Does Menards Take EBT? A 2025 Guide to Using SNAP
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It’s one of the most common and confusing questions for SNAP recipients: Does Menards take EBT? The answer is, surprisingly, yes, Menards does accept EBT cards, but with very important limitations. You can’t buy a power drill or a bucket of paint with your food benefits.
This guide will explain Menards’ official policy in detail, cover exactly what you can and can’t buy, explore how cash benefits differ, and explain how your SNAP eligibility can also help you get a free phone.
1. The Official Answer: Does Menards Take EBT?
Here’s the simple breakdown of Menards’ policy and why it often causes confusion for shoppers.
Yes, Menards Accepts EBT (SNAP)
All Menards store locations are authorized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as SNAP retailers. This means they are legally permitted and technically equipped to accept EBT card payments for SNAP-eligible items. You can use your food benefits at any of their stores.
>>> Read more: EBT-Eligible Items (Non-Food): Things You Can Buy with EBT
Why Menards’ Policy is Confusing
The confusion is understandable. Menards’ primary business is home improvement, not groceries. An estimated 99% of the products in their stores, such as lumber, tools, paint, lighting, and hardware, are not eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits.
So, why are they an authorized retailer? To be a SNAP retailer, a store must stock at least three varieties in four staple food categories (e.g., meat/dairy, bread/cereals, fruits/veg, and other).
Menards meets this requirement with its beverage selection (counting as ‘food’), snacks (including cereals/breads), and, most uniquely, its food-producing plants (such as fruits/vegetables).
This is similar to how a gas station or a pharmacy, such as CVS or Walgreens, can accept EBT cards that are authorized to sell a limited selection of eligible food and snack items, not everything in the store.
>>> Read more: Food Stamps, SNAP vs EBT: What’s The Difference?
Does This Apply to All Menards Locations?
Yes, this is a company-wide policy. All Menards stores, regardless of state, are equipped with payment systems that can process EBT cards.
While all stores accept EBT, the specific stock of eligible food items might vary slightly from one location to another. However, you can be confident that any Menards you visit will be able to process your card for any eligible items you find.
2. What You Can Buy with EBT at Menards
This is the most important part to understand. Your EBT card’s SNAP (food) benefits will only be used for a specific list of items.
EBT-Eligible Items at Menards
According to the USDA’s SNAP eligible food list, your EBT benefits are for food items to be prepared and eaten at home. At Menards, this translates to three main categories:
- Snacks: You can find a selection of snacks, usually located in the checkout aisles or near the front of the store. This includes items like:
- Chips and pretzels
- Candy bars
- Cookies and crackers
- Beef jerky
- Beverages: You can also purchase non-alcoholic beverages, such as:
- Soda
- Bottled water
- Juice
- Energy drinks
- Seeds and Plants (Food-Producing Only): This is a key category that many shoppers overlook. You can use your EBT card to buy seeds and plants that produce food for your household to eat. This is because the SNAP program is designed to promote food security, and growing your own food is a key part of that. Eligible items include:
- Packets of vegetable seeds (tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, etc.)
- Fruit bushes (like strawberry or blueberry plants)
- Young vegetable plants (like tomato or cucumber starters)
- Fruit trees
- Herbs (like basil, parsley, or mint plants)
EBT-Ineligible Items at Menards
The list of items you cannot buy with your SNAP benefits is essentially everything else in the store. SNAP is a nutrition program, so non-food items are strictly prohibited. Your EBT payment will be declined for all home improvement and non-food items, including:
- Tools (power tools, hand tools, etc.)
- Lumber, drywall, and building materials
- Paint and painting supplies
- Cleaning supplies and household chemicals
- Pet food and supplies (a common point of confusion)
- Gardening Supplies: This is a critical distinction. While you can buy a tomato plant, you cannot buy fertilizer, potting soil, garden hoses, shovels, gloves, or pots.
- Decorative plants and flowers (non-food-producing)
- Home decor, appliances, and furniture
- Outdoor items like patio furniture or grills
- Alcohol and tobacco
- Vitamins and medicine
How to Use Your EBT Card at Menards (Checkout Process)
If you have a “mixed basket” of eligible and ineligible items (e.g., a bag of chips, a tomato plant, and a hammer), the checkout process is simple and automated.
- Go to the Checkout: Bring all your items to the register as usual.
- Swipe Your Card: When it’s time to pay, swipe your EBT card first.
- Enter Your PIN: Enter your 4-digit EBT Personal Identification Number (PIN).
- Automatic Separation: The payment system is designed to automatically identify all SNAP-eligible items in your cart (such as your chips and tomato plants). It will deduct the total cost of these items from your SNAP benefit balance.
- Pay the Remainder: The register will then display the remaining balance for all ineligible items (such as your hammer). You must pay the remaining amount with an alternative form of payment, such as a debit card, credit card, or cash.
Can I Use My EBT Card on Menards.com?
No. Menards is not part of the USDA’s SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot. This program requires retailers to have a special certification to accept EBT payments online, which Menards does not have.
You can only use your EBT card for in-store purchases at a physical Menards location. To use EBT online, you must shop at participating retailers, such as Walmart, Amazon, or Kroger.
3. Using Your EBT Benefits and Other Programs
While you’re already in the mindset of using your benefits, don’t forget one of the most valuable ones.
Qualify for a Free Phone with Your EBT
Since you are eligible for SNAP, you also automatically qualify for the federal Lifeline program. This program helps low-income families stay connected by providing free or low-cost phone service.
With a leading provider like AirTalk Wireless, you can use your SNAP eligibility to get a complete package at no cost:
- A FREE 4G/5G Smartphone
- FREE Unlimited Monthly Talk & Text
- FREE High-Speed Data
6. Final Words
So, the answer to “Does Menards accept EBT?” is a definite yes, but it’s not a full-service grocery stop. It’s best to think of it as a convenient option if you’re already in the store for home improvement supplies and need to grab a drink, a snack, or seeds for your garden.
Just remember the simple rule: your EBT card will only pay for food items and food-producing plants, not home improvement supplies. Don’t forget that your SNAP eligibility also qualifies you for a free phone through the Lifeline program, offered by providers like AirTalk Wireless.
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