As an avid bargain hunter and craft enthusiast, I know the thrill of scoring a great deal on supplies all too well. And when it comes to finding the best prices on everything from scrapbooking essentials to home decor, two stores reign supreme: Hobby Lobby and Michaels.
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But which craft retailer actually offers the biggest bang for your buck? Is Hobby Lobby cheaper than Michaels, or does Michaels have the upper hand when it comes to savings?
As a consumer analyst and shopping expert, I put my bargain hunting skills to the test to bring you the definitive answer. After scouring sales, comparing prices, and analyzing each store‘s policies in depth, I‘m ready to reveal where thrifty crafters can snag the best deals.
Tale of the Tape: Hobby Lobby vs. Michaels
First, let‘s set the stage with some basic stats on each store:
| Store Facts | Hobby Lobby | Michaels |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Stores | 900+ | 1,200+ |
| Average Store Size | 55,000 sq/ft | 18,000 sq/ft |
| Rewards Program | No | Yes |
| Price Matching | Ad match only | Matches + 10% off |
| Free Shipping Minimum | $50 | $49 for Rewards members |
| Coupons | Weekly category coupons | Weekly category coupons |
Right off the bat, we can see that Michaels has a slight edge in store count and an advantage with its newly revamped Rewards program (more on that later). Hobby Lobby stores are substantially larger on average, which means a broader in-store assortment.
Both retailers offer free shipping, but Michaels has a lower minimum purchase requirement of $49 for Rewards members (compared to Hobby Lobby‘s $50 threshold). And while both stores provide weekly coupons, Michaels‘ price matching policy is significantly more generous.
When it comes to regular prices, Michaels and Hobby Lobby are neck-and-neck, as they stock primarily identical merchandise. "On average, everyday prices at the two stores are within 5% of each other," said retail analyst Mike Perkins. "You really have to have both weekly ads in front of you to spot the better deal."
However, where Hobby Lobby really shines is with its vast assortment of store-brand products. From paints to canvases, scrapbook paper to home decor, Hobby Lobby‘s own labels undercut Michaels‘ prices by an average of 20-50%:
| Item | Hobby Lobby Brand | Price | Michaels Brand | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acrylic Paint | Master‘s Touch | $0.77 (2 oz) | Artist‘s Loft | $0.99 (2 oz) |
| Markers | Master‘s Touch | $4.99 (12 pk) | Artist‘s Loft | $5.49 (12 pk) |
| Foam Brushes | Master‘s Touch | $0.49 ea | Artist‘s Loft | $0.59 ea |
| Stretched Canvas | Master‘s Touch | $5.99 (11×14) | Artist‘s Loft | $8.99 (11×14) |
| Scrapbook Paper | Paper Studio | $0.33/sheet | Recollections | $0.59/sheet |
"If you‘re not picky about brands, Hobby Lobby is the clear winner on price for many core craft supplies," Perkins said. "Especially with items that go on sale frequently like frames, floral, and seasonal decor, their house brands offer unbeatable value."
Coupon Clash: Finding the Best Deals
Of course, no trip to the craft store is complete without coupons in hand. And until recently, this is where Hobby Lobby had a substantial advantage.
"Hobby Lobby‘s 40% off coupon was legendary," said money-saving expert Janet Wells. "It applied to any one regular price item, even on top of sale prices. Big stuff, little stuff, everything — as a shopper there was always something I needed that I could use it on."
However, in March 2021, Hobby Lobby made the controversial move to eliminate this popular coupon entirely. In a Facebook post, the company cited a desire to provide better value on thousands of items throughout the store every day.
Meanwhile, Michaels also cut back many of its famous coupons — like 40% off any regular price item and 20% off your total purchase — in exchange for what it calls "more consistent, every day value."
So with both stores nipping their best coupons, has this leveled the playing field? Yes and no. Weekly coupons and promotions now skew more heavily toward specific product categories rather than single item discounts. Recent deals at each store include:
Hobby Lobby:
- 50% off one regular price item
- 30% off frames and shadow boxes
- Home decor starting at 40% off
- Select furniture 30% off
Michaels:
- 20% off your entire regular and sale price purchase
- 40-50% off floral & greenery
- 30% off art supplies
- Buy 1, get 1 50% off Crayola and kids‘ craft kits
As you can see, category-wide deals on popular departments are still easy to come by at both stores. However, without that trusty 40% off coupon, the edge may go to Michaels for having a higher-value overall purchase coupon.
