Where to Buy Cheap Yarn Online for Your Next Craft Project

Yarn is one of the most versatile craft supplies—you can use it to knit, crochet, weave, sew and more. But, those who use it know that yarn can be expensive, especially when used for projects where you need a lot of it. If you've ever wondered where to buy cheap yarn online, you're not alone. We wanted to know, too, so we did some research and discovered that budget-friendly yarn is only a click (and in some cases, a coupon) away.

Up ahead, we share everything you need to know about how to find the cheapest yarns and what to look for when shopping for yarn on a budget.

‌Price:‌ If you're shopping for yarn on a budget, the most important thing to consider is, of course, the price. It's also important to consider which brands craft supply retailers carry so that you can compare prices for specific yarns and get the best deal. For example, Bernat is sold at several retailers, including JOANN, Amazon and Walmart, and while it might be cheaper to purchase Bernat yarn at Walmart most days of the year, a JOANN yarn sale or coupon might drive the cost down to an even cheaper price tag.

‌Price Per Yard:‌ Just because a skein costs under $5 doesn't always mean it's budget-friendly. In addition to the price, it's important to consider the price per yard, as this can determine the overall value of a skein of yarn. To figure out the price per yard, simply divide the yardage listed on the skein's packaging by the price of the skein.

‌Value Packs:‌ If you want to get more bang for your buck, consider shopping for value packs instead of individual skeins. While not every yarn brand or retailer will offer value packs, you can typically find value packs of two, three, four or more at places like Amazon and Walmart. This can drive the cost per skein down a bit more than if you purchase individually and, therefore, make it more budget-friendly.

‌Sales and Coupons:‌ It's always worth checking out the sales and coupons at craft retailers like JOANN and Michaels as these can also make an impact on your purchase total. Michaels usually offers a 20% off in-store and online coupon but sometimes offers more discounts to online shoppers. Similarly, JOANN typically offers a variety of coupons that you can use toward your purchase total, including exclusive discounts for in-store pick-up orders, 40% off a single full-price item coupon, and a 20% off your total purchase deal. JOANN and Michaels also have yarn sales several times throughout the year, which can result in big savings.

‌Clearance:‌ No matter where you shop, always check out the clearance section, as you can also find a deal there. Whether it's a name-brand store like Lion Brand or a big craft retailer like JOANN, the clearance section will often offer steep savings on yarn from previous seasons or overstocked skeins. Just make sure you grab what you need because clearance yarn isn't guaranteed to stay in stock.

‌Material:‌ The type of material in yarn matters for several reasons. First, this can determine the quality, durability and texture (AKA softness) of a yarn. Material can also inform the cost as some fibers cost more than others. Natural fibers such as 100% wool or merino wool can easily rack up your bill, however, you can find wool blends that result in a cheaper skein. Depending on the brand, cotton can also cost more money, however, it's not nearly as expensive as wool. When shopping with price in mind, 100% acrylic yarn or acrylic blends that spin cotton, wool or even cashmere into their yarn is your best bet. Since acrylic wool is not a natural material and, therefore, doesn't break down as easily, it's also a lot more durable compared to natural fibers like alpaca, sheep's wool and mohair.

Hobbii.com is one of the cheapest places to shop for yarn online, especially when you consider all of the different types of yarn qualities and how their price tags compare to other retailers. For example, many of the brand's mohair blends cost only around $5 per skein, which is significantly less than some other options from more high-end yarn suppliers. The same goes for other expensive yarn types, such as merino wool and wool. In addition to offering fantastic prices, the company also always has sales on different yarn collections, which allow you to score yarn on sale for anywhere from 25-65% off. The only downside about Hobbii.com is that it can take a while for your skeins to ship, so keep that in mind when shopping.

Overall, we love Hobbii.com because it allows you to purchase higher-end yarn at discount prices, which is especially beneficial when working on larger projects like crochet blankets and knitted sweaters. The company also extends its low price tags and discounts to its collection of yarn accessories, including crochet hooks and knitting needles, yarn winders, stitch markers and more. Plus, you can find lots of free knitting and crochet patterns on Hobbii.com to help cut costs, too.

