I Brought the Same List to Dollar Tree & Five Below - Here's Who Was the Clear Winner

Dollar Tree and Five Below get lumped together because they make the same promise: walk in with a few dollars, walk out with a full bag. They even share plenty of shelf space, from candy to phone chargers.

The pricing models are different, though. Dollar Tree builds its aisles around a $1.25 price point, with plenty of items at $1.50, $5, and up. Five Below's name promises $5 and under, but it sells plenty above that, often at odd prices like $1.99 and $5.55.

So I priced one 24-item list on both stores' websites on Oct. 23, matching brand and size wherever I could. For more ways to stretch a budget, keep an eye out for more bargains or consider making some extra cash.

Editor's note: Prices and availability are subject to change and may vary by location. Prices were checked on each retailer's website. Dollar Tree's online prices are per item, but most online orders require buying a full case.

Round 1: Snacks and candy

Dollar Tree $6.50 vs. Five Below $8.49

Winner: Dollar Tree

I started with candy because it's the easiest apples-to-apples test. Both stores stock the same name-brand bags in the same sizes, so the only variable is the price tag.

Dollar Tree won all five matchups, by 25 to 75 cents per item. The gap gets bigger on Cheez-It, where the same 3-ounce bag costs 75 cents more at Five Below. Buy snacks for a road trip or a classroom and those quarters add up fast.

Five Below does carry more novelty candy, like Dubai-style chocolate bars and audio lollipops at $5 each. If you want trendy treats rather than staples, that's where its candy aisle earns its keep.

• Haribo Gold-Bears, 4 ounces: Dollar Tree $1.25, Five Below $1.50
• Sour Patch Kids, 3.6 ounces: Dollar Tree $1.25, Five Below $1.50
• Cheez-It Original, 3 ounces: Dollar Tree $1.25, Five Below $2
• Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, 1.5 ounces: Dollar Tree $1.50, Five Below $1.99
• Nerds Gummy Clusters Very Berry, 3 ounces: Dollar Tree $1.25, Five Below $1.50

Round 2: Party and seasonal

Dollar Tree $8 vs. Five Below $15

Winner: Dollar Tree

This was the biggest blowout by percentage. Party goods are Dollar Tree's home turf, and it showed in both the shelf prices and the pack counts.

White tissue paper is the clearest example. Dollar Tree's pack has 35 sheets for $1.25, about 4 cents a sheet. Five Below's pack has 20 sheets for $2, or 10 cents a sheet. A fringe backdrop runs $1.25 at Dollar Tree and $4 at Five Below.

Five Below's single medium gift bag looks cheaper at $1, but Dollar Tree sells two for $1.25, or about 63 cents a bag.

Ornaments follow the same pattern: roughly 9 cents apiece at Dollar Tree versus about 19 cents at Five Below. Five Below's ornament listing says 21 in the title and 24 in the web address, so count the pack.

• White tissue paper: Dollar Tree $1.25 for 35 sheets, Five Below $2 for 20 sheets
• Medium gift bag: Dollar Tree $1.25 for two, Five Below $1 for one
• 18-inch star foil balloon: Dollar Tree $1.50, Five Below $2
• Number birthday candle: Dollar Tree $1.25, Five Below $2
• Fringe backdrop: Dollar Tree $1.25, Five Below $4
• Christmas ornament set: Dollar Tree $1.50 for 16, Five Below $4 for 21

Round 3: Beauty

Dollar Tree $6.25 vs. Five Below $11.25

Winner: Dollar Tree

On basic beauty tools, Dollar Tree won four of five matchups. Its eyelash curler costs $1.25, while the cheapest plain curler I found at Five Below was $3. Cotton rounds, hair ties, and nail files all came in cheaper at Dollar Tree, too.

Five Below took one round back with a $1 sheet mask, a quarter less than Dollar Tree's and slightly larger at 0.88 ounces versus 0.77 ounces.

The bigger story is brand selection. Five Below stocks brands like Sally Hansen, Garnier, Batiste, and Wet n' Wild. Searching Dollar Tree's site for Sally Hansen and Garnier turned up nothing. If you're loyal to a specific brand, Five Below is the better bet.

