Timing is everything when shopping at Aldi
This Is the Best Time to Go to Aldi for the Steepest Discounts and Biggest Selection
Published on Jun. 13, 2025
Aldi is known for a lot of things, including speedy cashiers who move you through the checkout process with a quickness that makes it clear they are not messing around. So it isn’t like they’re trying to keep you in the store longer than you need to be there. Heck, that’s why Aldi doesn’t play music for shoppers. It’s all about expediting the experience. However, the best time to go to Aldi does exist, especially when you have specific items on your list.
For example, if you want a fully stocked “Aisle of Shame,” that requires some strategizing in terms of day and time for getting the best stuff. But if it’s discounted muffins you want, that’s a different story. So let’s defer to the experts before plotting your next Aldi run. Read on for all the details.
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Does it really matter when you go to Aldi?
Yes and no. Aldi employees move customers through the store with great efficiency, so crowded aisles and long checkout lines don’t tend to be a problem. Even though you might give the side-eye to a seated Aldi cashier, there’s a reason for their positioning. Still, there are some grocery-specific reasons you might want to create a strategy on which day and time you shop the store.
“Savings and experience are both positively impacted by shopping at Aldi,” says Lucia Lu, a business consultant who specializes in financial planning, merchandising and retail. “As with most grocers, Aldi has rhythms of stocking and markdown that can either increase your haul or leave you with slim pickings. Going at the wrong moment often results in avoiding crowds, surplus produce or missed sales.”
When is the best time to go to Aldi?
Again, it really depends on what you’re looking for, so we’re going to break down different scenarios to offer the best times for you and your shopping list.
The best time for discounts
Either right when the store opens or in the late morning is when you’re most likely to find markdowns on soon-to-expire items, like Aldi muffins that may have an expiration date within the next couple of days. These items, particularly in the meat department, usually have a red sticker alerting shoppers that they are 50% off, but you’ll want to check the white expiration label either way to see if it’s eligible for a markdown.
“Late-morning cuts are available on Wednesdays or Sundays,” Lu says. “In order to make room for new inventory, managers frequently decrease prices on perishable items.”
The best time for the biggest selection
Interestingly, this is actually around midday at Aldi, not necessarily first thing in the morning.
“The best day to shop at Aldi for the freshest selection of groceries is on the day your local store restocks fresh food,” says consumer-savings expert Andrea Woroch. “Most Aldi stores restock their groceries daily in the morning, so try to head there midday to find a wider selection of fresh foods. However, speak with a store manager to find out if there are any particular days to find restocked groceries.” That inside scoop on a particular location is invaluable!
The best time for a fully stocked Aisle of Shame
In the majority of Aldi stores, Aldi Finds (that’s the technical name for the Aisle of Shame) is stocked on Wednesdays, when its new weekly ad begins. However, in select locations, the weekly ad turns over on Sundays, so Aldi Finds would become available on that day instead. Check your local Aldi store to be sure.
“With regard to the Aldi Finds, you want to shop early, when those limited-time items become available,” says John Gugle, founder and CEO of Gugle Wealth Advisory and an avid Aldi shopper. “Sometimes those items can sell out literally the day (Wednesday or Sunday) the items are put on the shelves.”
Gugle also suggests using the Aldi app to preview upcoming Aldi Finds and weekly ads. “I find that shopping in the mornings, when the store first opens, gives me the best selection and shot at significant savings,” he says.
The best time to avoid crowds
“Aldi has become increasingly popular for its low prices on groceries, resulting in more foot traffic,” Woroch says. “If you want to shop when it’s less busy, aim for midday during the week. Evenings and weekends get busier.”
When is the worst time to go to Aldi?
Weekends and evenings are the worst times to go to Aldi because this is when more people are off work and have time to do their grocery shopping. Of course, if you work a 9-to-5 job, this can be unavoidable. But if you happen to work near an Aldi, your lunch break could be the perfect time for a quick grocery run.
Ultimately, though, the idea of a “bad” time to shop at Aldi is all relative. Given Aldi’s efficient staffing and systems, the store doesn’t get as crowded as other retailers because employees are moving customers through the in-store experience swiftly. The bottom line? Don’t stress about it too much if you can’t make it at the recommended times.
RELATED:
- Here’s How You Can Score a Golden Ticket at Aldi
- If You See a White Label or Tag at Aldi, This Is What It Means
- Here’s What Aldi Does with Unsold Food
About the experts
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Sources:
- Lucia Lu, business consultant and founder of Nextpins; interviewed, June 2025
- Andrea Woroch, consumer savings and budgeting expert; interviewed, June 2025
- John Gugle, financial advisor and owner of Gugle Wealth Advisory; interviewed, June 2025
