William Lipovsky
The stores that accept EBT range from large retail chains like Walmart and Kroger to small, regional grocery store chains and local markets.
Below, I list the stores that accept EBT, plus explain more about how EBT works.
What to Know Before Shopping With EBT
The EBT card works like a debit card and is valid at places like grocery stores, convenience stores, dollar stores, and farmer’s markets.[1]
Each month, the state will load a set amount of funds onto your EBT card based on your income level and household size.[2]
You can use your EBT card to buy food for home consumption, such as bread, cereal, fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, poultry, dairy products, and seeds or plants that produce food.[3]
SNAP benefits aren’t valid on beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, tobacco, supplements, pet supplies, household supplies, or hot/prepared foods.[3]
See the full list of what you can and can’t buy with your benefits.
The List
The following grocery stores, superstores, and other stores accept EBT.
I gathered this information by contacting customer service representatives for each store, consulting state benefits agencies, and viewing the USDA’s list of approved SNAP retailers.
Keep in mind that while EBT is widely accepted at grocery stores, select locations may not accept it; you may want to call the store you plan to visit or bring a backup payment option.
I’ve listed these stores alphabetically since the best option for you will depend on which stores are available in your area and sell the product(s) you want to buy.
You can more easily find stores near you by using the Ctrl+F keyboard shortcut (Command+F on Mac) to search for your state’s two-letter abbreviation.
Note that local, independently owned stores and farmer’s markets may also accept EBT — my list only includes national and regional chains.
99 Ranch Market
- Participating states: AZ, CA, MD, MA, NV, NJ, NY, OR, TX, VA, WA[4][5]
- Find a store
Albertsons
- Participating states: AZ, AR, CA, CO, ID, LA, MT, NV, NM, ND, OR, TX, UT, WA, WY[6][7]
- Find a store
ALDI
- Participating states: AL, AR, CA, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV, and Washington, D.C.[8][7]
- Find a store
Big Lots
- Participating states: Select stores in AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY[9][7]
- Find a store
Big Y
- Participating states: CT, MA[10][7]
- Find a store
BJ’s Wholesale Club
- Participating states: CT, DE, FL, GA, MA, MD, ME, MI, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, VA[11][7]
- Find a store
Braum’s
- Participating states: AR, KS, MO, OK, TX[12][7]
- Find a store
Bravo Supermarkets
- Participating states: CT, FL, NJ, PA[13][7]
- Find a store
Brookshire’s
- Participating states: AR, LA, TX[14][7]
- Find a store
Cash Saver
- Participating states: AL, PA, TN[15][7]
- Find a store
Costco
- Participating states: All stores nationwide[16][7]
- Find a store
Country Fair
- Participating states: NY, OH, PA[17][7]
- Find a store
CVS
- Participating states: All 50 states and the District of Columbia[18][7]
- Find a store
Dollar General
- Participating states: AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WV, WI, WY[19][7]
- Find a store
Dollar Tree
- Participating states: All 50 states and the District of Columbia[20][7]
- Find a store
El Super
- Participating states: AZ, CA, NM, NV, TX[21][7]
- Find a store
Fareway
- Participating states: IL, IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, SD[22][23][7]
- Find a store
Food 4 Less
- Participating states: CA, IL, IN[24][7]
- Find a store
Food City
- Participating states: AL, GA, KY, TN, VA[25][7]
- Find a store
Food Giant
- Participating states: AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, MS, MO, TN[26][27][7]
- Find a store
Food Lion
- Participating states: DE, GA, KY, MD, NC, PA, SC, TN, VA, WV[28][7]
- Find a store
Fred Meyer
- Participating states: AK, ID, OR, WA[29][7]
- Find a store
The Fresh Market
- Participating states: AL, AR, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MD, MA, MS, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, VA[30][7]
- Find a store
Fresh Thyme
- Participating states: IL, IN, IA, KY, MI, MN, MO, OH, PA, WI[31][7]
- Find a store
Fry’s Food Stores
- Participating states: AZ[32][33][7]
- Find a store
Giant Eagle
- Participating states: IN, MD, OH, PA, WV[34][7]