We wouldn't classify every skein of yarn at JOANN as cheap, however, the craft supply store has a ton of budget-friendly yarn options to choose from, including value lines like Big Twist and Red Heart, which come in several different weights, colors and styles. JOANN is also known for its yarn sales, which happen throughout the year and could save you as much as 40% off the store's entire yarn collection. When there isn't a yarn sale, JOANN coupons can help cut fiber costs down, especially if you have a 40% off one regular-priced item or 20% off your entire purchase coupon to spare.

In addition to its yarn prices, JOANN's shipping costs are also noteworthy. If the yarn you wish to purchase is available in a local store, you can pick it up in store for free (and sometimes score an additional discount for choosing in-store pick-up, depending on the coupons of the week). The company also offers a $1.99 flat-rate shipping coupon that can help bring the checkout cost down.

While not all yarn on Amazon is cheap, you can certainly find lots of good options across a variety of yarn types and weights. Amazon's collection of value packs is a particularly good deal, especially those with lots of different colors for small projects, such as the 20 Acrylic Yarn Skeins from Mira Handcrafts, which we have used to create pom poms or small details on crochet projects. Similar to JOANN, you can also find Red Heart yarn on Amazon, only it's sold in a three-pack to drive the cost down a little more.

Amazon is also an excellent place to shop for yarn bundles and kits, which not only include several skeins but also feature additional tools like crochet hooks and knitting needles to help you get started on a project. The Inscraft Crochet Kit with Hooks Yarn Set, for example, comes with 20 yarn skeins, crochet hooks, knitting needles, stitch markers, stitch counters and more.

Lion Brand is one of our go-to's for crochet projects—and we love that it's available at several budget-friendly stores such as JOANN and Amazon. While this yarn is more high-quality than other cheap yarn options, we find that Lion Brand's clearance section is actually quite budget-friendly. Additionally, the yarn brand is always offering additional discounts and sales on select yarn collections. There's almost always a promo code that could save you 30-35% on specific items, so if you shop strategically, that could really make a difference in the overall total.

This is an excellent place to shop for those who want to invest in quality yarn that maybe feels a little more luxe than the value skeins, but still costs less than full price and stays well within a project's budget. And, if you love a particular Lion Brand yarn, it's always worth checking to see which company offers the lowest price and, therefore, the highest savings.

Michaels is another go-to craft store for budget-friendly yarn. We love that the company offers a wide collection of yarn options, including ones that are a little more luxe as well as value options such as the Value Solid Yarn by Craft Smart, which costs less than $5 for over 350 yards. Michaels is an excellent place to shop with savings in mind because, much like other craft suppliers, the company has regular sales on skeins plus Michaels coupons help lower the total cost of purchase. You can usually find a 20% off coupon to use in-store and online, however, sometimes the company has seasonal savings that are a little more impressive. For example, right now, you can take 30% off online orders with promo code 23SUMMER30. Similar to JOANN, Michaels also offers in-store pick-up to save on shipping.

Walmart has an impressive collection of sewing and craft supplies, and their yarn options (especially online) are certainly noteworthy. Much like everything else at Walmart, you can find budget-friendly prices on a variety of yarn skeins, including some super cheap options like the Mainstays Medium Acrylic Yarn which costs under $3 for almost 400 yards. The retailer also carries some yarn dupes for less, which is always appreciated, such as the Mainstays Bulky Chunky Chenille Yarn, which is very similar to AR Workshop Chunky Knit Yarn and close to Bernat Blanket Extra Yarn. Speaking of Bernat blanket yarn, Walmart offers value packs and low prices on more luxe yarns, including the Bernat Blanket Extra Yarn, which comes in a pack of two and is on sale for $12.47. We also love Walmart's selection of cotton yarns, especially the Peaches & Creme Solid 4 Medium Cotton Yarn which, at full price, costs less than $2 per skein.