13 Overpriced Items To Avoid Buying At Michaels

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It can be easy to overspend at Michaels when you're excited and ready to create. Not to mention, the store is set up to encourage impulse buys with inspiring, creative materials right at your fingertips and tempting snacks near the register. There are some good times to shop sales at Michaels and snag some specialty crafting items. But in many cases, you're better off making your purchases on Amazon, in bulk, or at other retailers.

As a rule of thumb, you'll want to skip Michaels for the everyday essentials (like pens and storage bins) that aren't specifically made for crafters. However, the craft store tends to have better deals on specialty items like watercolor pens, acrylic yarn, and similar art supplies. Some products, like wrapping paper, are a good deal at Michaels only if you buy them in small quantities, while spontaneous purchases in their checkout line are almost always a no-go if you're focused on saving money. So avoid throwing these commonly overpriced items into your cart at the arts and crafts retailer.

Adhesives that you use day-to-day are generally not a savvy buy at Michaels. It's common to see staples, like glue sticks, marked up much higher than the price they retail for at big-box stores. For example, a 12-pack of Elmer's Disappearing Purple School Glue Sticks is less than $7 at Walmart. However, just a six-pack of the product will cost you a whopping $15 at Michaels. This is because the store specializes in its limited selection of art-focused goods, meaning standard items get a convenience markup. 

For that reason, you should generally opt out of Michaels for anything you'd pack in a school supply box. But it's worth checking their prices on adhesives that are designed for crafters. Special-formula products like decoupage glue are generally priced competitively at Michaels, selling for the same price (or less) than they do at mass retailers. For example, you can grab 16 ounces of Mod Podge Gloss Finish for $7.99 at either the craft store or Walmart. If you do opt to buy standard, non-craft-specific glue at Michaels, wait for one of their frequent coupons to get a reasonable price.

If you're buying a new pair of scissors for simple tasks like snipping wrapping paper and trimming loose threads, you'll likely overpay for them at Michaels. The craft store typically charges about $12 for Scotch Scissors. That's a heavy investment for scissors that some reviewers say lose their efficacy over time. However, you can pick up the exact same pair of Scotch 8 Precision Scissors on Amazon for about $7, which makes it less painful to replace them ever so often.

Michaels often rewards you for buying crafter-specific products, while gouging you on workhorse, multi-use items like these. So, you may get better prices on quilting or embroidery scissors. For example, their Loops & Threads Embroidery Scissors retail for just $4.99. But shop around to make sure you're getting the best deal. 

Unless you're clipping coupons, standard, pre-made frames will cost you more than they should at Michaels. This is true even of their budget options, like engineered wood frames from their in-house brands. Their Simply Essentials 8.5-by-11 inch Black Flat Top Frame by Studio Décor retails for about $15. And some reviewers note the frame is flimsier than they were hoping it would be. If you want to get a nice frame for less, you're better off heading online. You can get a frame made from the same material on Amazon, like the MCS Studio Gallery 8.5-by-11 Inch Picture Frame, for $12. Plus, this one has almost 3,000 five-star reviews.

Keep in mind, Michaels can offer a decent deal on custom framing if you do your research and clip coupons. Their base rates tend to be heavily inflated, so it's likely not a great deal without a discount. Though even with coupons, some folks still find working with independent framers more cost-effective, with better craftsmanship involved.

When your cart is brimming with items, it's tempting to grab a couple of tubs to keep them in. Michaels anticipates this desire, of course, and prices their storage accordingly. A simple plastic bin to store your craft supplies, purchased in a value pack at the craft store, like the 5-Count Pack of 6.2-quart Storage Bins with Lids by Simply Tid, costs about $45. Plus, multiple buyers report that the bins were delivered to them broken or with lids that don't latch on well. Meanwhile, you can get a much better deal on a 4-Pack of 6.2 Quart Clear Storage Bins on Amazon for around $15. 

Michaels generally won't give you a break for art-specific storage, either. Their U.S. Art Supply Deluxe Canvas Art Paint Brush Holder retails for $14, while a nearly identical Canvas Paint Brush Holder from JT Deal on Amazon costs about $9. This is a prime example of Michaels charging you for convenience over quality.

A lot of scrapbook paper has a tactile appeal, with interesting textures and layers. That makes it harder to shop online, and Michaels knows this. Their paper displays are designed to invite you to touch and thumb through the pages. But you'll pay the price for this accessibility. 

Their private brand, Recollections, runs about $20 for a pad of scrapbook paper, with some reviewers reporting that the paper falls apart and is overall disappointing for the price. Meanwhile, you can get a 360-Sheet Vintage Scrapbook Paper Pack on Amazon for around $10. That's a lot more paper for about half the cost — with hundreds of five-star reviews. So, it's likely worth taking a trip to Michael's in person to get an idea of the textures and looks you like, then finding a similar item on your laptop at home.

Even if you weren't heading into Michaels for seasonal decor, their festive displays (right at the front of the store) make it tempting to pick up a few goodies. These impulse buys are fun, but they cost more than they need to. Many of the store's seasonal products are from their in-house brands, giving them control over production and little incentive to price items competitively.

While some holiday decor items are worth splurging on, discount retailers like TJ Maxx or Marshalls almost always have better deals on in-season decor, like this Pom Pom Wreath With Hearts that costs $19.99. Meanwhile, Michaels sells their Red & Pink Velvet Heart & Bow Wreath by Celebrate It, which one reviewer noted is "very one-dimensional" and an "instant return" for $24.99. For better deals at the craft store, pop in right before the holiday or after it's over, when everything is marked down.

