Kroger Clearance and Markdowns: How to Find the Best Deals
Where Kroger hides its clearance shelf, what green tags and reduced stickers mean, the best time for marked-down meat, and how to stack digital coupons.
Kroger's best deals are in four places: a dedicated clearance shelf tucked into a low-traffic corner, green-tag discontinued items on the regular shelves, yellow or orange "reduced" stickers, and separate reduced sections for meat, produce and bakery. Go on a weekday morning before 10am, stack the markdowns with digital coupons, and freeze what you won't use right away.
Most shoppers walk right past these deals. Here's how to find them, and the same tips usually work at other Kroger-owned stores like Ralphs, Fred Meyer and Harris Teeter.
The 4 Kinds of Kroger Clearance and Markdowns
Kroger marks down products nearing their sell-by dates, overstock, seasonal goods and discontinued lines. They fall into four categories:
- The clearance shelf
Dedicated shelves or bins, usually with bright orange or yellow tags. Every Kroger puts its clearance shelf somewhere different! - Green-tag clearance items
Items heavily reduced right on their regular shelf, usually because they're being discontinued and the store wants to clear the space. Look for the GREEN price tags. - Markdowns
Reduced items that may still be on their regular shelf. Look for "manager's special" or "reduced" stickers. They're easy to miss, so keep a sharp eye out. - Reduced produce, meat and bakery
Produce: Look for bags or bins of "reduced produce," often at steep discounts, on their own dedicated shelf.
Meat: The meat department keeps a dedicated section of the cooler for cuts nearing their sell-by date. They're still safe to cook right away or freeze.
Bakery: Day-old bread and baked goods are often half off or more, all on their own dedicated shelf.
When and Where to Find Kroger Clearance
- Go early on weekdays. Employees tend to mark items down early in the morning, so shopping before 10am gives you the best chance at the good stuff. Weekends bring more shoppers (meaning fewer items left to mark down), so stick to weekdays.
- Check low-traffic areas. Clearance shelves are often near the back of the store, by the restrooms, or anywhere with little foot traffic. There are often entire carts of clearance parked next to the shelf, too. If you can't find it, ask an employee where your store keeps it.
- Learn your store's tag colors. Bright yellow, orange or red tags signal markdowns. Get familiar with what they look like at your store and watch for them as you shop.
- Use the Kroger app. Some deals show up in the app under the weekly ad and digital deals. Build your shopping list there and combine the deals with digital coupons.
How to Stack Savings on Clearance
- Pair markdowns with coupons. Kroger lets you use coupons on clearance items, so combine markdowns with manufacturer or digital coupons for even bigger savings.
- Earn Fuel Points. Clearance purchases still count as grocery spending, and as of 2026 Kroger gives one Fuel Point per $1 spent on groceries, redeemable for up to $35 off a fill-up.
- Buy in bulk and freeze. Stock up on discounted meat or bread and freeze what you won't use right away. Clearance ground beef, chicken thighs and bread can last months in the freezer.
- Plan meals around the deals. Build your weekly menu around what you find. Discounted zucchini and ground turkey? Turkey zucchini boats for dinner.
Hidden Gems in the Clearance Aisles
- Specialty items: Gluten-free, organic and international foods often end up on clearance.
- Non-food items: Cleaning supplies, beauty products and seasonal décor are frequently marked down after holidays.
- Wine and spirits: Some stores mark down overstocked bottles, which is great news for wine lovers.
How to Avoid Clearance Pitfalls
- Check dates: Many items are fine past the sell-by date, but inspect perishables closely.
- Don't buy just to save: Only buy clearance items you'll actually use or can easily store. A deal isn't a deal if it goes in the trash.
- Inspect packaging: Damaged packaging is common in clearance. Check for leaks, tears and dents.
Cheap isn't always a bargain, either. I learned that the hard way with a discounted Utility grade ribeye roll, and it's worth checking how much of a package is actually food, as I found when I weighed a pack of Perdue chicken wings.
What If My Kroger's Clearance Is Bad?
If your store's clearance section is sparse or poorly kept, try:
- Other Kroger locations: Some stores have much better clearance sections than others, so check a few in your area.
- Walmart: Look for "Rollback" and yellow-stickered clearance items.
- Publix: It often marks down bakery and deli items.
- Aldi: Seasonal items and overstock often get steep discounts.
The Bottom Line
Kroger's clearance, markdown and reduced sections reward shoppers who are willing to dig a little. Time your trips for weekday mornings, stack coupons, and use your freezer, and the savings add up fast. Happy bargain hunting!
Frequently asked questions
- Where is the clearance section at Kroger?
- Every store is different. Clearance shelves are usually in a low-traffic spot near the back of the store or by the restrooms, often with extra carts of clearance next to them. If you can't find it, ask an employee.
- What time does Kroger mark down meat?
- Markdowns tend to happen early in the morning, so shopping before 10am gives you the best pick. Weekdays are better than weekends, when more shoppers mean fewer leftover items to mark down.
- What do green price tags mean at Kroger?
- Green tags on a regular shelf usually mark clearance items that are likely discontinued, priced to clear the remaining inventory. Yellow or orange stickers mark reduced items and manager's specials.
- Can you use coupons on Kroger clearance items?
- Yes. Kroger lets you combine markdowns with manufacturer and digital coupons, and the purchase still earns Fuel Points at one point per $1 spent on groceries.
- Is reduced meat at Kroger safe?
- Reduced meat is near its sell-by date but still safe to cook right away or freeze. Check the package for leaks and freeze anything you won't cook right away.
