Discount Store Hours Guide

Typical Hours at Major Discount Stores

Discount stores split into two very different groups when it comes to scheduling. Warehouse clubs like Costco and BJ's keep relatively short hours - they close early and stay closed on many holidays. Dollar stores and closeout retailers go the opposite direction with long hours, late closings, and minimal holiday closures. The logic tracks with their customer base: warehouse club shoppers make planned bulk trips during daytime hours, while dollar store shoppers need quick access at all hours, often in neighborhoods with fewer alternatives.

Here is how typical hours break down across the major chains:

Costco Hours: Short Days, Big Crowds

Costco runs the tightest schedule of any major retailer. Weekday hours are 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM for regular members. If you hold an Executive (Plus) membership, you can get in at 9:00 AM on weekdays - a full hour before general admission. That early access window is the single best time to shop at Costco because the warehouse is nearly empty and the sample stations are fully stocked.

Weekends are even shorter. Saturday hours run 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM and Sundays are 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. That 6:00 PM close catches a lot of people off guard, especially anyone used to grocery stores that stay open until 10:00 or 11:00 PM. If you are planning a Costco run on Saturday afternoon, do not wait until 5:00 PM to head over - the checkout lines get long toward closing and staff begin wrapping up the food court around 5:30 PM.

Costco also closes for more holidays than almost any other retailer. They shut down on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. That is six guaranteed closures per year, plus Easter. Compare that to dollar stores that close on just one or two holidays. Costco's reasoning is that their business model does not depend on daily foot traffic - members come in bulk on a set schedule regardless of holidays.

The Costco gas station keeps different hours from the warehouse itself. Gas pumps typically open 30 minutes before the store (around 6:00 AM at many locations) and close 30 minutes after. Check your local Costco for exact gas station hours since these vary more than warehouse hours.

BJ's Wholesale Club: The Longer Alternative

BJ's Wholesale Club positions itself as a friendlier, more accessible version of the warehouse club concept. That philosophy extends to their hours - BJ's opens at 8:00 AM on weekdays and stays open until 9:00 PM, giving you a 13-hour window compared to Costco's 10.5 hours. Sundays run 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, still two hours longer than Costco's Sunday schedule.

BJ's also offers early morning access for their Inner Circle members, typically opening an hour before regular hours. The club accepts manufacturer coupons on top of their own member pricing, which makes it popular with budget-conscious families who plan shopping trips around coupon cycles.

One key difference from Costco: BJ's tends to close on fewer holidays. While they still shut down on Thanksgiving and Christmas, they are open on several holidays where Costco stays closed, including Memorial Day and Labor Day. If you need to do a big warehouse club run on a holiday weekend, BJ's is the more reliable bet. Check the Holiday Hours page for the full comparison.

BJ's operates primarily in the eastern United States, with locations concentrated from Maine down to Florida and as far west as Ohio. If you live on the West Coast, Costco is your only warehouse club option outside of Sam's Club.

Dollar General: The Most Accessible Discount Store

Dollar General has more than 19,000 locations across the United States, making it the largest discount store chain by store count. Their hours reflect their mission of serving underserved communities - most locations open at 8:00 AM and stay open until 10:00 PM, seven days a week, with virtually no variation between weekdays and weekends.

That consistency is a big part of Dollar General's appeal. You do not need to check whether they are open or what their hours are today - it is almost always 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Some rural locations in areas with lower foot traffic close at 9:00 PM, and a handful of urban stores push to 11:00 PM, but the 8-to-10 schedule covers the vast majority of their locations.

Dollar General stays open on most holidays with regular or slightly reduced hours. They close on Christmas Day and Easter at most locations. Thanksgiving, New Year's Day, Independence Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day are all regular operating days. For people in small towns where Dollar General is the only store within a reasonable drive, this reliability matters a lot.

The stores themselves are small - typically around 7,400 square feet compared to Costco's 146,000 square feet. A typical Dollar General trip takes 15 to 20 minutes. You do not need to block out a big chunk of your day for shopping here, which means their long hours are practical even for quick evening runs.

Dollar Tree Hours: Same Concept, Similar Schedule

Dollar Tree runs nearly the same schedule as its competitors - 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM at most locations. Dollar Tree acquired Family Dollar in 2015, and the combined company operates over 16,000 locations. Despite being under the same corporate umbrella, Dollar Tree and Family Dollar maintain separate store identities and slightly different hours at some locations.

Dollar Tree stores are often found in strip malls and shopping centers, which means their hours can be influenced by the center's lease agreements. If your Dollar Tree is in a plaza that locks its parking lot at 9:00 PM, the store will close by then regardless of any later posted hours. This is more common than you might expect and is worth noting if you are planning a late-evening visit.

The chain is open on most holidays. Christmas Day is the one guaranteed closure. Many locations close on Easter and may have reduced hours on Thanksgiving. For other holidays - New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day - Dollar Tree is typically open with regular hours. Their Sunday hours are the same as weekday hours at the vast majority of stores.

Family Dollar: Budget Shopping on a Flexible Schedule

Family Dollar keeps hours similar to Dollar Tree - 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM is the most common schedule. As a sister brand to Dollar Tree, the two chains share distribution networks and some corporate infrastructure but target slightly different demographics. Family Dollar skews toward lower-income urban and rural areas, while Dollar Tree draws more suburban shoppers.

