Does Price Matching Cover Shipping Costs Too?
Check delivered totals before you request a match and bring proof of price, shipping, and stock.
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Price matching, when a retailer agrees to meet another seller's price for the same item, covers shipping only if that retailer's written policy says it does. You need to compare delivered totals, not sticker prices.
A lower item price with a high shipping fee can cost more than a slightly higher price with free shipping.
Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on November 03, 2026.
When shipping stays out of the comparison
Best Buy in the U.S. excludes shipping and delivery charges from the price comparison for BestBuy.com price-match requests, according to Best Buy's price-match help page. The match looks at the item price alone.
That distinction changes the math. A rival listing can win the item-price comparison yet leave you paying more after shipping, so check each side's delivery fee before you ask.
When shipping is part of the total
Lowe's counts the item price plus shipping or delivery cost, and the rival item must be shippable to your location, according to Lowe's price-match policy page. Staff compare what it would cost to get the product to your door. Home Depot uses the same delivered-total approach for identical items from another online seller, according to Home Depot's product policy text.
Identical means the same brand, model, and specifications. Free shipping on one side still counts because it lowers the total.
When rival shipping does not apply
Target now matches only its own prices from Target stores, Target.com, and Target Circle deals within 14 days, according to Target's Help page. The request must be for the same item sold by Target itself. In that setup, another seller's shipping fee plays no role.
You compare a past Target receipt against a current Target price, not against another store's checkout total.
How to show the delivered total
Gather proof before you contact the store or go to the counter. Agents can only judge what they can see, and totals change with location, stock, and delivery options. Ask for the match on the delivered total where the policy includes shipping.
Keep a copy of the listing until the purchase is complete.
- Show item price and shipping fee on the same screen
- Show stock status and delivery to your address
- Show brand, model number, and item condition
- Save the date, since prices and fees can shift