Hobby Lobby Free Shipping Over $50 Not Working? Here’s Why

If you love arts, crafts, and home décor, chances are Hobby Lobby is already one of your go-to stores. It offers a huge selection of supplies at affordable prices, making it a favorite for DIYers and decorators alike.

But if you’ve ever tried to find Hobby Lobby free shipping over $50 and wondered why it never seems to work, you’re not alone.

Let’s break down what’s really going on, why those “free shipping” deals usually fail, and, most importantly, how you can still save money at Hobby Lobby.

In this article

It’s no secret that coupon codes and deals don’t always work. We’ve all clicked on a too-good-to-be-true offer, only to realize it doesn’t apply at checkout.

In fact, most Hobby Lobby free shipping deals don’t actually exist, especially the ones listed on third-party coupon websites. Many of these sites publish fake offers to earn commissions when shoppers click through and place orders, whether a discount applies or not.

So next time you see a deal that promises you “Free Shipping on orders of $50 or more” or “Free Shipping on Most U.S. Ground Orders”, it’s best to take them with a grain of salt. More often than not, those deals are misleading.

What are Hobby Lobby’s shipping charges?

Since shipping fees are usually unavoidable (unless Hobby Lobby runs a limited promotion), it helps to understand how their pricing works.

Hobby Lobby uses a tiered shipping system, meaning the shipping cost increases as your order total increases. On top of that, some orders include a carrier surcharge.

Here’s a snapshot of how shipping fees scale with your order subtotal:

ORDER SUBTOTALSTANDARD SHIPPINGCARRIER SURCHARGE
Up to $15.00$6.95$1.50
$15.01-$25.00$7.95$1.50
$25.01-$35.00$8.95$2.00
$35.01-$50.00$9.95$2.00
$50.01-$65.00$10.95$3.00
$65.01-$80.00$11.95$3.00
$80.01-$100.00$13.95$0.00
$100.01-$125.00$15.95$0.00
$125.01-$150.00$17.95$0.00
$150.01-$200.00$19.95$0.00
$200.01-$250.00$22.95$0.00
$250.01-$300.00$25.95$0.00
$300.01-$400.00$29.95$0.00
$400.01-$500.00$39.95$0.00
$500.01-$650.00$49.95$0.00
$650.01-$800.00$59.95$0.00
$800.01-$1,000.00$69.95$0.00
$1,000.01-$2,000.00$99.95$0.00
$2,000.01-$3,000.00$149.95$0.00
$3,000.01-$4,000.00$199.95$0.00
$4,000.01-$5,000.00$249.95$0.00
$5,000.01-$6,000.00$299.95$0.00
$6,000.01-$7,000.00$349.95$0.00
$7,000.01-$8,000.00$399.95$0.00
$8,000.01-$9,000.00$449.95$0.00
$9,000.01-$9,999.98$499.95$0.00
$9,999.99+$599.95$0.00

As you can see, shipping costs rise steadily as your order total grows. That’s why it’s unrealistic to expect a random coupon site to magically offer free shipping on $50+ orders when Hobby Lobby itself rarely does.

How to Get Free Shipping on Orders Over $50

If you don’t have to shop online, don’t. Prices are generally the same in-store, and you’ll avoid high shipping fees altogether.

What’s more, you’ll have a better selection when you shop in-store. Some items are not available online because they may be fragile or difficult to ship. Plus, there are some seasonal items in the store that you can’t buy online.

If you must shop online, patience pays off. Hobby Lobby does offer free shipping on orders over $50 several times a month, but only during official promotions. To stay informed, you can sign up for Hobby Lobby’s email alerts. 

How to save money at Hobby Lobby?

Whether you shop in the store or online, Hobby Lobby has great ways to save money. Or if you find Hobby Lobby’s free shipping over $50 not working, here are other ways you can save.

1. Never Forget the 40% Off Coupon

The Hobby Lobby coupon code changes every Sunday, so make sure you check the weekly ads or go to the Hobby Lobby app to get the latest coupon.

I’m shopping online

You’ll never miss 40% off the highest-priced item when you shop online because it’s hard not to notice. When you’re at the checkout page, the 40% off coupon will automatically apply. 

Note that this coupon will give you 40% off the regular price. So use this coupon only on full-price items and sale items that are under a 40% discount.

I’m shopping in store

Remember to print your coupon before you shop at Hobby Lobby. The coupon is limited to one per customerper day.

If you’re planning to purchase multiple items, you can bring your husband or family members to come along with you to save more. There are some exclusions, such as you cannot use the coupon on items marked as “Reduced” or “Your Price“.