Family Dollar stores are often located in neighborhoods where they function as a de facto general store. They carry cleaning supplies, paper goods, snacks, canned food, and basic household items at prices that undercut even Walmart on many staples. Their consistent hours make them a reliable option for essentials when you do not want to drive to a larger store.

Holiday closures at Family Dollar mirror Dollar Tree: closed on Christmas Day, sometimes closed or on reduced hours for Easter and Thanksgiving, open on everything else. The overlap makes sense given the shared ownership. You can compare Dollar Tree and Family Dollar hours side by side with our comparison tool.

Big Lots: The Closeout Store

Big Lots occupies a unique spot in the discount retail world. They are not a dollar store, not a warehouse club, and not really a traditional discounter. Their model is buying excess inventory, closeout merchandise, and manufacturer overruns and selling them at steep discounts. Think of it as a treasure hunt - the selection changes constantly and you never know exactly what you will find.

Hours at Big Lots run 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM on weekdays and Saturdays, with reduced Sunday hours of 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. That makes their schedule slightly shorter than the dollar stores but longer than the warehouse clubs. The later Sunday opening reflects their shopping pattern - Big Lots customers tend to browse rather than run in for essentials, and browsing shoppers do not typically show up first thing Sunday morning.

Big Lots has about 1,400 locations, concentrated in the eastern half of the country. They run significant seasonal sales events - their after-Christmas clearance and summer furniture sales draw the biggest crowds. If you are shopping during one of these events, go on a weekday morning. Weekend sale events at Big Lots can make the already-crowded aisles feel claustrophobic.

Weekend Hours for Discount Stores

Saturdays at discount stores look almost identical to weekdays in terms of posted hours. Dollar General, Dollar Tree, and Family Dollar keep the same open and close times seven days a week. Big Lots matches its weekday hours on Saturday. The only chain that shifts noticeably is Costco, which opens earlier on Saturday (9:30 AM vs. 10:00 AM on weekdays) but closes much earlier at 6:00 PM.

Sundays bring slightly shorter schedules at two of the six chains. Costco closes at 6:00 PM and Big Lots closes at 7:00 PM - both earlier than their weekday closings. BJ's trims an hour off the back end, closing at 8:00 PM instead of 9:00 PM. The three dollar-format stores keep exactly the same hours on Sunday as every other day of the week.

The busiest time at discount stores on weekends is Saturday afternoon from about 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Costco on Saturday between noon and 3:00 PM is particularly intense - the parking lot fills up and checkout lines can stretch halfway down the aisles. For the calmest weekend experience at any of these stores, go first thing Saturday or Sunday morning. See the Weekend Hours page for a full comparison across all retailers.

Holiday Hours for Discount Stores

The holiday schedules at discount stores reveal a lot about each chain's business model. Costco closes on the most holidays because their members will come back the next day regardless. Dollar stores close on the fewest because their customers rely on them for daily essentials.

Check our Holiday Hours page for a complete breakdown of every store's holiday schedule, or use the Holiday Calendar for a visual timeline of the year.

Warehouse Clubs vs. Dollar Stores: Different Worlds

If you are trying to decide between a Costco membership and regular dollar store trips, the answer depends entirely on your household size and shopping style. Warehouse clubs save money on a per-unit basis - the cost per roll of paper towels at Costco is lower than at Dollar General. But you have to buy 12 rolls at once and pay a membership fee to get in the door.

Dollar stores win on convenience and flexibility. They are open longer, close on fewer holidays, require no membership, and let you buy exactly the quantity you need right now. For a single person or small household that does not want to store 36 cans of green beans, dollar stores are often the more practical choice even if the per-unit price is higher.

The hours comparison makes the practical difference clear. A household that works 9-to-5 can shop at Dollar General after work any day of the week - including most holidays. That same household cannot get to Costco on a weekday unless they go during lunch or rush to make the 8:30 PM closing. On weekends the Costco window is even tighter at just 8.5 hours on Saturday and 8 hours on Sunday.

You can compare Costco and Dollar General hours or compare Costco and BJ's hours directly with our comparison tool.

Tips for Shopping at Discount Stores

• Hit Costco right at opening on weekdays - The 10:00 AM opening means the first hour is peaceful. By 11:30 AM the samples are flowing and the crowd builds fast. Executive members should take advantage of the 9:00 AM early entry.
• Check Dollar General's app for digital coupons - They stack on top of already-low prices. Load them before you go since in-store cell reception can be spotty at some locations.
• Big Lots furniture deals happen seasonally - Their best outdoor furniture clearance happens in late August, and indoor furniture deals peak in January. Go weekday mornings for first pick of clearance items.
• BJ's accepts manufacturer coupons - Costco does not. If you are a serious couponer, BJ's is the better warehouse club for stacking savings.
• Dollar Tree is best for party supplies and seasonal decor - Their stock rotates aggressively. Holiday items appear about 6 weeks before the holiday and sell out fast. If you see something you want, buy it now.
• Avoid Costco on Saturday afternoon - Noon to 3:00 PM on Saturdays is consistently the most packed time at every Costco warehouse. Friday evening is a surprisingly quiet alternative.
• Use the store finder for exact hours - Our Store Finder helps you look up specific locations. Rural Dollar General stores sometimes close an hour earlier than posted.

Discount Stores by Type

Explore detailed hours and schedule information for each discount retailer:

Frequently Asked Questions