to show online prices)
• Screenshots of competitor prices (backup plan)
• Product details (exact brand, size, color, model number)

Pro Tip: Take screenshots of the competitor’s price showing the full product page, price, and website URL. This speeds up the process if the cashier has trouble accessing the site.

Step 3: Shop Smart at Walmart

Best Times for Price Matching:

• Weekday mornings (less crowded, patient staff)
• Mid-week shopping (avoid weekend rushes)
• Avoid shift changes (usually around 7 AM, 3 PM, 11 PM)

Items to Price Match First:

• High-value electronics
• Brand-name groceries
• Health and beauty products
• Household essentials

Step 4: The Checkout Process

At Self-Checkout:

1. Scan your items normally
2. Before paying, press “Help” button
3. Tell the attendant you’d like to price match
4. Show them the competitor’s price on your phone
5. They’ll verify and adjust the price

At Regular Checkout:

1. Inform the cashier before they start scanning
2. Show the competitor’s price on your phone
3. The cashier will verify the product details match
4. Price adjustment will be made during the transaction

Step 5: What to Expect During Verification

The Cashier Will Check:

• Product brand and exact model match
• Size and specifications are identical
• Competitor website is legitimate
• Price is current (not expired)

Common Verification Questions:

• “Is this the exact same item?”
• “Can you show me the product page?”
• “Is this sold by [competitor] directly?”

If There’s a Problem:

• Remain polite and patient
• Ask for a manager if needed
• Have backup screenshots ready
• Know the policy details to explain

Walmart Online Price Matching (Automatic)

How It Works:

Walmart automatically matches prices between their stores and Walmart.com. If an item is cheaper online, the lower price will appear when you scan it with the Walmart app in-store.

Using the Walmart App for Price Matching:

1. Download the Walmart app
2. Scan product barcodes while shopping
3. App shows online price vs. in-store price
4. Take the lower price information to checkout

Best Items to Price Match at Walmart

High-Savings Categories:

Electronics & Tech:

• Tablets and e-readers
• Phone accessories
• Gaming controllers
• Bluetooth speakers
• Computer accessories

Health & Beauty:

• Name-brand vitamins
• Skincare products
• Hair care tools
• Electric toothbrushes
• Perfumes and colognes

Household Items:

• Small appliances
• Storage containers
• Cleaning supplies
• Light bulbs
• Batteries

Groceries with Big Differences:

• Organic foods
• Specialty diet products
• Brand-name snacks
• Coffee and tea
• Baby formula and food

Common Price Match Scenarios

Scenario 1: Amazon vs. Walmart

Item: Instant Pot 6-quart

• Walmart store price: $89.99
• Amazon price: $69.99
• Savings: $20.00

What to do: Show Amazon product page on your phone, verify it’s sold by Amazon (not third-party), and request price match.

Scenario 2: Target vs. Walmart

Item: Tide laundry detergent (100 oz)

• Walmart price: $11.97
• Target.com price: $9.99
• Savings: $1.98

What to do: Show Target.com price on your phone, confirm exact size and product match.

Scenario 3: Best Buy vs. Walmart

Item: iPhone charging cable

• Walmart price: $19.88
• Best Buy price: $14.99
• Savings: $4.89

What to do: Show Best Buy website, verify it’s the same brand and specifications.

Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t Price Match These:

• Third-party sellers: “Sold by TechDeals123 on Amazon”
• Membership prices: Costco pricing without showing membership
• Bundle deals: Items sold together for special price
• Lightning deals: Time-limited Amazon deals
• Clearance items: Marked down for clearance

Common Rookie Mistakes:

• Not checking if items are identical (different sizes, colors, models)
• Showing expired prices or old screenshots
• Trying to price match during busy times
• Getting argumentative with staff
• Not having backup screenshots

Advanced Price Matching Strategies

Stack Price Matching with Other Savings:

Combine With:

• Walmart cashback credit cards (1% back on groceries)
• Ibotta cashback offers
• Manufacturer coupons (where allowed)
• Walmart+ membership benefits

Example Stack:

• Price match item from $15.99 to $12.99
• Use manufacturer coupon: $2.00 off
• Ibotta cashback: $1.00
• Total paid: $9.99 (37% savings)

Seasonal Price Matching Opportunities:

• Back-to-school season: Electronics and supplies
• Holiday shopping: Toys and electronics
• Spring cleaning: Household items
• Summer prep: Outdoor and travel items

Dealing with Difficult Situations

If a Cashier Refuses:

1. Remain calm and polite
2. Ask to speak with a manager
3. Reference Walmart’s official policy
4. Show clear evidence of the competitor’s price
5. Be prepared to walk away if necessary

If the System Won’t Accept the Price Match:

