15 Walmart Items I Wish I’d Started Buying Sooner

If you're an avid Walmart shopper, you likely know one smart shopping hack is shopping their several exclusive brands that make quality products without a hefty price tag — or maybe you're just discovering them.

Whether it's Great Value, Marketside, Mainstays, Bettergoods, Equate, or another one of the retail giant's 90 owned brands, you can score items that directly compete against higher-priced products.

Walmart says 21 of its private brands each bring in more than $1 billion in annual sales. That includes newer lines like bettergoods, which launched in 2024.

Here are 15 Walmart products that, once discovered, you'll wish you'd found sooner. I know I did.

Editor's note: Prices and availability are subject to change and may vary by location.

Price: $3.84

If your household is a fan of heart-healthy tuna, like mine is, this four-pack offers excellent value. Having these cans on hand will help you make endless quick, easy, and nutritious meals. With 25 grams of protein per serving and just 100 calories, you can't go wrong with Great Value's tuna.

A similar 5-ounce can from Target is $1.29 each, costing you an extra $1.32 for the same amount.

Each can holds 5 ounces, which works out to about 96 cents per can. The four-pack has a 4.7-star rating from more than 50,000 shoppers. Walmart also sells it in 12-ounce cans and 2.6-ounce pouches if you want different portion sizes.

Price: $10.47

Nuts offer a variety of nutrients, including fiber, protein, and vitamins, making them an ideal snack for promoting heart health and regulating blood sugar levels.

This Great Value mix is a staple in our home. As a household of five, snacks go quickly. At just 51 cents per ounce, we can enjoy these high-quality nuts for nearly 18 cents less per ounce compared to Target.

The 15.25-ounce container mixes almonds, cashews, pistachios, pecans, and macadamia nuts. It has 40 milligrams of sodium per serving, half the amount in Great Value's regular salted deluxe mix. Reviewers also like using it as a base for homemade trail mix.

Price: $5.22

On to housewares, and what better way to kick off my favorites than this four-piece dishcloth set? If you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, you know how valuable dishcloths are. However, it can be tough to find affordable multi-purpose dishcloth packs.

For reference, at Williams Sonoma, you'll pay $19.95 for a similar two-pack of dishcloths.

Each 100% cotton cloth measures 12 by 12 inches and has a waffle-weave texture that helps with scrubbing and soaking up spills. They're machine washable, quick-drying, and OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified. Shoppers give the set a 4.6-star rating, and reviewers call the cloths thick, absorbent, and a good size for wiping counters.

Price: $7.27

Coconut oil is excellent for dishes with tropical flavors and those that include rich chocolate. If you like the flavor of coconut, you can typically replace butter in baking recipes at a 1:1 ratio.

This organic Great Value unrefined coconut oil is now one of my go-tos. Based on the reviews, other customers tend to agree with me, saying they enjoy the flavor and the price is right.

The 14-ounce jar has a 4.7-star rating from more than 8,000 shoppers. For comparison, Spectrum's 14-ounce organic unrefined coconut oil costs $10.64 at Walmart. If you go through it quickly, larger 29- and 54-ounce jars cost less per ounce.

Price: $2.50

If you love everything bagels as much as I do but are trying to cut back on eating so much bread, you'll wonder where this seasoning has been all this time. Featuring a blend of salt, garlic, onion, sesame seeds, black sesame seeds, and poppy seeds, you can elevate any dish to the next level, whether it's eggs, salads, chicken coating, or even cocktails.

You also can't beat the price, as I have often seen the same size container for $7 or more.

The 2.6-ounce shaker has a 4.6-star rating from more than 3,000 shoppers. Great Value also sells an Everything Bagel Jalapeño version.

Price: $6.50

I put Epsom salt in my baths, especially when experiencing muscle pain, but there are many uses for this naturally occurring compound. Some even use it for cleaning and as a fertilizer for plants that require magnesium.

Walmart's multi-purpose Epsom salt is a popular pick among many shoppers. I appreciate that this product is unscented, but some customers opt to add their own essential oils.

The 8-pound bag of magnesium sulfate has a 4.8-star rating from more than 14,000 shoppers. If you'd rather skip the oils, Equate also sells scented versions, including lavender, eucalyptus, and arnica. A 4-pound bag is also available for smaller households.

Price: $3.34

The bettergoods launch in 2024 was the largest of its kind in 20 years. These chef-inspired, trend-forward items are often priced under $5. When you try this white hazelnut spread, you'll want to eat straight from the jar. We swirl it into our oatmeal, but it's also great on toast.

Another customer said she loves it on fruit, adding to the many positive reviews.

The 13-ounce jar holds 10 servings and is made with hazelnuts, skim milk powder, and cocoa butter. Each 2-tablespoon serving has 200 calories, and it contains milk and hazelnuts. For comparison, a 13-ounce jar of Nutella costs $4.47 at Walmart.

Price: $4.97

I love candles, but they can be expensive, which is why this Mainstays candle was a game-changer. Featuring three wicks, this candle burns slowly and evenly, and the scent isn't overpowering.

