If you’ve ever set foot in a Hobby Lobby, you already know — it’s dangerous. You walk in for one little thing and suddenly your cart’s full of fake flowers, frames, yarn, Christmas ornaments you definitely don’t need yet… it happens fast. Problem is, that stuff adds up. Like, real fast. So if you don’t wanna spend half your paycheck every time you go, you kinda need a game plan. I’ve picked up a bunch of little tricks over the years, and honestly, they make a big difference. Here’s everything I know.

1. The Famous 40% Off Coupon is Gone…BUT

Hobby Lobby used to be famous for their 40% off coupon — like, you could pretty much count on it every time you went.

They scrapped it back in 2021 (still salty about it), but good news: they still drop high-value coupons here and there.

Before you shop, always check their Weekly Ad online or look at the top of your receipt — sometimes there’s a deal hiding there.

If you find one, it usually knocks a big chunk off the highest-priced thing in your cart, which can save you way more than you think.

2. Familiarize Yourself with the Sales Cycle

Hobby Lobby’s sales cycle is predictable, which can be a MAJOR advantage if you know how to use it.

Most categories go on sale once every three to four weeks.

Home decor items might be 50% off one week, and the next week, crafting supplies or fabric might be on sale.

By understanding this cycle, you can plan your purchases around when your needed items are likely to be discounted.

PRO TIP: TALK TO EMPLOYEES

Don’t be afraid to talk to employees, I’ve found they are very open with sale cycle information.

Some locations do things differently so it’s totally worth your time to strike up a conversation and get some insider info on when stuff tends to go on sale.

3. Shop Seasonal Clearance Sales

One of the best times to save at Hobby Lobby is during seasonal clearance sales.

After major holidays, leftover seasonal items are typically marked down 50% off the day after the holiday, with discounts increasing to 75% or even 90% off over the following weeks.

This is an excellent opportunity to stock up on supplies for the next year.

4. Price Matching Policy

Hobby Lobby will price match items from a competitor’s printed ad, provided the exact same item is in stock at their store.

This means if you find a lower price at another store, bring in the advertisement to claim the same price at Hobby Lobby.

Note that they do not honor competitors’ percent-off ads or coupons.

Also, keep in mind that they exclude the following from a price match: Holiday door buster ads, Cricut, Silhouette, Sizzix, Cuttlebug, Simplicity & McCall’s patterns, clearance, and closeout items.

PRO TIP: PRICE MATCH HACK

Hobby Lobby will only do a price match in-store and NOT online.

When it comes to competing stores, your best bets will be using Joann Fabrics and Michaels pricing to try and save some money.

5. Take Advantage of Online Sales

Shopping Hobby Lobby online can actually save you a ton too, especially if you don’t live near a store (or just don’t feel like putting on real clothes, no judgment).

Their online sales aren’t always the same as the in-store ones, so sometimes you’ll find way better deals — or random stuff your local store doesn’t even carry.

Plus, every now and then they’ll throw out free shipping promos, which makes it even sweeter. Might as well save gas money and get a discount, right?

See Also: Hobby Lobby Employee Discounts, Benefits, and Perks

6. Follow Social Media and Email Newsletters

For the most dedicated deal-seekers, following Hobby Lobby on social media and subscribing to their Weekly Ad newsletter can provide early notifications about special promotions and coupons.

I’ve found these platforms to sometimes offer exclusive deals that are not advertised through their website.

The best platforms to follow them on are Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

7. Utilize Discount Gift Cards

Another sneaky way to save? Grab Hobby Lobby gift cards at a discount.

Websites like Gift Inventory or Card Cash sell gift cards for less than face value.

If you grab one before you shop, that’s an extra 5–10% off on top of whatever sales or coupons you’re already stacking.
Easy money.

8. DIY with Hobby Lobby

Hobby Lobby not only sells craft supplies but also provides countless free DIY project ideas and tutorials on their website and YouTube channel.

