Dollar General does something special every year in late January.

They try to get rid of all the leftover Christmas items that are still inside the store. Because Christmas is already over, they don’t want those items to stay on the shelves.

So they cut the prices a lot.

That’s why people call it the Dollar General 25 Cent Sale.

During this sale, many Christmas items can become $0.25 each (25 cents).
Yes — that means you can sometimes buy things for the price of a candy.

And it’s not only small cheap items. Sometimes even bigger items become 25 cents, like:

  • home decor
  • gift sets
  • holiday beauty sets
  • holiday air fresheners

But you need to be fast, because by late January, most stores don’t have a lot left.

What is the the Dollar General 25 Cent Sale?

The 25¢ sale is an in-store markdown event.

That means:

  • You go inside Dollar General
  • You find Christmas items
  • At the register (or in the app), they ring up for $0.25

Dollar General usually does not make a big public announcement.
Most people find out when it starts because employees update prices in the system.

So many shoppers are watching for it, especially couponers.

What usually happens next (price drops)

If items don’t sell out, Dollar General often marks them down again:

  • First markdown: around $0.25
  • Next week: some items drop to $0.10
  • Early February: some items drop to $0.01 (these are “penny items”)

Not every store has the same leftovers, so results can vary a lot.

Expected start date for 2026

This sale is not officially announced early, but based on what normally happens every year, people expect it the 25¢ sale to start on:

Tuesday, January 20, 2026 (expected)

Usually, the $0.25 prices last about one week, then go to $0.10, then possibly to $0.01 in early February.

What to look for in the 2026 sale

Based on the markdown lists shared in early January, these are common categories to watch:

1) Christmas clothes

These are items with holiday designs, like:

  • slippers
  • leggings
  • socks

2) Christmas home items (best deals sometimes)

This is one of the best sections because these items can be expensive before markdown.

Look for:

  • pillows
  • mugs, tumblers
  • decorations
  • throws / blankets

3) Party and paper goods

These can become super cheap, like:

  • paper plates
  • paper cups
  • napkins

4) Christmas candy and snacks

Look for:

  • Pirouline wafers
  • holiday Oreos
  • peanut brittle
  • popcorn tins

5) Holiday air fresheners

These are popular because they still work after Christmas.

Look for holiday scents from:

  • Febreze
  • Air Wick
  • Glade

6) Baking items

Look for:

  • Betty Crocker baking mixes, sprinkles, cookie icing
  • Clover Valley items like almond bark, pecans, canned pumpkin, cranberry sauce
  • Stove Top stuffing
  • some Jell-O mixes
  • Toll House white morsels
  • Baker’s sweetened coconut

7) Holiday picnic items

Look for:

  • holiday-themed Dixie plates and bowls

8) Some bath and beauty gift sets

Sometimes Dollar General includes gift sets like:

  • holiday-scented Dove body wash
  • body scrubs

Tips for Shopping the Dollar General 25 Cent Sale

Sometimes an item looks like it should be 25¢, but it rings up full price.

So here’s how to protect yourself:

Go early on the first day

The first day is the best day because:

  • more items are still available
  • fewer people have cleared the shelves yet

Try to go when the store opens.

Check more than one store

One Dollar General might have nothing left, while another store nearby still has a lot.

Focus on higher-price items for the best savings

You save the most when you grab items that were expensive before, like:

  • home décor and pillows
  • inflatables (often $10–$30 normally)
  • gift sets and gift boxes
  • matching family pajamas
  • branded air fresheners

Know what is often NOT included

Some Christmas items are usually excluded, like:

  • storage totes (“holiday plastics”)
  • lights
  • Christmas trees
  • gift wrap (and gift wrap storage/organizers)

Use the DG app to check the real price

To avoid surprises at checkout:

  • Open the Dollar General app
  • Scan the barcode using CartCalculator
  • Confirm it rings up for $0.25 (or lower)

This is the easiest way to know if the markdown is active for that item in that store.