Stores That Give Cash Back at Checkout
Most major US grocery stores, pharmacies, and big-box retailers let you get cash back at the register when you pay by debit card — no ATM required. The catch: a handful of large chains charge a fee for the service, while others offer it completely free.
Here's every major retailer, their cash back limit, whether they charge a fee, and what to watch out for.
Cash Back at Checkout vs. Cash Back Apps
If you searched for "cash back near me" hoping for cash in your pocket, make sure you're not thinking of a rebate app. Cash back at checkout (this page) means a cashier or card terminal hands you physical cash right now, added to a debit card purchase — it's an ATM alternative. Cash back apps like Ibotta, Rakuten, and Upside work differently: you scan a receipt or shop through their link, and they credit a percentage of your spend to an account balance you can withdraw later, often after a delay or minimum threshold.
Both are useful, but for different problems. Need cash in hand today? Use the table below or find a nearby store on the map. Want to earn money back over time on planned purchases? A rebate app is the better fit.
Debit Card Cash Back vs. Credit Card Cash Back
One more mix-up worth clearing up: "debit card cash back" and "credit card cash back" sound similar but work completely differently.
- Debit card cash back at checkout — the topic of this page. You pay with your debit card and PIN, and the cashier or terminal hands you physical cash on top of your purchase total. It's an instant ATM alternative.
- Credit card cash back — a card rewards program. Your issuer pays you back a percentage (typically 1–5%) of what you charge, as a statement credit or rewards balance you redeem later. No physical cash changes hands at the register.
Important: register cash back is a debit-card-only feature requiring a PIN. If you're trying to get cash in hand, make sure you're paying with debit — a credit card won't work for cash back at checkout, even at stores listed below.
Full List: Cash Back Limits and Fees by Store
Tap a column header to sort.
| Store | Max Cash Back | Increments | Fee | Debit Only? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walmart | $100 | Any | Free | Yes |
| Target | $40 | $10 increments | Free | Yes |
| Walgreens | $20 | $5, $10, $20 | Free | Yes |
| CVS | $35 | $5 increments | Free | Yes |
| ALDI | $100 | Any | Free | Yes |
| Albertsons | $300 | Any | Free | Yes |
| Safeway | $200 | Any | Free | Yes |
| Publix | $100 | Any | Free | Yes |
| Whole Foods | $200 | Any | Free | Yes |
| Trader Joe's | $50–$200 | Any | Free | Yes |
| Costco | $60 | Any | Free | Yes |
| Sam's Club | $100 | Any | Free | Yes |
| Meijer | $100 | Any | Free | Yes |
| Hannaford | $200 | Any | Free | Yes |
| Stop & Shop | $100 | Any | Free | Yes |
| Winn-Dixie | $100 | Any | Free | Yes |
| H-E-B | $100 | Any | Free | Yes |
| Wegmans | $100 | Any | Free | Yes |
| Home Depot | $50 | Any | Free | Yes |
| Rite Aid | $50–$100 | Any | Varies | Yes |
| Kroger / Fred Meyer / Ralphs | $300 | Any | $0.50–$3.50 | Yes |
| Harris Teeter (Kroger) | $100 | Any | $0.75 | Yes |
| Dollar General | $40 | $10 increments | $1.00–$2.00 | Yes |
| Dollar Tree | $50 | Any | $1.00 | Yes |
| Family Dollar (Dollar Tree Inc.) | $50 | Any | $1.50 | Yes |
Limits and fees are based on standard debit card transactions. Individual store policies may vary. EBT/SNAP transactions typically cannot receive cash back. Data sourced from CFPB (2024) and individual retailer policies.
Stores That Give Cash Back for Free
Does Walmart give cash back?
Yes. Walmart has the widest reach and one of the highest free limits at $100 per transaction — available at staffed registers and most self-checkouts nationwide. If there's a Walmart within reach, it's almost always your best option for fee-free cash.
Does Target give cash back?
