Target EBT: How to Use SNAP In Store, for Pickup, and for Delivery

How Target EBT works in stores

Target is an authorized SNAP retailer, and its stores have accepted EBT for years. In its 2022 SNAP fact sheet, Target said SNAP works at all of its stores nationwide, which numbered more than 1,900 at the time. You do not need to sign up for anything to use your card in a store.

At the register, you swipe or insert your EBT card the same way you would a debit card. Target's help page explains that you then choose which balance to use: your SNAP food balance or your EBT cash balance. The SNAP balance pays for eligible food. Anything else in your cart moves to a second payment, such as cash, debit, credit, or a Target gift card.

Most stores handle EBT at staffed lanes without trouble. Target's help pages do not say whether self-checkout takes EBT, and card reader setups can vary by store. If the screen does not offer an EBT option, head to a cashier. It is also a good idea to tell the cashier up front that you are splitting the payment.

What SNAP covers at Target

USDA rules decide what SNAP can buy, not Target. The basic rule is simple: SNAP pays for food meant to be prepared or eaten at home, plus seeds and plants that grow food. Target's grocery aisles carry a wide range of items that qualify, including its Good & Gather store brand.

The full federal list is on USDA's What Can SNAP Buy? page. When an item is eligible, Target.com usually marks it as SNAP EBT eligible on the product page, which is a handy way to check before you shop.

Items SNAP will not pay for

Because Target sells far more than groceries, it is easy to end up with a split receipt. These items always need another form of payment:

• Hot foods, including anything heated at the in-store café or Starbucks counter. USDA lists foods that are hot at the point of sale as ineligible.
• Vitamins, medicine, and supplements, including anything with a Supplement Facts label.
• Household supplies, such as paper towels, cleaners, trash bags, and diapers.
• Personal care, such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and cosmetics.
• Pet food and pet supplies.
• Beer, wine, and tobacco.
• Gift cards, clothing, electronics, and home goods.
• Fees and tips on online orders.

Online, Target's help page adds that items sold by outside sellers through Target Plus need a second payment method even when they are food.

Using Target EBT online

Target joined USDA's SNAP online purchasing program in 2022. When we checked USDA's state-by-state list of online SNAP retailers on October 29, 2026, Target appeared in every state and the District of Columbia except Louisiana. Lists change, so check your state on that page or look for the EBT option at checkout.

Here is how the online setup works, based on Target's SNAP EBT help page:

• Create a free Target account on Target.com or in the Target app.
• Add your EBT card under the payment cards section of your account.
• Add a second card, such as a debit or credit card or a Target gift card, for fees and non-food items.
• Choose how much to put on EBT at checkout. You can adjust the amount before placing the order.
• Enter your EBT PIN on the secure payment screen to confirm.

SNAP works with Target's main fulfillment options. Order Pickup and Drive Up let you collect your groceries at the store. Same Day Delivery brings them to your door through a Shipt shopper. Target's help page says EBT can also be used on eligible shipping orders. Delivery availability depends on your address.

Pickup, delivery, and shipping costs

Federal rules only let SNAP buy food, so every fee and tip has to go on another payment method. Target's help pages listed these terms when we checked:

Target also lists extra local fees for Same Day Delivery in California and New York City. If you can get to a store, pickup is the cheapest way to use Target EBT online, because there is no minimum and no fee.

Target Circle and Circle 360 with SNAP

Target Circle is Target's free loyalty program. It gives you weekly deals and a birthday offer. Target's help pages do not say Circle deals are blocked for EBT shoppers, and Circle offers are tied to your account rather than to your payment card. Still, check your receipt the first time you combine the two.

Target Circle 360 is the paid membership that adds free same-day delivery on orders of $35 or more. Target lists it at $99 a year or $10.99 a month, or $49 a year if you have a Target Circle Card. Target's help center also describes a discounted monthly membership for people who verify that they get SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, SSI, TANF, or LIHEAP. Target uses the third-party service SheerID to check eligibility, and verification lasts one year. If you do not re-verify, the monthly fee goes back to full price.

SNAP cannot pay for Circle 360 or a Shipt membership. Whether it is worth it depends on how often you order delivery. If you mostly use free pickup, you may not need it.

EBT cash at Target

Some EBT cards also carry a cash balance from programs like TANF. Target's help page says EBT cash is accepted in stores but not online. In a store, EBT cash can pay for non-food items like diapers or soap, as long as your state's rules allow it. If you want to shop online and do not have a bank card for the fees, Target suggests using a Target gift card as your second payment method.

Returns, refunds, and substitutions

If you cancel or return an item paid with SNAP, Target puts the money back on your EBT card, not in cash. For online returns, Target emails you the refunded amount and your new SNAP balance. Target's help page says most EBT purchases fall under its regular 90-day return policy.

Substitutions work a little differently. If a Shipt shopper or pickup team swaps in a more expensive item, your second payment method covers the price difference. Weight differences on items sold by the pound and items you add by texting your shopper also go on the second card. Review your order details after delivery to see what was charged where.

State rules on soda and candy

A growing number of states have USDA approval to stop SNAP from paying for items like soda, energy drinks, and candy. USDA's food restriction waiver page listed about two dozen approved states when we checked, each with its own start date and its own definitions. Some start later in 2026, 2027, or even 2028.

The list also changes in the other direction. In June 2026, a federal court vacated the approved waivers for Colorado, Iowa, Tennessee, and West Virginia, and USDA's page says those waivers may not proceed. Iowa's state agency then told stores to go back to federal SNAP rules.

These limits apply at Target in stores and online. If an item is restricted in your state, it simply moves to your second payment method. Your state SNAP agency's website has the current list for your state.

Stretching SNAP at Target

• Lean on store brands. Good & Gather and Market Pantry items usually cost less than name brands.
• Clip Circle deals on groceries in the Target app before you check out.
• Use free pickup instead of delivery to avoid fees.
• Keep the household shopping separate so you can see exactly how much SNAP you are spending on food.
• Know your benefit amount. The maximum SNAP benefit for one person is $306 a month from October 2026 through September 2027. Our SNAP calculator can estimate yours.
• Compare prices. Walmart, Aldi, and warehouse clubs may be cheaper for some staples. Our Costco EBT guide and Amazon Fresh EBT guide cover two other options.

Placing a Target EBT order, step by step

1. Check your SNAP balance on your state EBT app, your last receipt, or the phone number on the back of your card.
2. Sign in to Target.com or the Target app and add your EBT card under payment cards.
3. Add a second payment method for fees, tips, and non-food items.
4. Choose pickup, Drive Up, delivery, or shipping and fill your cart.
5. Set the EBT amount at checkout and enter your PIN.
6. Review your order details after pickup or delivery to see what was charged to each card.

Related guides

• Does Whole Foods take EBT?
• Does Amazon Fresh take EBT?
• Does Costco take EBT?
• SNAP calculator

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information. Target policies, fees, and state SNAP rules change; confirm with Target and your state SNAP agency. National Relief Program is an independent website and is not affiliated with Target or USDA.