Utilizing these resources can inspire you to create something truly unique while also being cost-effective.

Sometimes, making something yourself with simple materials can be significantly cheaper than buying the finished item.

9. Watch for Daily Specials and Limited-Time Offers

Besides their regular sales, Hobby Lobby sometimes drops random daily deals or flash sales — and they don’t always shout about it.

Could be a huge discount on a random category, or a one-day sale that’s here and gone before you even hear about it.

Best way to catch ‘em? Keep an eye on their website or sign up for push notifications through the Hobby Lobby app. 

Yeah, it’s a little annoying, but it’s worth it when you score 70% off something you were gonna buy anyway.

10. Benefit from Holiday Hours and Special Sales

Around the holidays, Hobby Lobby usually stays open later — and sometimes they throw in extra sales or special events too.

The extended hours are a lifesaver if you’re trying to squeeze in shopping after work or avoid the Saturday chaos.

Plus, you never know when they’ll sneak in a few extra discounts during those times.

If you can, plan your trips around it — more time to shop, less stress, and maybe a few surprise deals.

11. Explore the Clearance Aisles

Most Hobby Lobby stores have these random clearance aisles tucked away somewhere — and if you’re not checking them, you’re seriously missing out.

They’re usually packed with all kinds of stuff — home decor, craft supplies, whatever didn’t sell — all marked way down to make room for new stuff.

If you hit them often enough, you can score some crazy good deals. Like, we’re talking hidden gems for a fraction of what you’d normally pay.

12. Consider the “Less Than Perfect” Section

Some Hobby Lobby stores have a little “Less Than Perfect” section — basically stuff with tiny dings, scratches, or whatever that they sell for cheap.

Most of it still works just fine, and honestly, half the time you can barely even tell what’s “wrong” with it.

If you’re buying stuff for practice projects, crafts you’re gonna paint over anyway, or things you don’t need to be 100% flawless, it’s an easy way to save a bunch of money.

Totally worth digging through.

See Also: How to Negotiate a Lower Price on Things With Slight Defects

13. Participate in Store Events and Competitions

Hobby Lobby does these random events sometimes, like craft contests or workshops or whatever, and yeah, you can actually get discounts or free stuff out of it.

You don’t even have to win anything most of the time — just show up and boom, they hand you a coupon or some deal.

It’s kinda fun too, if you’re into that. I mean, worst case, you spend an afternoon messing around with glitter and glue guns.

Definitely worth it if you’re already there… or even if you’re not, honestly. Free stuff is free stuff.

14. Educator and Non-Profit Discounts

If you’re a teacher or buying stuff for a non-profit, definitely ask about discounts — they’ve got ‘em.

Hobby Lobby gives teachers and non-profits a little break on supplies, which is awesome if you’re stocking up for a classroom or some big project.

You’ll probably need to show some paperwork or an ID, so don’t roll up empty-handed.

Totally worth it though, especially if you’re buying a ton of stuff and don’t wanna pay full price for 47 bottles of glue.

15. Plan Projects Around What’s on Sale

If you’re big into crafting, one of the easiest ways to save is just planning your projects around what’s actually on sale.

Like, if you don’t need to start something right this second, just wait it out — most stuff goes on sale eventually.

No sense paying full price for a bunch of yarn or canvases when you know they’re gonna be half-off in a week or two.

A little patience goes a long way (and leaves more money for, you know, even more craft supplies).

16. Check Out Competitor Coupons

Hobby Lobby doesn’t take competitor coupons anymore (sad, I know), but it’s still smart to keep an eye on what other stores are doing.

If Michaels or JoAnn’s is running a big sale, sometimes it’s just better to head over there instead — especially for stuff that almost never goes on sale at Hobby Lobby.

No shame in chasing the better deal. Gotta do what you gotta do.