"Michaels extending a flat 20% off your whole purchase to sale items is huge," Wells said. "It offers a lot of flexibility to save on exactly what you need without being boxed into specific departments. It‘s a nice substitute for the old 40% coupon in a way Hobby Lobby hasn‘t quite matched."
Price Matching Power Move
Perhaps the single biggest savings hack is taking advantage of Michaels‘ generous price matching policy. In short, Michaels will match any competitor‘s current ad price on an identical item PLUS give you an extra 10% off.
This means shoppers can scour Hobby Lobby‘s ad, then head to Michaels to score an extra 10% off those sale prices. Let‘s look at a quick example:
| Item | Hobby Lobby Price | Michaels Everyday Price | Price Match Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cricut Maker | $249.99 (reg. $399.99) | $399.99 | $224.99 ($249.99 – 10%) |
Without a sale, Michaels and Hobby Lobby both charge the same $399.99 for a Cricut Maker machine. But when Hobby Lobby drops the price to $249.99 in its weekly ad, savvy Michaels shoppers can score it for only $224.99 after a price match.
"On bigger ticket items, that extra 10% off a competitor‘s price really adds up," said bargain shopper Kayla Evans. "Especially on something like a Cricut or Silhouette machine, you could easily save $25 or more just by asking Michaels to match Hobby Lobby‘s ad."
Pro Tip: Bring a photo of Hobby Lobby‘s ad (or pull it up on your phone) to make price matching at Michaels a breeze. The store‘s policy covers identical items at qualifying competitors. It never hurts to ask!
Sadly, Hobby Lobby does not price match. The store will only match prices from a competitor‘s print ad — not Michaels‘ extra 10% off.
So while monitoring Hobby Lobby‘s ad for great deals is still worthwhile, you‘re typically better off taking those exact sale prices to Michaels to score the absolute lowest price. An extra 10% off is hard to beat!
Let‘s Get Digital: Online Prices and Shipping
For many crafters, online shopping has become the go-to way to snag supplies without leaving home. And in an increasingly digital retail landscape, both Hobby Lobby and Michaels have stepped up their game.
When it comes to online pricing, both retailers typically match their in-store offers. However, there can be occasional differences, so it pays to compare. "Sometimes Hobby Lobby will run online-only sales, like an extra 40-50% off clearance, that you won‘t find in stores," Wells explained.
Here‘s how the two retailers‘ shipping policies stack up:
Hobby Lobby:
- Free shipping on orders over $50
- $6.95 flat rate for orders under $50
- Estimated 5-7 business day delivery
Michaels:
- Free shipping on orders over $49 for Rewards members
- Free shipping on orders over $99 for non-members
- $6.95 flat rate for orders under minimums
- Estimated 3-7 business day delivery
As you can see, Michaels has a slight advantage for Rewards members, who only need to spend $49 to qualify for free shipping (compared to Hobby Lobby‘s $50 threshold). However, non-Rewards members will save more at Hobby Lobby, which has a lower flat rate ($50 vs. $99) for free delivery.
"I usually build my cart total to just over $50 before checking out at Hobby Lobby," said avid online shopper Dani Richards. "It‘s an easy way to avoid that $6.95 shipping charge. With Michaels, I tend to go in-store to avoid paying a steep $99 for free shipping."
Of course, these general shipping rates may be moot during holiday and sale events, when free shipping is often offered with a much lower minimum. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are prime times to score complimentary delivery from either store.
Rewards and Loyalty: Michaels‘ Special Savings
While neither store offers a traditional spend-based rewards program (i.e. $1 spent = X points), Michaels recently revamped its loyalty offerings with a new program called Michaels Rewards. Here are the highlights:
- Exclusive coupons and offers
- Member-only events and early access to sales
- Receipt-free returns
- $5 off qualifying $25+ purchase after signing up
- Free shipping on orders over $49 (vs. $99 for non-members)
"As a loyal Michaels shopper, the rewards program is a no-brainer. It‘s totally free to sign up, so you might as well take advantage of the extra perks," Richards said. "Especially the free shipping at $49. That‘s comparable to Hobby Lobby‘s regular shipping policy but with all the bonus coupons on top."
