As one of the world‘s largest retailers, Walmart offers unbeatable prices on everything from groceries to electronics. However, those amazing deals can quickly lose their luster when you get hit with steep shipping charges at checkout.
Fortunately, with a little know-how and strategizing, it‘s possible to dodge delivery fees and enjoy free shipping on your Walmart purchases. As a seasoned shopper and retail expert, I‘m here to spill the secrets on how you can get your online orders shipped to your door for free.
Whether you‘re a bargain hunter, busy parent, or savvy consumer, these insider tips and tricks will help you save big bucks on Walmart‘s shipping costs. Let‘s dive in!
1. Meet the $35 Minimum for Free Shipping
The simplest way to qualify for free shipping at Walmart.com is by reaching the $35 order minimum. Once your cart totals $35 or more, you‘ll unlock free 2-day shipping on eligible items. This applies to products sold and shipped by Walmart directly, as well as many Marketplace sellers.
Here are some effortless ways to hit that $35 threshold without blowing your budget:
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Stock up on household essentials like paper towels, trash bags, laundry detergent, etc. Since you‘ll use these items anyway, you might as well buy them in bulk to score free shipping!
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Shop for groceries and pantry staples. Shelf-stable foods, snacks, beverages, and other kitchen must-haves can quickly add up to $35. Plus, you‘ll save yourself a trip to the store.
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Add a few practical yet inexpensive items to top off your total. Think socks, toothpaste, batteries, or other everyday goods you always seem to need.
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Take advantage of Rollbacks and Clearance deals to stretch your dollar further. Combine marked-down merchandise with regularly priced products to reach $35 painlessly.
Pro tip: Filter your search results by "Free Shipping" to browse only the items that are eligible for no-cost delivery when you hit the $35 minimum. This will streamline your shopping and prevent any surprise charges later.
2. Join Walmart+ for Unlimited Free Shipping
For frequent Walmart shoppers, investing in a Walmart+ membership is a no-brainer. This premium subscription service offers a wealth of benefits, most notably free shipping with no order minimums.
Here‘s a closer look at how Walmart+ works:
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After signing up, you‘ll get free next-day and 2-day shipping on items shipped by Walmart, regardless of the total amount.
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Membership costs just $98 per year or $12.95 per month, which can easily pay for itself after a few orders—especially if you tend to make small, frequent purchases.
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Other perks include mobile scan & go for in-store shopping, fuel discounts, and early access to product releases and promotions.
To put the value in perspective, let‘s say you place one small $15 order per week. Without Walmart+, you‘d pay $5.99 for shipping each time, totaling over $310 per year! But with an annual subscription, you‘d get free shipping on all those orders for just $98, yielding 68% savings on delivery fees alone.
Of course, Walmart+ isn‘t right for everyone. But if you shop the site regularly and hate paying for shipping, it‘s definitely worth crunching the numbers to see if membership would be a smart move.
3. Opt for Free Store Pickup
Another surefire way to avoid shipping charges is by choosing free in-store pickup for your online Walmart order. With this option, you can shop from the comfort of home, then collect your items at a convenient neighborhood location—often as soon as the same day.
To take advantage of free store pickup:
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After adding items to your cart, select "Pickup" as your delivery method.
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Choose your desired store location and time slot. Many stores offer contactless curbside service for even faster, easier retrieval.
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Place your order and wait for a "Ready for Pickup" notification (usually within 4 hours).
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Head to the store and follow the signs for Pickup. For curbside, park in a designated spot and check in with the app. An associate will bring your order right to your vehicle!
Not only does store pickup eliminate delivery fees, but it also ensures you get your items quickly without having to wander the aisles or wait in line. Plus, it reduces packaging waste and the chances of your order getting lost or damaged in transit.
Pro tip: Pickup is available on most Walmart.com items, but you can filter your results by "Pick Up Today" to guarantee the option and check inventory at your local store.
4. Ship to a FedEx Location for Free
Live too far from a Walmart store for easy pickup? You‘re not out of luck! Thanks to a partnership with FedEx, Walmart.com shoppers can now ship online orders to a FedEx Office location at no charge.
Here‘s how it works:
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Shop Walmart.com and add eligible items (look for "Free Pickup" label) to your cart.
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At checkout, select "FedEx Pickup" as your delivery method.
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Choose a convenient FedEx Office location near you.
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Place your order and wait for a "Ready for Pickup" notification (typically within 5-7 business days).
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Bring your government-issued photo ID and order number to the FedEx location to retrieve your items.
The best part? There are more than 2,000 FedEx Office spots across the country, so you‘re bound to find one close by. This free service allows you to get your Walmart goods delivered to a secure location, which is ideal for anyone concerned about porch pirates or missed deliveries.
Pro tip: FedEx Pickup is also a great solution for gifting! Rather than paying to ship presents directly to your recipient (and risk ruining the surprise), you can have the items held at their local FedEx Office for free and convenient retrieval.
More Ways to Score Free Shipping at Walmart
Besides these tried-and-true tactics, there are a few other ways to finagle free shipping on your Walmart hauls:
Watch for Free Shipping Promotions
Walmart frequently runs seasonal events and limited-time offers that include free shipping on select items or categories—no minimum required. In the past, they‘ve waived delivery fees on patio furniture, electronics, athletic gear, and more.
To stay in the loop, check Walmart.com regularly, follow their social media, or sign up for email alerts. You can also install the Walmart app for exclusive mobile offers and early access to Black Friday deals and other major sales.
Use Free Shipping Promo Codes
Before you finalize any Walmart order, do a quick web search for free shipping coupon codes. Discount sites like RetailMeNot, Groupon, and Slickdeals often have insider deals for free delivery, bonus gifts, or dollar-off savings you can apply to hit that $35 minimum.
While you‘re deal hunting, check for Walmart-specific cash back offers through portals like Rakuten and Ibotta—you could earn up to 5% back on your purchase just for starting your shopping trip through their link. That‘s basically free money!
Look for Items with Built-In Free Shipping
Some Walmart Marketplace sellers offer free shipping on their items regardless of the subtotal. These "Free Shipping" products tend to be clearly marked with a truck or banner icon, or you can streamline your search by filtering your category pages by "Free Shipping."
To dodge delivery charges on a smaller order, try filling your cart with only items that have no-strings-attached free shipping. This tactic works great for lightweight goods like clothes, jewelry, home décor, and beauty products.
The Bottom Line on Walmart Free Shipping
As you can see, there are plenty of clever ways to secure free shipping on your Walmart purchases. Whether you stock up strategically, join Walmart+, choose store pickup, or utilize FedEx Delivery, it‘s simpler than you might think to avoid pesky delivery fees.
Hopefully this guide has armed you with fresh ideas for scoring the best possible deal on all your Walmart must-haves. By combining these free shipping hacks with your go-to savings strategies like coupons, promo codes, and cashback offers, you‘ll be a bona fide Walmart shopping wizard in no time.
Happy deal hunting, my savvy friend! With these tips in your back pocket, you‘re ready to enjoy a fruitful, freebie-filled shopping experience that keeps more money where it belongs—in YOUR wallet.