17. Make the Most of Returns and Exchanges

Knowing Hobby Lobby’s return policy can definitely save you some headaches (and cash) if you ever need to take something back.

Hang onto your receipts — seriously, just toss them in your bag or glove box or whatever — and pay attention to how long you have to return stuff.

If you buy something that doesn’t work out, you’ll want to get your money back instead of letting it sit there collecting dust.

No point letting your budget get wrecked by a pile of “what was I thinking” purchases.

18. Leverage After-Christmas Sales for Crafting Supplies

Post-Christmas sales at Hobby Lobby aren’t just all Santa stuff and ornaments.

They usually throw a ton of crafting supplies into clearance too — like ribbons, fabrics, decor, you name it.

It’s honestly one of the best times to stock up for dirt cheap. A lot of it’s easy to repurpose for projects all year long, and the discounts are no joke — like 70% off or more if you time it right.

Total goldmine if you don’t mind digging through a little chaos.

19. Revisit the Basics Section

If you go through a lot of basic stuff — paper, glue, scissors, all that — make sure you’re checking the basics section every time you’re in Hobby Lobby.

Every so often they’ll mark that stuff down, and that’s when you wanna stock up.

Grab a bunch while it’s cheap and you won’t have to make a million trips (or worse, pay full price later when you’re mid-project and desperate).

It’s one of those “buy it now, thank yourself later” kinda deals.

20. Check End Caps for Deals

End caps—the displays at the end of aisles—often feature discounted items and special buys.

These are placed prominently to catch shoppers’ attention and can sometimes offer the best deals in the store.

Products on end caps might be overstock items, last season’s products, or new items promoted at an introductory price.

21. Use the Hobby Lobby App

The Hobby Lobby app is actually super handy — you can pull up coupons, check the weekly ad, and kinda keep tabs on what’s on sale without doing a whole lot.

It’s also got a barcode scanner, which is great if you’re wandering the aisles and wondering if something’s secretly cheaper than the tag says.

Makes it way easier to plan your trips — or, let’s be real, just figure out if it’s worth making the trip at all.

If you’re trying to catch the best deals without a ton of effort, it’s definitely worth downloading.

22. Shop Off-Season

Purchasing seasonal items off-season can result in significant savings.

For instance, buying summer crafting materials in the fall or winter holiday items in January.

Hobby Lobby reduces the prices on these seasonal goods to clear out inventory, which means you can get them at a fraction of the cost if you’re willing to store them until the next year.

23. Join Crafting Classes

Hobby Lobby hosts classes and workshops that sometimes include discounts on supplies purchased for the class.

These sessions can offer not only new skills and a fun experience but also savings on materials used during the class.

Keep an eye on the store’s events calendar to join a class that interests you.

24. Optimize Your Fabric Purchases

If you’re buying fabric, always — and I mean always — check for remnants.

Sometimes they’re hiding in a random bin or shoved under a table, so don’t be afraid to ask an employee if you can’t find them.

Remnants are just leftover pieces from when they cut fabric for other people, and they’re usually way cheaper.

If you’re working on smaller projects like quilting, crafts, or whatever, it’s a no-brainer. Same good fabric, just way less money.

25. Be Strategic with Custom Framing

Custom framing at Hobby Lobby can get real expensive, but they run sales on it all the time — like 50% off or free upgrades on stuff like UV glass or fancy matting. If you’ve got something you need framed, don’t rush it.

Just wait for one of those promos to pop up and save yourself a bunch of money.

Seriously, no point paying full price when you know a deal’s coming.

Ask the Reader: What’s your favorite way to save money at Hobby Lobby? Let me know.

By Kyle James

Kyle James( Owner/Founder )

I started Rather-Be-Shopping.com in 2000 and have become a consumer expert and advocate writing about out-of-the-box ways to save at stores like Amazon, Walmart, Target and Costco to name a few. I’ve been featured on FOX News, Good Morning America, and the NY Times talking about my savings tips. (Learn more)