- Find a store
Giant Food
- Participating states: DE, MD, VA, and Washington, D.C.[35][36][7]
- Find a store
Gordon Food Service
- Participating states: AL, FL, IL, IN, KY, MI, NY, OH, PA, TN, TX, WI[37][38][7]
- Find a store
Grocery Outlet
- Participating states: CA, ID, MD, NJ, NV, OR, PA, WA[39][7]
- Find a store
Hannaford
- Participating states: ME, MA, NH, NY, VT[40][7]
- Find a store
Harps Foods
- Participating states: AR, KS, LA, MO, OK[41][7]
- Find a store
Harris Teeter
- Participating states: DE, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, and Washington, D.C.[42][7]
- Find a store
H-E-B
- Participating states: TX[43][7]
- Find a store
Hmart
- Participating states: AZ, CA, GA, HI, IL, MD, MA, MI, NC, NJ, NY, PA, TX, VA[44][7]
- Find a store
Hy-Vee
- Participating states: IL, IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, SD, WI[45][46][7]
- Find a store
Ingles Markets
- Participating states: AL, GA, NC, SC, TN, VA[47][7]
- Find a store
Jewel-Osco
- Participating states: IL, IN, IA[48][7]
- Find a store
King Soopers
- Participating states: CO, WY[49][7]
- Find a store
Kroger
- Participating states: AL, AR, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MI, MO, MS, OH, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV[50][51][52]
- Find a store
Lowes Foods
- Participating states: NC, SC[53][7]
- Find a store
Lidl
- Participating states: DE, GA, MD, NC, NJ, NY, SC, VA, and Washington, D.C.[54][7]
- Find a store
Market Basket
- Participating states: LA, ME, MA, NH, RI, TX[55][7]
- Find a store
Meijer
- Participating states: IL, IN, KY, MI, OH, WI[56][7]
- Find a store
Piggly Wiggly
- Participating states: AL, AR, FL, GA, IL, KY, LA, OH, OK, MS, NY, NC, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV, WI[57][7]
- Find a store
Price Chopper
- Participating states: CT, MA, NH, NY, PA, VT[58][7]
- Find a store
Publix
- Participating states: AL, FL, GA, NC, SC, TN, VA[59][60][7]
- Find a store
Raley’s
- Participating states: CA, NV[61][7]
- Find a store
Ralphs
- Participating states: CA[62][7]
- Find a store
Rite Aid
- Participating states: CA, CT, DE, ID, MD, MA, MI, NV, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TX, VT, VA, WA[63][7]
- Find a store
Safeway
- Participating states: AK, AZ, CA, CO, DE, HI, ID, MD, MT, NE, NV, NM, OR, SD, VA, WA, WY, and Washington, D.C.[64][7]
- Find a store
Sam’s Club
- Participating states: All locations nationwide[65][7]
- Find a store
Save A Lot
- Participating states: AL, AR, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MS, MO, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV, WI[66][67][7]
- Find a store
Schnucks
- Participating states: IL, IN, IA, MO, WI[68][7]
- Find a store
Shaw’s
- Participating states: ME, MA, NH, RI, VT[69][7]
- Find a store
ShopRite
- Participating states: CT, DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA[70][7]
- Find a store
Smart & Final
- Participating states: AZ, CA, NV[71][7]
- Find a store
Smith’s Food and Drug
- Participating states: AZ, ID, MT, NM, NV, UT, WY[72][73][7]
- Find a store
Sprouts Farmers Market
- Participating states: AL, AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, KS, LA, MD, MO, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA[74][7]
- Find a store
Stater Bros. Markets
- Participating states: CA[75][7]
- Find a store
Stop & Shop
- Participating states: CT, MA, NJ, NY, RI[76][77][7]
- Find a store
Target
- Participating states: All 50 states and the District of Columbia[78][7]
- Find a store
Tops Friendly Market
- Participating states: NY, PA, VT[79][7]
- Find a store
Trader Joe’s
- Participating states: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, and Washington, D.C.[80][7]
- Find a store
Vons
- Participating states: CA, NV[81][82][7]
- Find a store
Walgreens
- Participating states: Select stores in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.[83][7]
- Find a store
Walmart
- Participating states: All 50 states and the District of Columbia[84][85]
- Find a store
Wegmans
- Participating states: DE, MD, MA, NJ, NY, NC, PA, VA, and Washington, D.C.[86][7]
- Find a store
Weis Markets
- Participating states: DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA, WV[87][88]
- Find a store
Whole Foods
- Participating states: All locations nationwide;[89] see more on the Whole Foods EBT policy.