• Ask for a manager override
• Request they call customer service
• Get a rain check for the lower price
• Consider shopping at the competitor instead

If You’re Accused of Fraud:

• Stay calm and professional
• Explain you’re following Walmart’s policy
• Show genuine screenshots with timestamps
• Offer to call the competitor to verify

Tracking Your Price Match Savings

Keep a Savings Log:

• Date of purchase
• Item price matched
• Original price vs. matched price
• Store/website used for comparison
• Total savings per trip

Monthly Savings Goals:

• Beginner: $20-30 per month
• Intermediate: $50-75 per month
• Advanced: $100+ per month

Best Apps for Tracking:

• Mint (expense tracking)
• YNAB (budgeting with savings goals)
• Simple spreadsheet on your phone

Price Matching Etiquette

Do:

• Be respectful to staff
• Have your evidence ready
• Shop during less busy times
• Thank staff for their help
• Be patient during verification

Don’t:

• Argue with cashiers
• Hold up long lines
• Try to price match clearly invalid deals
• Get upset if a price match is denied
• Blame staff for policy limitations

Alternatives When Price Matching Fails

If Walmart Won’t Price Match:

1. Buy online: Order from the competitor
2. Rain check: Ask for future price match
3. Manager escalation: Speak with store management
4. Corporate contact: Call Walmart customer service
5. Shop elsewhere: Sometimes it’s worth the trip

Online Shopping Backup Plan:

• Use competitors’ websites directly
• Check for free shipping thresholds
• Compare total costs including shipping
• Use cashback portals for online purchases

Walmart Price Match vs. Competitors

Walmart vs. Target Price Matching:

• Walmart: Broader online retailer acceptance
• Target: More restrictive but includes some local stores

Walmart vs. Best Buy Price Matching:

• Walmart: Grocery and general merchandise focus
• Best Buy: Electronics specialist with more tech retailers

Why Walmart’s Policy Works for Families:

• One-stop shopping convenience
• Broad product selection
• Consistent policy across stores
• No minimum purchase requirements

Real-World Success Stories

Case Study 1: Back-to-School Shopping

Total Walmart price: $247.83 After price matching: $189.45 Savings: $58.38 (23.5% savings)

Items price matched:

• Backpacks (Target.com pricing)
• School supplies (Amazon pricing)
• Clothes (Target.com pricing)

Case Study 2: Holiday Electronics

Total Walmart price: $1,245.67 After price matching: $987.23 Savings: $258.44 (20.7% savings)

Items price matched:

• Tablets from Best Buy pricing
• Gaming accessories from Amazon
• Phone cases from Target

Tools and Resources

Essential Apps:

• Walmart App: Check in-store vs. online prices
• Honey: Browser extension for price comparisons
• Flipp: Browse competitor ads
• Rakuten: Cashback for online purchases

Websites for Price Comparison:

• Google Shopping
• Shopping.com
• Nextag.com
• PriceGrabber.com

Browser Extensions:

• Honey (automatic coupon codes and price comparison)
• InvisibleHand (price alerts)
• Capital One Shopping (price tracking)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I price match sale prices? A: Yes, as long as the sale is current and from a qualifying retailer.

Q: Do I need to print out competitor prices? A: No, showing the price on your smartphone is sufficient.

Q: Can I price match multiple items in one transaction? A: Yes, there’s no limit on how many items you can price match.

Q: What if the competitor’s website is down? A: The cashier may not be able to verify the price. Try again later or use a screenshot.

Q: Can I price match at Walmart.com? A: No, the price match policy only applies to in-store purchases.

Final Tips for Price Matching Success

Start Small:

• Begin with 1-2 items per trip
• Choose obvious price differences ($5+ savings)
• Build confidence with easy matches

Be Strategic:

• Focus on high-value items first
• Shop during off-peak hours
• Have backup plans ready

Stay Organized:

• Keep screenshots organized on your phone
• Know which items you want to price match before shopping
• Track your savings to stay motivated

Build Relationships:

• Be friendly with regular staff
• Show appreciation for their help
• Become a recognized, trusted customer

Maximizing Your Family’s Savings

Price matching at Walmart is just one tool in your money-saving toolkit. When combined with coupons, cashback apps, and strategic shopping, you can significantly reduce your family’s expenses without sacrificing quality or convenience.

The key is to start small, be consistent, and always remain respectful to the hardworking Walmart associates who help make these savings possible. With practice, price matching becomes a natural part of your shopping routine that can save your family hundreds of dollars throughout the year.

Ready to start price matching? Pick three items from your next shopping list, check their prices on Amazon and Target, and give it a try. You’ll be amazed at how much you can save with just a few minutes of preparation.