• Cotton rounds: Dollar Tree $1.25 for 80, Five Below $3 for 100
• Eyelash curler: Dollar Tree $1.25, Five Below $3
• Face sheet mask: Dollar Tree $1.25, Five Below $1
• Elastic hair ties, 20-pack: Dollar Tree $1.25, Five Below $2
• Nail files, 3-pack: Dollar Tree $1.25, Five Below $2.25

Round 4: Home and kitchen

Dollar Tree $9.50 vs. Five Below $14.55

Winner: Dollar Tree

Dollar Tree took this round, though Five Below won one matchup outright. Expect to pay $1.50 rather than $1.25 for most of Dollar Tree's kitchen basics.

That win was Dawn Ultra. Dollar Tree sells a 7.5-ounce bottle for $1.50, or about 20 cents an ounce. Five Below's 15.5-ounce bottle costs $3, or about 19 cents an ounce. Buy the bigger bottle, and you come out ahead.

Candles were nearly a draw: $5 for a 14-ounce jar at Dollar Tree versus $5.55 for 13.5 ounces at Five Below. Dollar Tree's food storage set was cheaper, with a three-pack for $1.50 compared with $3 for a three-pack at Five Below.

And when I went looking for measuring cups, Dollar Tree had a four-piece set for $1.25, while Five Below's site turned up none.

• Dawn Ultra dish soap: Dollar Tree $1.50 for 7.5 ounces, Five Below $3 for 15.5 ounces
• Food storage containers, 3-pack: Dollar Tree $1.50, Five Below $3
• Ice cube tray: Dollar Tree $1.50, Five Below $3
• Scented jar candle: Dollar Tree $5 for 14 ounces, Five Below $5.55 for 13.5 ounces

Round 5: Tech accessories

Dollar Tree $16.50 vs. Five Below $23.99

Winner: Dollar Tree

I expected Five Below to win this round. On the items both stores carry, it didn't. A 20-watt dual-port wall charger and a 6-foot USB-C cable each cost $5 at Dollar Tree and $7 at Five Below.

Five Below's only win was a technicality. A four-pack of Energizer Max AA batteries costs $4.99 there and $5 at Dollar Tree.

Where Five Below pulls ahead is range. It sells a 5,000mAh power bank for $7 and wireless chargers from $7. My search on Dollar Tree's site found no wireless chargers and only a 3,000mAh emergency charger.

• 20-watt dual-port wall charger: Dollar Tree $5, Five Below $7
• 6-foot USB-C to USB-C cable: Dollar Tree $5, Five Below $7
• USB-C wired earbuds: Dollar Tree $1.50, Five Below $5
• Energizer Max AA batteries, 4-pack: Dollar Tree $5, Five Below $4.99

The final tally: Dollar Tree wins

Across all 24 items, my Dollar Tree basket came to $46.75. The same list at Five Below came to $73.28. That's $26.53 less at Dollar Tree, or about 36% less. Dollar Tree won 21 of the 24 matchups and every category round.

Dollar Tree is the better fit if you're stocking up on everyday basics: party supplies, gift wrap, kitchen tools, and grab-and-go snacks. It's also the clear pick for anyone hosting a holiday or birthday on a tight budget.

Five Below suits shoppers who want name-brand beauty, gadgets like power banks, and gifts for kids and grandkids, including licensed characters like Hello Kitty and Stitch. Just don't assume its prices beat Dollar Tree's on the basics.

Bottom line

Both stores can stretch a dollar, but they stretch it in different directions. Dollar Tree wins on everyday consumables and party supplies, while Five Below wins on brand names and gadgets.

The smartest move is to split your list. Check unit prices and pack counts before you buy, because a lower shelf price doesn't always mean a better deal.

Also remember that Dollar Tree's website mostly sells by the case, so single items are easier to grab in store. If you shop either store often, pair your trips with the best cash back credit cards to earn a little back on every run.

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