For decades, Dollar Tree had one simple promise: everything costs a dollar. That promise is gone. If you haven’t shopped there in a while, the price tags can be a surprise. Here’s how Dollar Tree pricing works now.
The base price is $1.25
Dollar Tree raised its base price from $1 to $1.25, a change that was in place by 2022. It was the first time the company had ever raised its standard price. Most everyday items still sit at that base price.
Multi-price items
Dollar Tree started testing multi-price stores in 2019. Those stores sell items above the base price, commonly at $3 or $5. Recent reports say some higher-priced items now reach $7. Prices generally stay under $10 per item.
Multi-price stores are growing
Dollar Tree is leaning into this model. It plans to expand multi-price stores by about 630 in 2026, to roughly 5,900 locations by the end of the year. In other words, more and more stores will carry items above $1.25.
What this means for shoppers
- Don’t assume the price. The same aisle can hold $1.25 items next to $3 or $5 items.
- Scan before you buy. Dollar Tree has added in-store digital price scanners and price scanning in its app. Our price check guide shows how to use both.
- Compare before you grab. A $5 item at Dollar Tree isn’t automatically cheaper than the same thing elsewhere.
Where the real bargains are
Higher price points don’t mean Dollar Tree has stopped being a bargain store. Clearance and penny items still exist. Items marked down to $0.25 are often near the end of their markdowns, and some reach $0.01. Since January 2026, according to The Krazy Coupon Lady, Dollar Tree’s policy lets customers buy items that ring up at a penny. Read our Dollar Tree penny items guide to learn how.
Is Dollar Tree still worth it?
For party supplies, cards, craft basics, cleaning odds and ends and seasonal decor, many shoppers still find good value. For groceries and name-brand items, it pays to compare. And for the thrill of a one-cent find, Dollar Tree is now a real option alongside Dollar General. See how the two stack up in Dollar Tree vs Dollar General.