Yes. Target offers free cash back up to $40 on debit card purchases in $10 increments at registers and self-checkout. No fee is charged.
Albertsons & Safeway Limits
Albertsons offers the highest free cash back limit of any major retailer at $300 per transaction, though availability varies by location. Its subsidiaries — Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Tom Thumb, Shaw's — typically follow the same policy.
Do CVS and Walgreens give cash back?
Yes. Walgreens and CVS are useful when you need a small amount quickly — both are densely located in urban areas. Walgreens caps at $20; CVS allows up to $35 in $5 increments, even at self-checkout.
Does Trader Joe's give cash back?
Yes. Trader Joe's offers free cash back on debit card purchases, typically up to $50 but as high as $200 at some locations. No fee is charged — ask at the register when you check out.
Can I get cash back at Whole Foods?
Yes. Whole Foods offers free cash back up to $200 on debit card purchases at the register and self-checkout. No fee is charged.
Does Publix give cash back?
Yes. Publix offers free cash back up to $100 on debit card purchases. No fee is charged — available at staffed registers and self-checkout.
Stores That Charge a Fee for Cash Back
Does Dollar General charge for cash back?
Yes. The fee is most punishing at Dollar General, where the $40 maximum means a $1–$2 fee represents a 2.5% to 5% charge on the amount withdrawn — comparable to a high ATM surcharge. The $10-increment restriction also means you can't take out an exact amount like $15 or $25.
Does Dollar Tree give cash back?
Yes, but Dollar Tree charges a $1 fee per cash back transaction with a $50 limit, debit card only. Its sister brand Family Dollar (same parent company) charges $1.50 for the same service with the same limit. Both are among the few major US retailers that charge for this service at checkout.
Does Kroger charge for cash back?
Yes. Kroger (and brands like Harris Teeter, Fred Meyer, Ralphs) charges a fee of $0.50 for amounts under $100, and up to $3.50 for larger amounts up to $300. Kroger Plus cardholders may be exempt at some locations. Given that free alternatives exist in most Kroger-adjacent areas, there's usually no reason to pay it.
Looking for cash back outside the US? See our guides for stores that give cash out in Australia and stores that give cash back in Canada.
Stores That Don't Give Cash Back
Not every retailer offers this service. Coffee shops (Starbucks), most gas station convenience stores, restaurants, and specialty or apparel retailers generally don't provide cash back at checkout — many of these registers simply don't hold enough cash float to cover it. If you're at a store that doesn't offer cash back, your best bet is the nearest large grocery store, pharmacy, or big-box retailer from the table above, or check the map for what's closest.
How to Get Cash Back at Checkout
- Make any purchase at a staffed register or eligible self-checkout.
- Pay with your debit card and enter your PIN when prompted.
- Select "Cash Back" on the card terminal and choose your amount.
- Collect the cash from the cashier or the machine's cash dispenser.
Most stores require a minimum purchase to receive cash back — typically $0.01 or any valid transaction. You generally cannot request cash back without buying something.
When the Store Has No Cash Back: Alternatives
If you're in a location where no cash back stores are nearby, or the limits are too low, you have a few options:
- Your bank's ATM network — fee-free if you stay in-network.
- Peer-to-peer cash exchange — Cashtic connects you with nearby people willing to hand over cash directly in exchange for a digital payment, often faster and cheaper than any ATM.
- Prepaid card ATM networks — Allpoint and MoneyPass have 50,000+ surcharge-free ATMs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Walmart give cash back?
Yes. Walmart offers free cash back up to $100 per transaction on debit card purchases at staffed registers and most self-checkouts. No fee is charged.
Does Walgreens give cash back?
Yes. Walgreens offers free cash back up to $20 on debit card purchases at the register. No fee is charged, but the limit is lower than most grocery stores.
Does CVS give cash back?
Yes. CVS offers free cash back up to $35 in $5 increments on debit card purchases, including at self-checkout. No fee is charged.