If you need pens for tasks like grocery lists and homework, try not to grab them at Michaels. Pens are low-ticket items that you may not notice a modest markup on. But you'll pay a convenience fee for the everyday standards. Michael's charges over $13 for a 24-count pack of pens (and they are excluded from coupons). However, the same BIC Cristal Xtra Bold Fashion Ballpoint Pen Set costs under $10 at Walmart. 

Michaels can have better deals on art-forward pens, like watercolor brush pens. But that's typically only if they're running a discount. In many cases, you can still find these supplies for less on Amazon. For example, the 60-Pack Staedtler Pigment Brush Pens are typically about $85 on Amazon. A 36-pack of the same pens at Michaels has a regular price of $90.

If you're picking up a simple roll of gift wrap for a homemade present, Michaels is an okay place to do it. Their private-label Celebrate It brand is fairly priced for small rolls of colored paper. For example, Kraft Gift Wrap Paper is $7.99 for a 40-square-foot roll. But if you need to buy a bigger role, even of simple kraft paper, Amazon becomes a better deal. You can get a 3000-Square Foot Roll of Kraft Paper for $27.99.  

The price difference becomes even more apparent if you're purchasing fancier gift wrap, like embossed metallic paper. Even with a bulk discount, Michaels charges about twice as much per square foot as Amazon for the specialty stuff. Their burgundy embossed metallic wrapping paper is about 71 cents per square foot. Meanwhile, Amazon sells 3D Embossed Floral Foil Gift Wrapping Paper for 28 cents per square foot. (And there are plenty of ways to repurpose extra wrapping paper if you buy too much.) 

Brand-name cutting mats, like those made by Fiskars, are typically an unnecessary splurge at Michaels. They charge $35 for the brand's 18-by-24-inch cutting mat. Some purchasers claim that it's not worth the price because it falls apart quickly and makes accurate measurement difficult. Not only that, but Michaels tends to carry a limited selection of these specialty items, nudging you toward expensive household names, sometimes not even in the size or thickness you were looking for. 

Meanwhile, the same brand and size of Fiskars Self-Healing Cutting Mat on Amazon costs under $20, making it less of an investment. You can also get cheaper self-healing mats by avoiding the big names sold at Michaels. Amazon carries a variety of brands that you may not have heard of before, but that work just as well. Just check the mat size, materials, and, of course, the reviews, before you purchase. Many have thousands of five-star reviews and cost under ten dollars, like this Anezus Self-Healing Sewing Mat.

Few can resist the siren call of the yarn aisle, even if they don't knit or crochet. The enticing colors and textures make this fiber an easy sell for the craft store. If you have one of Michaels' frequently distributed coupons, their mid-range acrylic yarns can actually be a smart buy for your yarn collection. For example, their Big Twist Value Yarn is $4.49 for 380 yards, and that's before any discounts. 

But once you start searching for specialty yarns or seasonal releases, you're better off shopping elsewhere. Michaels almost always charges a premium for trendy colors or luxurious fibers, hoping you'll make an impulse purchase. For example, Suri Sensation Brushed Suri Alpaca yarn, which is made with a blend of alpaca fur and acrylic, costs about 6 to 10 cents per yard at Michaels. Meanwhile, Andean Sun's Alpaca Yarn Blend costs about 3 cents per yard on Amazon. 

Most folks don't think "Michaels" when it's time to refill their desk drawers. But if you do, it's time to start shopping elsewhere — probably online. Michaels charges a markup for standard supplies like tape and notepads. Think of it like a tax for buying something non-speciality or non-crafter-specific.

Case in point: a simple package of Scotch tape is almost $9 at Michaels.  The same package of Scotch Magic Tape is less than $5 on Amazon. Michael's house brand of 5.25-by-7.25 inch White Envelopes by Recollections™ is $13 for a 50-count. However, a similar 50-pack of Joyberg's 5-by-7 Envelopes from Amazon is $7. A good rule of thumb is to check Michaels prices for artsier items (like vellum envelopes), which can have more competitive prices, especially with coupons. But for the day-to-day desk accessories every home office needs, you should almost always shop at other stores.

The candy-colored wrappers that line the registers at Michaels are enticing, but they are some of the most notoriously marked-up items at the store. In a Reddit thread discussing the store's most overpriced items, one Michaels employee noted that a single Kinder Joy Chocolate Egg costs $7.99 at their store, while another shared that chocolate bars retail for around $10. 

All told, you'll often pay much more than you would at Walmart for the same candy and snacks at Michaels. For example, a 3-ounce bag of Cheez-It Original Crackers retails for about $1.50 at Walmart, compared to $3.49 at Michaels. You're paying a premium for the experience of a treat at the end of your shopping trip, instead of for the food itself. (Although comically, Michaels also charges drastically inflated prices for their snacks on their website, too.) Depending on your hunger levels, this is the one impulse buy you may have to make peace with, or plan ahead and bring your own chocolate bar. 

Chips and candy aren't the only items that tempt you at the Michaels registers. They also line the shelves with little self-care indulgences, like lip balm and hand cream. Many of these items are marketed as premium because they are small, name-brand, and conveniently located. They are woefully overpriced, though, with the same pack of Burt's Bees Lip Balm retailing for $18 at Michaels and around $10.50 at Walmart. 

Another one of these products is O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream 3.4-Ounce Jar, which typically retails for around $10 on Amazon. However, Michaels' price for the same container is around $15. So, do your best to sail past these last-minute purchases, or use that money to buy supplies to create your own custom lip balm and bath salts instead.