8 Name-Brand Items You Should Always Buy at Walmart
Written by
Angela Mae
Edited by
Gary Dudak
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At Walmart, you can get many name-brand items, ranging from Dawn to Kraft to Tide. While store-brand items are often cheaper than their name-brand counterparts and can save you money, there are times when only splurging a little will give you what you truly crave or need. This could be because the price difference is so minor or the quality is so much better that saving a few cents stops making, well, sense.
With high food costs projected to go even higher this year, thanks to tariffs, it’s good to know where you can still go to get some quality comfort foods from brand names you trust. The next time you go shopping at Walmart, here are some of the top items you should get and why.
Kraft Original Macaroni and Cheese
- Price: $4.88 for five packs
Never skimp on macaroni and cheese. You can get a 7.5-ounce pack of Kraft Original for less than $1. One customer wrote in their product review, “Have trusted this Product for many years.”
Or if you’re a true mac and cheese lover, you can opt for the 35-pack box online. It costs $43.75 or about $1.25 cents per pack.
Dawn Platinum Liquid Dish Soap
- Price: $5.84
Dawn is more than just a household name. It’s borderline essential as a liquid dish soap. It’s also very highly rated.
You can get a 32.7-ounce bottle of Dawn Platinum at a decent price. The bottle will last a long time. And as anyone who’s ever purchased Dawn dish soap before knows, it will tackle tough grease and everything else you throw at it. The Platinum version is also four times more effective against grease than other versions.
“I absolutely love this stuff,” read a recent customer review. “It gets everything clean so much cleaner than anything else… This stuff saves everything, cleans everything and makes me feel safe.”
Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil
- Price: $4.87
When it comes to aluminum foil, no other brand does it quite as well as Reynolds Wrap. And Walmart sells 75 square feet of Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil for under $5.
A customer wrote in a review, “I’m in the mid-60s, and I’ve tried other aluminum foil. Just to come running back to Reynolds with my tail between my legs. Don’t pinch on other foils. You’re only going to pay extra in the short run. That’s how fast you’ll be done with other foils.”
Coca-Cola Soda Cans
- Price: $7.92 for 12 cans
Ask anyone if they prefer Coca-Cola or generic options and they’re bound to choose the name-brand. There’s just something about that classic, refreshing taste that keeps customers coming back for more. At Walmart, you can buy a 12-pack of Coca-Cola for about 60 cents per can.
“This is by far my favorite beverage,” wrote a reviewer. “Coca-Cola tastes rich and smooth. Great addition to any meal. Absolutely obsessed.”
Tide Plus Downy Liquid Laundry Detergent
- Price: $15.99
Just as it’s hard to choose a generic version of Dawn dish soap, it’s hard to say no to Tide’s liquid laundry detergent. Walmart sells a 46-ounce container that can handle around 29 loads at a pretty reasonable price. This particular option includes a fabric softener that makes it even better.
One reviewer wrote, “I love this product! We always buy Tide and Downy so to have it all in one is excellent! The clothes are clean, soft and smell great! It is also a great stain remover.”
Jif Creamy Peanut Butter
- Price: $13.44 for two 40-ounce jars
There are plenty of different peanut butter brands out there, but none do it quite like Jif peanut butter. Whether you like it creamy or crunchy, Jif is just one of those staples. At Walmart, you can even buy it in bulk, so you have extra whenever you need it — or to feed many hungry mouths.
“Every time I buy another brand, it sits unfinished in the cupboard until it expires,” wrote one customer in their review. “Jif with pretzels, apples, bananas, and of course in a sandwich with jelly or honey are all great ways to get picky eaters to have a healthy snack.”
Hefty Strong Large Trash Bags
- Price: $12.98
Hefty is another household name, especially if you need trash bags. At Walmart, you can get 40 30-gallon trash bags. That’s about 32 cents apiece. They’re durable, reliable and work for indoor and outdoor use. They even have a strong drawstring that makes it easier to tie the bags and transport your trash.
“We have been using these for years for [my] household, yard work, garage cleaning, and organizing projects,” wrote one reviewer. “Reliable without fault.”
Bounty Paper Towels
- Price: $42.33
If you use paper towels at home, it’s hard to go wrong with Bounty. At Walmart, you can purchase six triple “Select-A-Size” paper towel rolls, the equivalent of 18 regular rolls, at a reasonable price. These paper towels tear at the perforation and absorb messes with ease — exactly what you need at home.
“Have been using bounty 1/2 size sheets for many years and still love them,” wrote one Walmart customer. “My first and number 1 in paper towels for uses in hands, spills, windows home and car and many more things.”
Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article.
Editor’s note: Pricing is accurate as of Jun 4, 2025. Pricing and availability are subject to change.
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