I used to treat myself to a candle from Bath & Body Works every once in a while, but now I save $20 or more per candle by buying from Walmart.

The 14-ounce candle has a burn time of up to 65 hours. Its Cozy Comfort scent blends vanilla, jasmine, and musk, and the textured vessel comes with a metal lid. Bath & Body Works' 3-wick candles typically cost $24.95 at full price. Trim the wicks occasionally for an even burn.

Price: $3.64

These seasoned, oven-roasted petite potatoes are perfect for nights when you need a quick and quality side dish. Best of all, there are just four ingredients — potatoes, olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Serve with beef, chicken, fish, eggs, or for salad.

Each frozen bag of prepped potatoes includes five servings, working out to just 69 cents each.

The 16-ounce bag has a 4.5-star rating from nearly 2,500 shoppers. For a different flavor, bettergoods also sells a version with olive oil, Italian herbs, and Parmesan. Since they're frozen and already seasoned, they're easy to keep on hand for busy weeknights. The label notes they may contain milk, sesame, and soy, so check it if you have allergies.

Price: $3.97

I live up north, where temperatures begin to drop come fall. Winters are cold, and spring is damp and chilly. So, I can never have too many spare blankets and throws — extras in the house, in the car, you name it. This best-selling throw is a steal, allowing you to do the same.

Choose from one of six designs, ranging from red plaid to a nature-inspired mushroom print.

The throw measures 50 by 60 inches, big enough for lounging on the couch or layering on a bed. It has a 4.6-star rating from more than 13,000 shoppers. Other prints include leopard, paw prints, dogs, and stripes.

Price: $7.53

Flax seeds are tiny nutrient powerhouses, and I sneak them into all kinds of dishes, including smoothies, cereal, salads, muffins, meatballs, and more. This 22-ounce bag of organic flax seeds makes it easy to get extra fiber and protein, and at a great price.

Other Walmart customers agree that this product makes it easy to enhance their diet.

The seeds are USDA-certified organic, and the bag has a 4.7-star rating from more than 1,500 shoppers. It works out to about 34 cents per ounce, and each serving has 5 grams of total fat. If you'd rather skip grinding, Great Value also sells organic ground cold-milled flaxseed in a 16-ounce bag.

Price: $6.58

I love honey in my green tea. However, this organic raw honey is also a great natural sweetener for oatmeal, yogurt, cheese, and more.

It's a go-to option for many Walmart shoppers because it tastes great and the price is reasonable. It's not uncommon for this amount of raw honey to be $15 or more elsewhere.

The 16-ounce bottle has a 4.6-star rating from more than 5,000 shoppers. It works out to about 41 cents an ounce, while Great Value's 12-ounce organic raw honey bottle costs about 67 cents an ounce. If you use honey often, the 16-ounce size is the better deal of the two.

Price: $2.72

We have a cabin, and I always have this stocked, not just for unexpected cuts and scrapes but also for cleaning and disinfecting. In the winter, it works great on our windshields, preventing frost from forming.

Shoppers give this Walmart-branded product a 4.8-star rating.

That rating comes from more than 37,000 shoppers. The 32-ounce bottle is labeled to help decrease the risk of infection in minor cuts, scrapes, and burns, and it's HSA and FSA eligible. 

Equate also sells a 16-ounce bottle and a six-pack of the 32-ounce size. Keep in mind that rubbing alcohol is flammable, so store it away from heat and open flames.

Price: $25.96

We love to host, and with family visiting from out of town, having extra sheets on hand is a must. It's tough to go wrong with this best-seller, available in over 20 vibrant colors. This sheet set is made from breathable, jersey-knit fabric, making it ideal for all seasons.

At Macy's, you can pay almost double this price.

The four-piece queen set includes a flat sheet, a fitted sheet with a 13-inch pocket depth, and two pillowcases. It's machine washable and has a 4.6-star rating from more than 17,000 shoppers, with reviewers often comparing the feel to a soft T-shirt. The set is also OEKO-TEX Made in Green certified.

Price: $7.50

I have sensitive skin, so I need to be mindful of what I use. For years, I bought Dove Body Wash for Sensitive Skin, which costs $7.97 for a 20-ounce container. However, this Equate product is nearly identical, and many shoppers agree with me, saying the only difference is the name and, of course, the price.

Who wouldn't want two bottles for the price of one?

The Equate twin pack includes two 24-ounce bottles, or 48 ounces total, for less than one 20-ounce bottle of Dove. That works out to about 16 cents per ounce, compared with about 45 cents per ounce for Dove.

Next time you're in Walmart, check out some of its top brands. The products offered have undergone significant improvements in recent years, transitioning from budget-friendly alternatives to high-quality options that fit within your budget. 

Walmart says five of its private brands each bring in more than $5 billion a year, and these product lines are expected to continue growing. Shopping these brands is an easy way to trim your grocery and household bills without giving up quality.

Continue discovering Walmart brand items that are as good (or better) than the "real" stuff, and be sure to use a top cash back credit card each time you shop to stretch your budget even further.