We Compared Flower Prices at Aldi, Costco, Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Sprouts, and Whole Foods — Here’s How They Stack Up

Gone are the days where you aimlessly Google search “cheap flowers near me” and all that pops up is an overpriced flower shop with limited hours. Grocery stores, as I’ve found, are the place to be when you’re building a towering arrangement for your house, making homemade bouquets for a wedding, or simply treating a friend to a pick-me-up. It’s pretty magical, really, that you can chase down deals on a dozen eggs, school supplies, and yes, cheap flowers — all in one trip.

How do all the big grocers’ flower selection really stand up when it comes to cheapness, quality, and selection? I searched far and wide for the best of the (very literal) bunch. To get a wide swath of options, I went to seven different grocery store chains that offer flowers: Aldi, Costco, Sam’s Club, Sprouts Farmers Market, Trader Joe’s, Walmart, and Whole Foods Market.

I used to work at a grocery store (and have many takes on how we value our groceries!). Over the years, I’ve also created my own rubric for picking out grocery flowers. Think of it this way: If your flowers are low in price, but low in quality (aka next-day wilting, mostly cheap filler and sparse buds, or have browning petals), then that just feels like a waste, doesn’t it?

With that in mind, here are the best buds for your bucks — no matter your price point.

The Least Expensive Bouquets ($5.99 and under)

Best of the Bunch: Trader Joe’s

As a former Trader Joe’s employee, I’m no stranger to the grocer’s petite bouquets, and they still stand out compared with the tinier bouquets available at other stores. While other grocers have less-lively blooms at this price point and are punctuated with more filler, the $3.99 bouquets at Trader Joe’s are almost always perky, bright, and ripe for at-home customizing. I like to get two different $3.99 bouquets and sort them into my own personal arrangement.

Also, can we talk about the next-level plant food included with Trader Joe’s bouquets? I’ve yet to have a bouquet that didn’t last at least two weeks. Beauty and longevity? I’m a forever fan.

Runner-Up: Walmart

In the “has budding potential” category, I’d call Walmart a definite runner-up in the least expensive bouquets department. The mega retailer has a solid selection of sub-$5 bunches that had a similar look to Trader Joe’s — though some blooms had a slight browning (perhaps I was there on an off day?!). It’s worth taking a spin through Walmart’s flower department. I’ll definitely go back for a second look.

The Mid-Tier Bouquets ($6.99 – $19.99)

Best of the Bunch: Trader Joe’s

Once again, Trader Joe’s steals the show with its mid-priced bouquets. I’d bargain to say that most prearranged bunches at Trader Joe’s will barely set you back more than $13 (this one was just $12.99). That just wasn’t the case at most other stores. On top of that, Trader Joe’s selection and pricing makes it very easy to grab a few bunches of flowers of your own choosing (like hydrangeas, carnations, gerbera daisies, or sunflowers) to create your own, unique bouquet.

Runner-Up: Sprouts

Sprouts also has some notably solid picks, but the selection is more limited and there is less of a range in prices (typically Sprouts’ tiers were $14.99 or $19.99, whereas Trader Joe’s has $7.99, $9.99, and $12.99 options). Still, there are some beautiful selections available that won’t set you back too much and still scream SPECIAL OCCASION.

The Best Deluxe Bouquets ($20.99 and up)

Best of the Bunch: Whole Foods

There are bouquets and then there are bou-quets (pinkies very much up). If you’re on the search for a fancy bouquet that looks like $$$$ but is more like $$, then Whole Foods is the place to be. This particular $29.99 bouquet is almost too big to fit into the frame. It’s a true two-hander when it comes to holding, and I’d be shocked to find a similar bouquet at this price point at a flower shop. If someone got me this bouquet, I’d say, “What are you doing this June, because we are getting married!” Think about it: How often do you get to elicit such a lovely emotional reaction at just $30 bucks a pop? It basically pays for itself (per “girl math”).

A Dozen (or Two!) Roses ($9.99 – $18.99)

Best of the Bunch: Costco and Sam’s Club

One surprising thing I found in my search is just how well Costco and Sam’s Club do roses. Warehouse rose game? Unstoppable. Who knew? I didn’t! So when I was greeted by a wall of roses at both stores and very little else, (which is totally fine! Do what you do best, right?), I was beside myself. The roses at both Costco and Sam’s Club are a vibrant red, majestic, and large. Nearly cartoonishly perfect, even. Best of all? You can get two dozen of them for just $18.99 at Costco and an 18-stem bundle for $16.77 at Sam’s Club. That being said, if you aren’t looking to razzle and dazzle that hard, Costco is slightly limited in terms of sizing options (no half-dozen bunches like other grocers have). Plus, Costco’s roses are Rainforest Alliance certified, so they’re a sustainable option as well.

Going for a more maximalist vibe? Sam’s Club offers 100-stem roses and a vase for just $84 (yes, not a typo).

Runners-Up: Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods

That being said, if you want a smaller bundle, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods both have bouquets of roses (either a dozen or 16-stemmed) that will set you back only $9.99 to $10.99. The blooms are on the smaller size, but still plenty impressive and have a wider range of colors.

Which Grocery Store Had the Best Deal on Flowers?

In my opinion, I really value making as few stops as possible when it comes to shopping. In that case, I love a tried-and-true, surefire bet. No making second stops because the selection was roughed up, limited, or didn’t have a range of prices depending on what I’m wanting flowers for. That quality, to me, was exemplified in two different grocers: Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. They do a few things differently, but equally very well.

Whole Foods

In terms of the happiest flowers, I’d vote for Whole Foods. I was honestly amazed at the selection of harder-to-find blooms that were so vividly bright and festive. Whole Foods even has peonies, tulips, and lilies in the middle of December! Plus, the mixed bouquets are on par with ones much like you might see in a stand-alone flower shop, with a few more “deluxe”-feeling bouquets for when you really need something to be volume 12 extraordinary. It also has more affordable rose options than I was expecting.

Trader Joe’s

As for Trader Joe’s, the grocer has such a wide range of pricing options for bouquets. You can, say, get a tiny bouquet for your 4-year-old niece’s ballet recital for $3.99 and also a dozen roses for your sweetie, and plenty of fun blooms to make flower crowns for an upcoming girls’ night. Plus, the store’s flowers last oh-so-very-long, meaning the joy you feel when seeing those sunflowers you got last week just keeps growing and growing. That, to me, is one of the best deals in town.

Do you buy flowers at the grocery store? Tell us about it in the comments below.