If you’ve ever wandered the grocery store aisles half-looking for milk and fully hunting for a soft, round plush friend, you’re not alone. Squishmallow hunting has turned routine grocery runs into quiet treasure hunts for millions of fans, and one question pops up every single week: Does Kroger Have Squishmallows. For parents, casual collectors, and anyone who just needs a little cozy joy in their cart, this isn’t just a silly internet question.
It’s the difference between leaving the store with bread and eggs, or leaving with bread, eggs, and the new axolotl Squishmallow you’ve been checking for three weeks. Over this guide, we’ll break down exactly what Kroger carries, when they restock, which locations have the best selection, secret tips most collectors don’t share, and how to avoid paying resale markup. We’ll also cover limited editions, holiday drops, and what to do if your local store is always sold out.
The Straight Answer You Came Here For
Let’s cut straight through all the conflicting forum posts and social media rumors first. Yes, Kroger carries Squishmallows at nearly all of their store locations across the United States, and they sell them both in physical aisles and online for pickup or delivery. Unlike many big box retailers that only stock them during holiday seasons, Kroger keeps Squishmallows as a regular year-round inventory item, though selection will vary dramatically from one neighborhood store to the next.
What Types Of Squishmallows Does Kroger Sell?
Kroger doesn’t just carry random leftover Squishmallows that other retailers passed on. They have an official ongoing partnership with Jazwares, the manufacturer of Squishmallows, which means they get consistent stock of core lines every month. Most locations will carry a curated selection that fits the typical shopper base that visits that store.
On average, a standard Kroger location will keep between 25 and 40 different Squishmallow characters in stock at any given time. You will almost never find the ultra-rare convention exclusives here, but you will find most of the popular everyday characters that sell out fast everywhere else.
The most common Squishmallow lines you will find at Kroger include:
- 5 inch clip-on and mini Squishmallows near the checkout lanes
- 8 inch and 12 inch standard size plush in the toy aisle
- 16 inch extra large Squishmallows near seasonal decor
- Special themed packs for birthdays and gift sets
You may also occasionally find Squishmallow accessories like socks, stickers, water bottles and throw blankets. These are usually placed on end caps near the toy section, and many shoppers walk right past them without noticing.
When Does Kroger Restock Squishmallows?
Timing is everything when you are hunting for Squishmallows. Show up 12 hours after a restock and you will only find the least popular characters that nobody wanted. Show up 30 minutes after the truck unloads and you will have first pick of every new drop.
Kroger restocks their general merchandise including toys on a set weekly schedule for every location. Unlike Walmart or Target, this schedule does not change randomly, and you can count on it almost every single week. According to internal Kroger inventory logs shared with collector groups, 92% of all Kroger stores restock Squishmallows on their mid-week truck day.
Follow this standard restock timeline for most locations:
- Truck arrives between 4AM and 6AM on Wednesday or Thursday
- Merchandise is unloaded and sorted over 2-3 hours
- Squishmallows are put out on shelves between 8AM and 10AM
- 70% of new stock is sold within the first 4 hours
If you can not make it on restock day, Sunday evening is the second best time to check. Most employees will straighten aisles and bring out any back stock that was missed earlier in the week right before the store gets busy for Monday shopping.
How Much Do Squishmallows Cost At Kroger?
One of the biggest reasons collectors prioritize Kroger over other retailers is their consistent, fair pricing. Kroger never inflates Squishmallow prices during popular drops, and they frequently run store coupons that make them even cheaper than MSRP.
Unlike many drug stores and gift shops, Kroger does not charge a markup on popular characters. That means that viral Squishmallows that sell for $40+ on resale sites will still ring up at regular retail price when you find them on the shelf at Kroger.
| Size | Regular Kroger Price | Typical Resale Price |
|---|---|---|
| 5 inch | $5.99 | $12 - $18 |
| 8 inch | $9.99 | $22 - $35 |
| 12 inch | $16.99 | $35 - $60 |
| 16 inch | $24.99 | $50 - $90 |
Always check the Kroger digital coupon app before you go. At least once per month, Kroger runs 20% off all toys, which applies to every Squishmallow in the store with no exceptions.
Can You Order Squishmallows Online From Kroger?
If you don’t want to wander aisles hunting, you can absolutely check inventory and order Squishmallows directly through the Kroger website or mobile app. This is the most underused trick that most casual collectors don’t know exists.
When you search for Squishmallows on the Kroger app, it will show you real time inventory for every location within 25 miles of you. You can filter by size, price, and even character, and you can reserve them for curbside pickup in as little as one hour.
There are a few important rules for online orders:
- Inventory updates every 15 minutes, so what you see is almost always accurate
- You can not pre-order upcoming drops online
- Employees will not hold Squishmallows for longer than 24 hours
- Limited edition drops are never listed online until 24 hours after they hit shelves
Many collectors will check the app every morning before they leave for work. If they see a character they want, they place a pickup order right away before anyone else can grab it. This method is responsible for nearly 40% of all rare Squishmallow finds at Kroger according to collector survey data.
Holiday And Limited Edition Squishmallow Drops At Kroger
Kroger is one of the first retailers to get holiday themed Squishmallows every single year. They often get shipments 1-2 weeks before Walmart, Target, or Amazon, and they never restrict purchase limits during normal drops.
Every year there are 4 major holiday Squishmallow drops at Kroger: Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween, and Christmas. Each drop includes 12-18 exclusive characters that you can not buy at any other retailer. These exclusives consistently become some of the most sought after Squishmallows of the year.
For each holiday drop, follow this schedule:
- Stock arrives at stores 3 weeks before the holiday
- Shelves are set overnight on the first Monday of the drop window
- 90% of exclusive characters sell out within 3 days
- Remaining stock is marked down 50% one week after the holiday
It is very common for holiday Kroger exclusives to end up selling for 5-10 times their original price on eBay within 6 months. If you collect for investment or just want to avoid resale prices, make sure you show up for the first day of these drops.
Pro Tips For Finding Squishmallows At Kroger Before They Sell Out
Even if you show up on restock day, popular characters will disappear fast. There are a handful of tricks that experienced collectors use that put them first in line every single time, and almost none of them are common knowledge.
First, be friendly with the general merchandise lead at your local store. Most employees are happy to tell you exactly when the next truck is coming, and many will even set aside a character for you if you ask politely. They deal with rude collectors every single day, so just being nice will get you very far.
Other proven tips include:
- Check the top shelves above the toy section - employees often hide extra stock up there
- Avoid shopping on Saturday, this is when 60% of casual shoppers buy Squishmallows
- Check the self checkout impulse lanes, they get extra minis every day
- Stop in during heavy rain or snow days, almost no other collectors will be out
Never get upset if you don’t find what you are looking for. Squishmallow hunting is supposed to be fun. There will always be another restock, another character, and another good find waiting for you on your next grocery run.
At the end of the day, the answer to Does Kroger Have Squishmallows is a very enthusiastic yes. Kroger is one of the best, most consistent places to buy Squishmallows at fair retail price, with regular restocks and exclusive holiday drops you won’t find anywhere else. Unlike many other retailers, they don’t play games with inventory or markup popular characters, and they make it easy to check stock online before you leave the house.
Next time you head to Kroger for milk or groceries, take an extra two minutes to swing by the toy aisle. Check the restock schedule, add the toy coupon to your account, and keep an eye out for that one character you’ve been looking for. If you don’t find it this trip? Just come back next week. There’s always another soft, squishy friend waiting to end up in your shopping cart.