Yes, you can use your EBT card at Target, but only for food items that may have access to under SNAP rules

Target accepts EBT cards at checkout for purchases covered by the Supplemental Nutrition information Program (SNAP). However, your EBT card will only work for specific foods — not for all items Target sells. The items you can buy are the same whether you shop at Target, a grocery store, a farmers market, or a convenience store, because SNAP rules determine what counts as food, not the store.

Target does not accept EBT for cash withdrawals or for non-food purchases, even if those items are sold in the grocery section. You will need a separate payment method — debit card, credit card, or cash — for anything outside the SNAP-approved list.

Key Takeaways

  • Target accepts SNAP EBT cards at all locations, and you can use your card at self-checkout or with a cashier.
  • You can buy fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, bread, and other unprepared foods, but not hot foods, alcohol, or vitamins.
  • Non-food items like paper towels, soap, and pet food do not ring up as EBT-may be able to access, even though Target sells them.
  • If your transaction is split between EBT-may be able to access and non-may be able to access items, you will pay for may be able to access items with your EBT card and other items with a different payment method.

What you can buy with EBT at Target

SNAP covers foods you prepare and cook at home. This includes fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, meat and poultry, fish and seafood, dairy products like milk and cheese, eggs, beans and legumes, bread and cereals, nuts and seeds, and snack foods like crackers and granola bars. You can also buy baby formula and baby food with EBT.

Target's grocery section stocks all of these categories. When you check out, the cashier or self-checkout system will identify which items are SNAP-approved and deduct only those from your EBT balance. The system reads the item's barcode and the store's database to determine may be able to access — it is not based on where the item is shelved or what section you found it in.

What you cannot buy with EBT at Target

SNAP does not cover prepared or hot foods, even if they are sold in the grocery section. This means you cannot use EBT for rotisserie chicken, deli sandwiches, hot pizza, or items from Target's food service counter. You also cannot buy alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, medicines, or supplements with EBT.

Non-food items do not may have access to either. Paper products, cleaning supplies, soap, shampoo, laundry detergent, pet food, and household goods must be paid for with a different payment method. Target also does not accept EBT for gift cards, even grocery gift cards.

How to use your EBT card at Target checkout

At a regular checkout lane, tell the cashier you are paying with EBT. Hand over your card and enter your PIN when prompted — the same way you would at an ATM. The cashier will separate your may be able to access items from non-may be able to access ones if you have both. Your EBT balance will be reduced only by the amount of SNAP-approved purchases.

At self-checkout, select "EBT" as your payment method when the screen prompts you. Insert your card and enter your PIN. The system will process only the may be able to access items. If you have non-may be able to access items in your basket, you will need to pay for those separately with cash or another card after the EBT transaction completes.

Target's self-checkout system is designed to flag items that cannot be purchased with EBT, so you will know before you finish the transaction if something will not go through on your card.

What happens if you have both EBT-may be able to access and non-may be able to access items

If your basket contains both types of items, the transaction will split automatically. Your EBT card will pay for the may be able to access food items, and you will need to provide a second payment method for everything else. This second payment can be a debit card, credit card, or cash.

Some Target locations have self-checkout machines that handle this split payment smoothly; others may require you to complete the transaction at a staffed register. If you are unsure how your local Target handles mixed baskets, you can ask a cashier before you start shopping.

Using EBT online at Target.com

Target does not currently accept EBT for online orders placed through Target.com or the Target app. You can only use your EBT card for in-store purchases at a physical Target location. If you want to shop for groceries online with EBT, you will need to use a different retailer that offers this option, such as Amazon Fresh or Walmart.

Target's policy on online EBT acceptance may change in the future, so it is worth checking Target.com periodically or calling your local store if you want to confirm the current status.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use EBT at Target's food service counter or café?

No. Target's prepared foods — including items from the deli, hot bar, or café — are not SNAP-may be able to access. You can only use EBT for unprepared foods you will cook or prepare yourself at home.

Will Target let me buy energy drinks or soda with EBT?

Yes. Beverages like soda, energy drinks, juice, and coffee are SNAP-may be able to access as long as they are not hot drinks prepared on-site. Cold bottled or canned drinks ring up as food purchases and will deduct from your EBT balance.

What if my EBT card is declined at Target?

A decline usually means your account balance is too low for the purchase, your PIN was entered incorrectly, or your card has been temporarily locked. Contact your state's EBT customer service line (the number is on the back of your card) to check your balance and unlock your card if needed.

Can I use someone else's EBT card at Target?

No. EBT cards are issued to a specific person and require a PIN. Only the cardholder can use the card. Using someone else's EBT card is considered fraud and can result in criminal charges and repayment requirements.

Does Target offer any special EBT discounts or promotions?

Target does not run EBT-specific discounts, but SNAP-may be able to access items at Target are subject to the same sales and promotions as any other customer. You can use your EBT card on sale items just as you would on regular-priced items.