What Is a Refill Store? Everything You Need to Know

A refill store is a retail shop where you bring your own containers and fill them with the products you need. Instead of buying a pre-packaged bag of rice or a plastic bottle of shampoo, you scoop, pour, or pump exactly the amount you want into jars, bottles, or bags you already own.

The concept goes by several names: refill store, refillery, bulk store, zero-waste store, package-free shop. They all describe the same basic idea: selling products without single-use packaging.

What you'll find inside

Every refill store is different, but most carry some combination of these categories:

• Bulk dry goods -- rice, oats, pasta, flour, sugar, lentils, beans, granola, and cereal from gravity bins or scoop bins
• Spices and seasonings -- everything from cinnamon to curry powder, usually sold by the ounce
• Nuts, seeds, and dried fruit -- almonds, cashews, sunflower seeds, dried mango, trail mix
• Oils and vinegars -- olive oil, coconut oil, apple cider vinegar on tap or from dispensers
• Cleaning products -- dish soap, laundry detergent, all-purpose cleaner, usually from pump stations
• Body care -- shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, often from refill taps
• Teas and coffee -- loose leaf teas, whole bean coffee
• Household goods -- reusable bags, beeswax wraps, bamboo toothbrushes, compostable sponges

Some stores focus on just one category (like cleaning-only refill stations), while others are full grocery shops. Use the RefillHQ directory to see exactly what each store near you carries.

How a visit works

If you've never been to a refill store, here's what a typical first visit looks like:

1. Bring containers. Mason jars, old peanut butter jars, tote bags, produce bags -- anything clean works. Most stores also sell or lend containers if you forget.
2. Tare your container. At the register (or a self-serve scale), weigh your empty container so you only pay for the product inside. This weight is called the "tare weight."
3. Fill up. Scoop, pour, or pump what you need. Buy as little or as much as you want.
4. Weigh and pay. The cashier weighs your filled container, subtracts the tare weight, and charges you for the product only.

The whole process takes the same amount of time as regular grocery shopping. It just involves a scale.

What does BYOC mean?

BYOC stands for "Bring Your Own Container." It's the most common term refill stores use to describe their container policy. When you see "BYOC friendly" on a RefillHQ listing, it means the store is set up for you to bring and fill your own containers.

Container policies vary by store:

• BYOC encouraged, containers available -- the most common. Bring yours or use theirs.
• BYOC required -- less common. You need to bring something to fill.
• Containers provided -- the store provides bags or containers included in the price.

Don't let the container thing stop you from going. Every refill store we've ever listed has a plan for first-timers who show up empty-handed.

Is it cheaper than regular grocery shopping?

It depends. Some products are cheaper at refill stores because you're not paying for packaging, branding, or shelf placement. Spices are the best example -- buying cumin by the ounce from a refill store costs a fraction of what you'd pay for a branded jar.

Other products are priced higher because refill stores tend to carry organic, small-batch, or specialty items. You're paying for quality, not just the convenience of no packaging.

The biggest savings come from buying exactly what you need. No more throwing away half a bag of flour because it went stale. Buy a cup of flour when you need a cup of flour.

How to find a refill store near you

That's what we're here for. Browse the RefillHQ directory by state or city, or search by zip code on our home page. Every listing shows hours, product categories, container policy, and directions so you can plan your visit.

There are over 1,300 refill stores across the US and more opening every month. Chances are there's one closer than you think.