Does Walmart Take Coupons? (Full Policy Explained)

Walmart is a brand known to offer many products—from groceries and kitchenware to electronics and clothes—at low prices compared to its competitors.

Due to how low the costs of their goods are, many people assume that they don’t accept coupons—how else will the discount department and grocery store chain make money, after all? But is that really the case? 

Does Walmart Take Coupons?

Walmart accepts a wide range of coupons at both their cashiers and self-checkout aisles. These coupons include manufacturer coupons, printable coupons, and checkout coupons—or “Catalinas.” Unfortunately, Walmart does not allow customers to stack coupons for any products.

So, are you ready for an exciting “couponing” experience at Walmart? If so, then before you buy next week’s groceries, let’s cover Walmart coupon basics so you can get started saving money! 

Walmart’s Coupon Policy

You can find Walmart’s complete coupon policy online. To ensure savings and save time at checkout, review the policy by accessing it online with your phone or make a printed copy.

Here’s a table summarizing the most common coupon policy items from the Walmart corporate list:  

Coupon Type Walmart Policy
Manufacturer One paper manufacturer coupon per item.
There is no limit on the total number of coupons you can use during and for the overall transaction.
Coupons must be scannable with a valid address and expiration date.
Present coupons to the cashier at the time of your purchase; you cannot apply coupons after your purchase. 
Your item must exactly match the coupon description (size, quantity, etc.).
Walmart has policies covering “overages,” or if the coupon value exceeds the purchase price. Overages are applied to your transaction total (in some cases, they even give cash back to you, except for SNAP or WIC transactions).
 
Internet (Print at Home) Walmart accepts coupons you print from the internet as long as they scan properly and are not altered in any way.
 
Buy One Get One Free (BOGO) You take two of the same item to the checkout, applying one BOGO coupon, so one of them is free.
You can’t use two BOGO coupons on two items and get them both free.
 
Returns Purchased with Coupons If you return an item purchased using a manufacturer coupon, Walmart will reimburse the purchase price (the coupon itself will not be given back).

In their coupon policy statement, Walmart provides a detailed list of what coupons they will not accept (such as digital coupons scanned off a mobile phone.) 

If you have questions about the Walmart coupon policy, you can always ask the store manager or call Walmart Store Support at 1-800-WALMART. 

Tips for Using Coupons at Walmart

There are several things you can do to help ensure your coupon shopping experience goes smoothly. Basically, you need to do your Walmart policy “homework” and prepare before you get there.

  • Have your list of items matched with coupons ready before you even enter the store.
  • You can still “price match” as Walmart stores continue to match the prices offered on Walmart.com. However, note that Walmart has discontinued price-matching across stores and competitors. 
  • Some Walmart stores have lines specifically for coupon users—the checkout folks in these lines will be more knowledgeable about coupon use.
  • Always ask the checkout person how they would like to handle the coupons (all at once or by item as they ring up, etc.)
  • Put yourself in the cashier’s and manager’s shoes—always be patient and polite when asking questions or clarifying the store’s coupon policy.
  • As noted earlier, have the Walmart coupon policy with you—hardcopy or bookmarked online on your phone.

Here are some other things to consider as you explore using coupons for your Walmart purchases:

Extreme Coupon Prep

Extreme Coupon Prep Walmart

Fondly known as “extreme couponing,” you probably won’t do this to the extent some professional “couponers” do (40 hour weeks preparing, for example).

And Walmart does not allow you to “stack” or use more than one coupon per item. But with research, you can still find creative ways to explore moving a bit from “casual to extreme” coupon use.

Use Coupons at Self-Checkout  

Going the self-checkout route can often save you time if you don’t have too many items (or have become a pro with checking out and coupon use.)

Scan the coupons just like you scan the items you’re purchasing. There’s usually a slot available to deposit your used coupons as well.

Shopping Apps Are Your Friend 

Even though Walmart has a “one-coupon per item” policy, you can still take advantage of rebates along with the coupons to save. You can do this by using rebate apps such as iBotta and Checkout51.

An app like “Brickseek” can help you check inventory ahead of time to ensure the items you use coupons for are actually in stock.

Watch for Lowest Base Prices

Walmart clearance is marked down at the beginning of the month. Meat and bakery items are marked down one day before their “best by” date. Applying your coupons to the lowest base price saves even more money.

Save Those Catalinas

Remember to save all those colorful coupons that print out at the register during checkout. Anytime a qualifying product is scanned, one of these coupons will print out for use on your next shopping trip. 

Walmart’s “Savings Catcher” Program

The “Savings Catcher” program was how Walmart originally matched lower competitor prices, although it’s been discontinued since 2019.

However, if you have used this program and still have a balance on your Walmart eRewards card, you can still apply that balance to purchases at Walmart. 

Where Can You Find Coupons to Use at Walmart?

Remember the family member who spread out the newspaper and spent hours clipping out coupons? You can still do that, of course, but here are some other options for finding coupons you can use at Walmart:

  • The Sunday paper – Yes, we’re still noting this one. You can often get a Sunday paper on Monday at a discount as well. Look for and read the ad inserts.
  • Coupon websites – Here’s a sampling of some of the most popular ones: Coupons.com, SmartSource, Valpak, or brands carried by Walmart. There are also online lists of the best websites for printable coupons. 
  • Coupon Apps – Grocery Pal (Available on Google Play and the Apple App Store) and Coupons App are two popular ones. 
  • Look for coupons on Walmart Sample Displays – New vendors will often attach coupons to displays, especially for free samples.

To see how to can save more while shopping at Walmart, don’t forget to see our other guides on if Walmart price matches their online prices, Walmart hacks, if Walmart has layaway, and the Walmart rollback.

Final Thoughts

Applying coupons to items you purchase can result in significant savings. How does saving between $1500 to $2500 a year sound?

The U.S. Consumer Packaged Goods marketers group also reported that only about 1% of all shoppers actually redeem coupons—resulting in about $465 billion worth of coupons going unused. Bet you’re ready to consider using coupons at Walmart now!

The above information will help you get started using coupons for the items you purchase at Walmart. Remember to do your coupon homework—start by reviewing the Walmart coupon policy, check out sources for coupons specific to your shopping needs, and start by using just a few until you’re comfortable with the coupon process.

The more you use coupons for your Walmart shopping, the more comfortable you’ll be looking for and applying coupons on your shopping expeditions. And when you realize how much you’re saving, you’ll become a devoted coupon user!

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Marques Thomas

Marques Thomas graduated with a MBA in 2011. Since then, Marques has worked in the retail and consumer service industry as a manager, advisor, and marketer. Marques is also the head writer and founder of QuerySprout.com.

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