- Find a store
WinCo Foods
- Participating states: AZ, CA, ID, MT, NV, OK, OR, TX, UT, WA[90][7]
- Find a store
Winn-Dixie
- Participating states: AL, FL, GA, LA, MS[91][92][93]
- Find a store
Tip: The USDA Food and Nutrition Service provides an interactive map called the SNAP Retailer Locator. This map can help you find additional options for shopping with EBT, including local farmers markets, delis, and specialty retailers like fish markets or ethnic grocery stores.
Stores That Don’t Accept EBT
Most grocery store chains accept EBT; I found no major national or regional grocery store chains that don’t accept it. However, EBT policies do vary among smaller grocers.
Grocery stores must apply for SNAP program approval and must submit to monitoring to ensure that they follow federal EBT rules.[94]
Approved stores must also have the appropriate equipment and training to process EBT cards.[94]
Individual grocery stores and small chains may choose not to accept EBT if the costs of participating in the program outweigh the business it brings to the store.
Additionally, stores that do not have a particular focus on groceries — such as Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, T.J. Maxx, HomeGoods, Party City, and The Home Depot — typically don’t accept EBT, even for EBT-eligible products like snacks and plant seeds.[95]
FAQ
Online acceptance varies by the store but may be available for delivery and/or pickup. See more about EBT food delivery. Or, see the list of grocery stores that take EBT for curbside services.
If your state offers the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP), SNAP recipients who are homeless, elderly, or disabled can buy hot meals at participating restaurants.[96] Find out more about fast food that takes EBT.
EBT cards are “interoperable” — meaning you can use them outside of your home state (as previously reported). The exception to this rule is the Restaurant Meals Program, which is state-specific due to the additional requirements you must meet to qualify.[97]
You can check your EBT balance at any time online or by phone. Each state has a dedicated EBT contact number and online portal to help recipients keep track of their spending.[98][99] It’s a good idea to check your balance before heading to the store or keep a second payment method (like a credit or debit card) on hand.
In Summary
You can use your EBT card at a wide range of stores, including grocery stores like Albertsons and Kroger, superstores like Walmart, warehouse stores like Costco, and other stores like CVS and Dollar General.
Keep in mind that you can only use your EBT card for eligible items — staple foods like bread, cereal, fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, and dairy products.[3]
If you have any questions or want to share your experience using EBT at these stores, feel free to leave a comment below.
Does Ranch99 accepts EBT card?
Hi Chloe,
Did you mean 99 Ranch (that’s the closest that came up in my searches)? Yes, 99 Ranch does take EBT cards.
Does the new Lidl grocery stores accept EBT cards?
Hi BB,
Lidl accepts EBT cards at all of our store locations when swiped as a Debit Card during purchase.
can my ebt card be used at Costco?
Hi Jeanie,
You’re in luck. Looks like you can indeed use your EBT card at Costco. You can’t use it at costco.com or the Costco car wash or gas station though.
Does Price Rite and Hannaford Food accept EBT?
Hi Oliver,
Yes, both Price Rite and Hannaford accept EBT.
Can you use EBT at Whole Foods to purchase a cold food platter in Georgia? I’ve used the card before at another grocery store.
Hi Patty,
You can see this article on Whole Food’s EBT policies for more info. Whole Foods takes EBT in every state. There are certain departments at Whole Food you cannot use EBT to purchase from. These are: beer, flower/floral, wine, whole body, and pets. I’d guess your cold food platter is not from one of those, so yes, you should be able to use EBT for it.