Most Dollar General employees don’t realize their discount is double what Walmart, Target, and Kroger offer. Dollar General gives associates 20% off in-store and online, putting it among the highest merchandise discounts in mass-market retail. Walmart and Target are 10%. Kroger varies by category. Dollar General is a flat 20%.
Here’s the quick reference plus the deep-dive on how it actually applies.
Quick reference
Discount: 20% off most merchandise, in-store and online (dollargeneral.com). Eligibility: Active Dollar General employees. Exclusions: Alcohol, tobacco, gift cards, lottery, postage, and some specialty items. Family use: Limited; primary user is the employee. Stacking: Generally stacks with sale prices, doesn’t stack with already-promoted clearance. When it stops: Immediately at separation.
How to use it in-store
The process at the register:
- At checkout, identify yourself as an employee. Some stores use a swipe card; others use your employee ID at the keypad.
- The 20% applies automatically to eligible items.
- The receipt shows the discount line.
If your discount isn’t applying:
- Your employee account may not be linked correctly in the register system. Ask your store manager or HR to verify.
- The item may be in an excluded category.
- The store-level register configuration may be off (a known issue at some locations).
Tip: Always check your receipt. Dollar General register systems sometimes miss the discount on online-only or specialty items. Customer service can correct on the spot if you ask.
How to use it online
At dollargeneral.com:
- Log in with the account linked to your employee profile.
- The 20% applies at checkout for eligible items.
- Confirm the discount appears in the order summary before completing payment.
The online discount is meaningful because Dollar General’s online inventory sometimes includes items not stocked in every store. For specialty or bulk purchases, ordering online with the discount can be more convenient than driving between stores looking for stock.
What’s excluded
Standard exclusions at Dollar General:
- Alcohol: Excluded by policy.
- Tobacco: Excluded by policy.
- Lottery tickets: Excluded.
- Gift cards and stored-value cards: Excluded.
- Postage and money orders: Excluded.
- Some specialty items: Varies; check at the register.
Most of the rest of the store is eligible.
How Dollar General’s discount compares
| Retailer | Discount | Stacking |
|---|---|---|
| Dollar General | 20% flat | With sales, not clearance |
| Dollar Tree | ~10% | Limited |
| Walmart | 10% all merchandise + food | Holiday bonus |
| Target | 10% + wellness 20% + RedCard 5% | Multi-layer |
| CVS Health | 30% name-brand, 20% store-brand | With ExtraCare |
| Walgreens | 10-20% on store-brand | Limited |
| Home Depot | None | N/A |
Dollar General’s 20% flat discount is unusually strong for a discount-format retailer. It’s especially generous when you consider that Dollar General prices are already aimed at the value end of the market. So the 20% applies to already-low prices, making the effective savings meaningful.
Tip: If you shop at Dollar General regularly for household basics, the 20% discount can add up to $200-$500 per year in savings depending on spending. That’s a meaningful add to base pay.
Family use
Dollar General’s discount is primarily for the employee. Some stores allow spouses and dependents to use the card, but the policy is less generous than Walmart’s, Target’s, or PetSmart’s.
If you want family to shop with your discount:
- Be present at the register when they check out.
- Don’t share your employee ID for use without you present.
- Watch your store’s specific enforcement of the policy.
Stacking with sales and clearance
The 20% discount typically:
- Stacks with regular sale prices (the discount applies to the sale price).
- Doesn’t stack with clearance items already marked down significantly.
- Doesn’t stack with manufacturer coupons in some cases (varies).
When in doubt, test on a small purchase. If the math comes out wrong, ask customer service to verify.
What happens during open enrollment season
Dollar General’s open enrollment runs October 15 to November 30, with new benefits effective January 1. The discount itself doesn’t change during enrollment, but related benefits do. If you’re choosing between plans during open enrollment, watch for:
- Health insurance changes
- 401(k) match adjustments
- HSA/FSA contribution windows
- Any new partner discount programs
Common issues with the discount
“My discount disappeared at checkout.”
The most common cause is a register system glitch or a recent change to your employee account. Ask the cashier to verify your employee status, and if that fails, request customer service intervention.
“I bought something online and the discount didn’t apply.”
Make sure you’re logged into the account linked to your employee profile. The online discount is account-based, so guest checkout won’t apply the discount.
“I want to buy a gift card with my discount.”
Gift cards are excluded. Don’t try.
“Can I buy in bulk for resale?”
No. Purchase limits apply to prevent reselling. Excessive purchases of the same item can flag your account.
Warning: Misuse of the employee discount can result in disciplinary action up to and including termination. Use it for legitimate household purchases.
What you can’t do with the discount
- Resell items: Strictly prohibited. Will trigger account flags.
- Share your ID broadly: Beyond immediate family in their presence, this is policy-violating.
- Use after separation: Your discount stops immediately when you separate.
- Combine with employee discount from other employers: If you also work at another retailer, you use each store’s discount separately. They don’t stack.
When the discount stops
Your discount stops the day you separate from Dollar General. There’s no retiree benefit or extended access program.
If you’re planning your exit:
- Stock up on household basics before your last day.
- Use any pending online orders with the discount applied.
- Watch your final pay stub to make sure no inappropriate charges appear (separate issue from the discount itself).
A few Dollar General-specific notes
The 20% discount is one of the strongest reasons to take a Dollar General job if you’re already a frequent Dollar General shopper. For a household that spends $50/week at Dollar General, the 20% saves about $520/year. That’s a meaningful add to base pay for an entry-level retail role.
Watch for periodic store-level employee promotions. These aren’t part of the standard 20%, but some stores run “employee appreciation” events with extra discounts or freebies. Check your store’s bulletin board.
For more on Dollar General benefits as a whole, see the Dollar General employee benefits page and the full Dollar General employee discounts page. For what happens to the discount when you leave, see the Dollar General quitting process page and the Dollar General PTO payout guide.
Final word
Dollar General’s 20% discount is genuinely strong, especially compared to most discount-format and big-box retailers. The catch is the limited family-use policy and the strict reselling enforcement. If you shop at Dollar General regularly, the discount is a real benefit. If you don’t, it’s a smaller benefit than the headline 20% suggests because you’d have to start shopping there to use it.
For most Dollar General associates, the discount adds a few hundred dollars in annual household savings. Combined with the base hourly rate, that’s the practical value of the merchandise side of the benefits package.