2. Check the clearance section first

Red tags mean clearance, and that’s where the real bargains live. Check the clearance section first, as the discount starts at 40% off, and damaged stuff can be up to 90% off.

What’s worth mentioning is that there are secret sales twice a year: one right after Mother’s Day and one right after Christmas. These two sales can net you some serious savings. Items that are still left for a few weeks will be discounted by 80% or 90%, which means you can snag a few for practically nothing. 

The bummer is that some items are excluded from sales, such as cards, gift wrap, specialty paper, party supplies, licensed products, cake decorating, and candy-making supplies, etc. 

3. Consider bringing competitors’ ads

Hobby Lobby doesn’t honor a competitor’s ads online but does so in-store. As long as the item is an exact match and you have the physical ad, they will match that price for you. However, you cannot apply the 40% off coupon on a price-matched item. So do the math to make sure price matching will give you a lower price compared to an instant 40% off discount.

Note: Some exclusions may apply. Hobby Lobby doesn’t honor percentage-off sales.

4. Don’t go for 30% off sales

30% off doesn’t seem like a real sale. Furniture, fabric, trees & plants, and posters are almost always 30% off. Instead of taking the sale price, you can save an extra 10% if you apply the 40% off coupon. You can ask the cashier to void the sale price since you’ll be using a coupon. However, the furniture is now listed as “Your Price“, meaning you won’t be able to use your 30% off coupon.

5. Ask for a rain check

If a sale item (over 40% off) is out of stock, you won’t need to ask whether they have extra stock, since what you see is what they have. Instead, you can ask for a rain check. Next time you visit Hobby Lobby, they’ll offer you the exact same price you’re missing today.

You’ll have a better selection when you shop in-store. Some items are not available online because they may be fragile or difficult to ship. Plus, there are some seasonal items in the store that you can’t buy online. The prices are basically the same, and you won’t need to pay the shipping fee. 

If you must shop online, wait for a free shipping sale. Hobby Lobby offers free shipping on orders of over $50 several times a month. You can sign up for their emails to be alerted. 

6. Ask for price adjustments if the price drops

If you’re in a hurry to finish a project and there’s nothing on sale right now, don’t worry. Keep your receipt and ask for a price adjustment within 14 days if the product is back on sale. Note that you’ll need to bring both your receipt AND the item (even when you have used it) with you.

7. Don’t hesitate to return the items you don’t like

Whether you shop in stores or online, it’s quick and easy to return your unwanted items. It would be a total waste of money if you keep something that you may not need.

For in-store returns, you can return the items within 90 days of purchase, even without the original store receipt (based on the lowest selling price in the last 60 days). 

For online orders, you’ll need to complete the return form first and send the product back to Hobby Lobby.

8. Save an extra 10% if you’re a charitable organization

Hobby Lobby offers a 10% discount to churches, schools, and national charitable organizations. The payment method is limited to an organization check or a credit card. To enjoy this discount, please consult the local store manager first. 

9. Get a discounted gift card

You can buy discounted gift cards from retailers such as Raise, GiftCardGranny, or CardPool.

Hobby Lobby gift cards can save you an extra 5% to 7.5%. However, those discounted gift cards are easily out of stock, so you can purchase them on eBay if you cannot find any elsewhere.

10. Be familiar with Hobby Lobby’s sale cycle

Besides Hobby Lobby clearance sales, which might save you 90%, you can save 30% to 50% if you know the sale rotation.

Once every two weeks

  • Floral – 50% off
  • Frames – 50% off
  • Paper crafts – 50% off
  • Ribbon & trim spools – 30% off

Once every three weeks

  • Needle art – 30% off
  • Crafts – 30% off
  • Art supplies – 40-50% off
  • Jewelry making – 50% off

Once every four weeks

  • Home décor – 50% off
  • Paper crafts – 50% off
  • Fabric – 30% off

Every two out of three weeks

  • Canvases – 50% off
  • Glass beads & hair accessories – 50% off

Every three out of four weeks

  • Some home decor, such as candles, clocks, etc.

These items are always on sale

  • Furniture – 30% off
  • Potted trees and floor plans – 50% off
  • Frames – 50% off
  • Best-selling books – 40% to 50% off
  • Wearable art – 30 to 40% off
  • Party supplies – 30% off

Conclusion

While Hobby Lobby free shipping over $50 doesn’t happen often, you can still save big with the right strategies. The 40% off coupon alone makes a huge difference, and you can use it once per day, not just once per week.

Pair that with clearance shopping, sale cycles, price adjustments, and occasional free shipping promos, and Hobby Lobby becomes one of the most budget-friendly craft stores around.


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