If you like Dollar General penny shopping, you should also learn how Dollar General clearance events work. These events can give you extra savings on items that are already on clearance.

The most recent clearance event ended on November 20, 2025. Dollar General does not announce these events early, but we can make a good guess for 2026 by looking at the pattern from last year.

When a clearance event happens, you can usually save an extra 50% off many clearance items.
And sometimes the deals feel even bigger (like 70% off or more) when you combine:

  • the clearance price
  • the extra 50% off
  • coupons in the DG app

Just remember: these events are usually in-store only, so every store will look different depending on what they still have.

What is a Dollar General Clearance Event?

A Dollar General Clearance Event is a short sale where Dollar General takes items that are already marked down and gives another discount.

Most of the time, that extra discount is:

50% off clearance items (select items only)

Dollar General runs these events a few times per year because they need shelf space for new seasonal products.

Important note:
Not every clearance item is included. And it’s not the same as the weekly ad deals.

That’s why it helps to know what to look for and how to check prices in the app.

When is the next clearance event in 2026?

Dollar General doesn’t post the dates ahead of time, but based on past timing, the next one is expected to be:

Friday, Feb. 27 – Sunday, March 1, 2026

These clearance events are often 3 days, and the best items can sell out fast.

Predicted 2026 Clearance Event Dates

Here are the expected clearance event windows for 2026:

  • Feb. 27 – March 1
  • May 15 – 21
  • June 12 – 18
  • July 31 – Aug. 6
  • Aug. 28 – 31
  • Sept. 18 – 20
  • Oct. 2 – 8
  • Oct. 16 – 18
  • Nov. 13 – 19

Tip: Save this list somewhere so you can check it later.

How to shop a DG clearance event (simple tips)

  1. Clip the Saturday coupon in the DG app (the $5 off $25 one)

Dollar General often has a Saturday-only store coupon in the app:

$5 off $25

To use it, your total must reach $25 based on DG’s rules (before tax, and after some discounts). These coupons are usually only valid on Saturday.

Also:

  • You can only use one of these store coupons per transaction.
  • If you clipped more than one, DG usually applies the $5 off $25 one.

Extra tip:
Sometimes DG prints a Saturday coupon on your receipt during the week. If you want to use both (paper + digital), you can split your items into separate transactions (if your store allows it).

  1. Go early (don’t wait until the last day)

These clearance events do not always “get better” as the days pass.
Most of the good stuff disappears fast, especially:

  • popular brands
  • household items
  • good clearance sections

So try to go early on day 1 if you can.

And remember: inventory is different in every store.

Small trick:
You can check Dollar General’s clearance page online and enter your ZIP code to get an idea of what might be in stock. But it’s not always accurate.

  1. Scan items in the DG app before you pay

This is one of the best ways to avoid mistakes at checkout.

Before you shop:

  • download the Dollar General app
  • set your store location correctly

In the store:

  • scan the barcode using the price scanner
  • confirm the price is really clearance
  • check if coupons show up under the item
  • clip any coupons you see

At checkout:

  • type your phone number to apply your clipped coupons automatically

If your app is not working well in-store, check your connection:

  • connect to DG’s customer Wi-Fi if available
  • make sure location is correct
  • sometimes you must accept their Wi-Fi terms first
  1. Look for orange clearance stickers all over the store

Don’t only look at the clearance aisle.

During a clearance event, items with orange clearance tags can be anywhere in the store.

This is how it usually works:

  • item already has a clearance price
  • then the clearance event takes another 50% off
  • sometimes you also stack coupons

So you can find deals in normal aisles, not just the clearance section.

5) Check for penny items while you’re there

Sometimes penny items are still hiding on shelves (if employees didn’t pull them yet).

Penny items ring up for:

$0.01

They are usually discounted by 90%+ already.

So while you’re walking around during the clearance event, keep your eyes open and scan items you think could be penny items.

6) Don’t ignore Dollar General Market stores

Dollar General Market locations can also have clearance markdowns.

If you go to a DG Market:

  • you can skip the fresh food area
  • go straight to the regular aisles
  • check seasonal and clearance sections

Sometimes these stores have different leftover inventory than regular DG stores.