Costco is great, but sometimes Dollar Tree is better. When you do the math, the discount store can be a better option for certain products than the warehouse retailer.
Not just cheaper, some Dollar Tree items are rated higher — or just as high — as equivalent Costco products, further proving their value. Keep reading to discover seven items you’re probably better off buying at Dollar Tree than Costco.
1. White Plastic Forks
- Price: $1.25
Made with heavy-duty plastic, a 48-count bag of white plastic forks costs $1.25 at Dollar Tree. This breaks down to just $0.03 per fork.
Costco sells a 600-count box of Solo heavyweight plastic forks for $15.39. This works out to about the same price per unit, but honestly, that’s a ton of forks. Unless you actually plan to use 600 forks, Dollar Tree is the better option, because you don’t have to buy forks it could take 10 years to use.
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2. Jot Soft Grip Scissors
- Price: $1.25
Pick up a pair of Jot soft grip scissors at Dollar Tree. Available in pink, black, blue and purple, they work great on everything from paper to fabric.
Alternately, a three-count pack of Scotch Precision Ultra Edge Scissors costs $11.39 at Costco – that’s around $3.80 per pair. Customers like these, but you can get a similar pair for three times less at Dollar Tree.
3. Brush Buddies Assorted Kid’s Toothbrushes
- Price: $1.25
Essentially priced at $0.42 each, a three-count pack of Brush Buddies assorted kid’s toothbrushes costs $1.25 at Dollar Tree. Specially made for little ones, your kids will enjoy the unicorn and dinosaur designs in assorted colors.
Costco sells a six-count pack of Colgate Bluey toothbrushes for $10.99, which is roughly $1.83 per toothbrush. This is more than four-times the price of the Dollar Tree toothbrush that will be just as effective.
4. Greenbrier Kennel Club Colorful Dog Waste Bags
- Price: $1.50
Rated 4.6 stars (out of five), a 60-pack of Greenbrier Kennel Club colorful dog waste bags is only $1.50 at Dollar Tree. This works out to just $0.03 per bag.
At Costco, you can get a 600-count box of MyEco World Poop Bags for $28.99, or about $0.05 per bag. They’re also highly rated, but they’re nearly double the price, so you can enjoy big savings by shopping at Dollar Tree instead.
5. Serv Heavy Duty Ultra Paper Plates
- Price: $5.00
Get a 50-pack of Serv heavy duty ultra paper plates for $5, which amounts to $0.10 per plate. Sized 10.5-inches in diameter, they’re specially designed to ensure food doesn’t soak through.
Costco sells a 165-count pack of 10-and-3/8-inch Chinet classic dinner paper plates for $24.99, which works out to $0.15 each. Customers don’t dislike these plates, but there’s no need to pay 50% more than the similar Dollar Tree version.
Disclaimer: Prices and availability accurate as of Jan. 24, 2026 and subject to change. All imagery sourced from DollarTree.com.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 5 Dollar Tree Buys That Offer Better Value Than Costco for Less