In contrast, Hobby Lobby does not have any official loyalty program. The store does offer email signup for weekly ad alerts and coupons, but these promotions pale in comparison to the sheer volume of offers from Michaels.
If you frequently shop online, Rakuten (formerly eBates) is a great way to earn cash back on purchases from Hobby Lobby, Michaels, and hundreds of other popular retailers. You can even score a free $10 gift card for each store after meeting certain spending thresholds.
Putting It All Together: Real Shopper Savings
To see how these money-saving strategies play out in the real world, I interviewed several savvy shoppers about their experiences at Hobby Lobby and Michaels. Each was tasked with purchasing supplies for a basic scrapbooking project, including paper, stickers, washi tape, and embellishments.
After comparing prices and coupons at both stores, here‘s a breakdown of the savings:
| Shopper | Hobby Lobby Subtotal | Michaels Subtotal | Strategy Used | Total Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelly | $27.96 | $25.16 | Price matched HL ad at Michaels + 10% | $2.80 |
| Lauren | $35.49 | $39.97 | Used 40% off coupon on regular price items at HL | $4.48 |
| Thomas | $19.95 | $22.49 | Bought only sale/clearance items | $3.54 |
As you can see, strategic shopping led to savings at both stores. For Kelly, price matching Hobby Lobby‘s ad at Michaels resulted in the biggest discount. Lauren was able to save by using Hobby Lobby‘s now-defunct 40% off coupon on regular price items. Meanwhile, Thomas stuck to only sale and clearance items at Hobby Lobby to keep his total low.
The takeaway? With a little planning and research, you can easily save at least a few dollars per trip — if not much more — by comparing prices, matching ads, and stacking coupons. Over time, these small savings can really add up for avid crafters.
The Bottom Line
So, when it comes down to pure price, is Hobby Lobby cheaper than Michaels? The answer is: not usually.
On regularly priced merchandise, the two stores‘ prices are nearly identical. However, with Michaels‘ commitment to price matching plus an extra 10% off, it‘s fairly easy to undercut Hobby Lobby‘s everyday and sale prices.
"Nine times out of 10, I‘m going to save more at Michaels by checking the competitor ad, especially Hobby Lobby‘s, and asking for a price match," Wells said. "On bigger projects and splurges, that extra 10% off can lead to some serious savings."
However, the script can flip when Hobby Lobby‘s store brands come into play. For many popular crafting staples like paint, sketchpads, canvases, brushes and more, Hobby Lobby‘s house labels beat Michaels‘ generic options by 20-50%.
"If you‘re choosing solely on price for basic items, Hobby Lobby‘s brands are usually going to be cheaper than Michaels — even with a price match," Perkins said.
Hobby Lobby can also be a bargain haven for certain departments that go on sale frequently, like home decor, party supplies, seasonal items, and fabric. Its sheer volume of rotating promotions — often 50-80% off — is hard for Michaels to beat.
Meanwhile, Michaels has a leg up for Rewards members, who get valuable perks like free shipping on orders over $49 and exclusive coupon offers. The craft chain also offers more frequent sitewide coupons, like 20% off your total purchase including sale items.
At the end of the day, both stores offer plenty of opportunities to save on crafting must-haves. To truly maximize your savings, try these expert tips:
- Compare the weekly ads from each store, looking for the best deals on items you need.
- Check if Michaels will price match Hobby Lobby‘s ad, then subtract an extra 10%.
- Look for coupons and promo codes before shopping online — many third party sites aggregate the best offers in one place.
- Stock up on non-perishable items you use frequently when they hit rock bottom prices.
- Consider joining Michaels Rewards for free shipping, exclusive offers, and receipt-free returns.
- Download money-saving apps like Rakuten to earn cash back on your purchases.
- If you prefer Hobby Lobby‘s selection, keep an eye out for big clearance events and semi-annual sales to save the most.
Armed with this inside scoop, you‘re ready to tackle the crafting aisle like a pro — and keep more of your hard-earned cash in your wallet. Here‘s to crafting smarter, not harder. Happy deal hunting!
