Crafting is an art of endless possibility — but all that DIY adds up in dollars. And if you’ve ever held up the line at arts and crafts store Michaels searching your phone in vain for a 30% off coupon, you’re not alone.
Michaels Stores, with more than 1,200 locations in 49 states, bills itself as “here for the makers.” But as anyone who crafts knows, it takes money to be a maker. But having know-how around Michaels deals and coupons can help you keep a little more money in your own pocket. Below, discover both the best practices and insider hacks on the best ways to find and use Michaels deals.
Your first stop, whether you’re shopping online or in a Michaels store, should be the Michaels website coupon page, here. You’ll be asked to choose your store using your zip code since different stores may have different offerings. When we used the coupon page we got two coupons – 50% off any one regular price item and 30% off all regular price purchases -- and a sale offering for 70% off frames. (The frame offer isn’t a coupon, though.)
These codes do not stack in the online cart, but you can make the most of them in the stores by splitting your order into two, using the 50% off your most expensive item and the 30% off the rest of your purchase.
While Michaels no longer prints its once-ubiquitous 40% off coupons in its circulars, it’s worth looking at competitor circulars, says Trae Bodge, Smart Shopping Expert at truetrae.com. “Michaels has a generous price matching policy. They will price match select competitors, and even take an extra 10% off the top if you find a better price on an identical item elsewhere – just show the ad or printout at check out.”
As of November 1, 2023 the company will price match with the following retailers: Athome.com, Hobbylobby.com, Homedepot.com, Joann.com, Kohls.com, Lowes.com, Officedepot.com, Partycity.com, Popshelf.com, Staples.com, Target.com, and Walmart.com.
One sad note: Michaels no longer accepts competitor coupons – a practice that was commonplace only a few years ago.
If you are a frequent shopper, you’ll want to sign up for Michaels emails. Be prepared, though! The company sends out two to four emails daily. The emails are chock full of offers and sale details. Plus, you’ll get coupons frequently. The emails also track your Rewards spending. Michaels generates $5 vouchers based on how much you spend in store or online. (You’ll earn 3% in rewards for eligible purchases. People who spend more than $300 in a 12-month period will earn 6% back in vouchers.)
There are multiple Reddit groups designated for crafters and at least once a day someone shares or asks about coupons. But the best Reddit group by far for Michaels fanatics is r/MichaelsEmployees where actual Michaels employees discuss the latest deals, offers, coupon codes, and coupon hacks. Sure, you have to wade through griping and complaining, but the coupon deals – when they pop up – are amazing.
It might seem like overkill, but downloading the Michaels app will give you access to coupons as well as let you shop online and do curbside pickup and check pricing. In addition, having the app and allowing Michaels to contact you via text message will also get you special coupon and discount texts in addition to the coupons that are available on the app.
Michaels offers military, teacher, and senior discounts every day, and you can usually tack them with other offers. Military members and seniors get 15% and 10% off their entire purchases, respectively. Teachers get 15% off non-sale items.
You’ll need to get verified to use these discounts, which starts with creating a Michaels account and providing proof that you fall into a specific category.
As someone noted on r/MichaelsEmployees, the cashiers often have coupons behind the register. That’s right. And if they don’t, they can tell you if there’s one available and where you can find it. Bodge also informs us of another place to find coupons: “Join the free Michaels Rewards program for a birthday coupon and exclusive savings tailored to you. Also, when you shop in-store at Michaels, there will be coupons at the bottom of your receipt,” she explains.
With all these tips for finding the best Michaels promo codes and sales, you have no barriers left — start crafting and creating while saving big!
Looking for more coupon and promo code guides? Check out our tutorial on finding Walmart promo codes or our breakdown on how to save with reseller codes.
KJ Bannan is a veteran writer and editor from New York. She writes about personal finance, health, business, and technology, among other topics. She’s an avid deal-chaser and loves finding big bargains whether she’s shopping online, at a garage sale, or on social media.