Does Target give cash back?
Yes. Target offers free cash back up to $40 on debit card purchases in $10 increments at registers and self-checkout. No fee is charged.
Does ALDI give cash back?
Yes. ALDI offers free cash back up to $100 on debit card purchases. No fee is charged. Cash back must be requested at the register.
Does Kroger charge for cash back?
Yes. Kroger and its brands (Harris Teeter, Fred Meyer, Ralphs, QFC) charge a fee of $0.50–$0.75 for cash back amounts up to $100, and up to $3.50 for larger amounts. Kroger Plus cardholders may avoid the fee on smaller amounts at some locations.
Does Dollar General charge for cash back?
Yes. Dollar General charges $1–$2 per cash back transaction depending on location. The limit is $40, available in $10 increments only — you cannot request $15 or $25, only $10, $20, $30, or $40. At $1–$2 on a $40 max withdrawal, that is a 2.5–5% effective fee rate — higher than most ATM surcharges as a percentage of the amount received. A 2024 CFPB report found Dollar General, Dollar Tree, and Kroger collectively collect over $90 million per year in cash back fees. Nearby free alternatives: Walmart (up to $100), Target (up to $40), Walgreens (up to $20).
Does Dollar Tree give cash back?
Yes. Dollar Tree charges $1 per cash back transaction with a $50 limit, debit card only. Its sister brand Family Dollar (same parent company, Dollar Tree Inc.) charges $1.50 for the same service with the same $50 limit. Both are among the few major US retailers that charge for cash back at checkout. Free alternatives nearby include Walmart (up to $100), Target (up to $40), and Walgreens (up to $20).
Which stores give cash back for free?
Stores offering free cash back on debit purchases include Walmart (up to $100), Target (up to $40), Walgreens (up to $20), CVS (up to $35), ALDI (up to $100), Albertsons (up to $300), Safeway (up to $200), Publix (up to $100), and most major grocery chains. Dollar General, Dollar Tree, and Kroger charge fees.
Can I get cash back without making a purchase?
No. All retailers require you to make a purchase to receive cash back at the register. If you need cash without buying anything, use an ATM or a peer-to-peer cash service like Cashtic.
Is cash back at checkout better than using an ATM?
Usually yes — most grocery and pharmacy chains offer free cash back with no fee, while out-of-network ATMs typically charge $3–$5 per withdrawal. The main downside is the lower limit (often $20–$100) and the need to make a purchase.
What is the highest cash back limit at any store?
Albertsons offers the highest cash back limit at most locations — up to $300 per transaction with no fee. Safeway (also owned by Albertsons Companies) typically offers up to $200.
What is the difference between cash back at checkout and cash back apps like Ibotta or Rakuten?
They're unrelated. Cash back at checkout means a cashier or card terminal hands you physical cash on the spot, on top of a debit card purchase — an ATM alternative. Cash back apps like Ibotta, Rakuten, and Upside are rebate programs: you scan a receipt or click through a link, and the app credits a small percentage of your spend to an account balance, paid out later. If you need cash in hand right now, you want cash back at checkout (or Cashtic), not a rebate app.
What's the difference between debit card cash back and credit card cash back?
They use the same phrase for two different things. Debit card cash back at checkout gives you physical cash in your hand immediately, on top of a debit purchase — that's what this page covers. Credit card "cash back" is a rewards feature: your card issuer pays you a percentage (often 1–5%) of what you spend, credited to your statement or rewards balance, with no cash handed over at the register. Register cash back is only available with debit cards (and PIN entry) — credit cards don't qualify for physical cash back at checkout.
Which stores don't give cash back?
Most coffee shops, gas station convenience stores, restaurants, and specialty/apparel retailers (e.g. Starbucks, many Speedway and Shell locations, H&M) don't offer cash back at checkout — registers often don't carry enough cash float for it. If a store doesn't offer it, the nearest large grocery store, pharmacy, or big-box retailer almost always will.