Top 10 Department Stores in the USA
Retail sales in the United States of America totaled $7.3 trillion in 2023, a 2.3% increase from the previous year’s numbers. If you’re a small business whose target audience is in the USA, knowing where they shop helps you better understand their purchase habits and allows you to craft a more effective sales and marketing strategy.
In terms of total revenue, Walmart and Amazon are currently the largest retailers in the USA. But what about department stores? Here’s a look at the top 10 department stores in the USA in terms of popularity.
Top 10 department stores in the USA (Q2 2024): table
|
Best department stores ranked by popularity |
Percentage of consumers who have a positive opinion of the department store |
|
1. Costco |
69% |
|
2. Target |
67% |
|
3. Walmart |
66% |
|
4. JCPenney |
64% |
|
5. Dollar Tree |
63% |
|
6. Sam's Club |
62% |
|
7. Big Lots |
62% |
|
8. T.J. Maxx |
62% |
|
9. Burlington Coat Factory |
60% |
|
10. Kohl's |
59% |
What are the top 10 department stores in the USA?
1. Costco: 69%
According to a recent survey, as of Q2 2024, Costco leads the chart ranking the top 10 department stores in the USA. The study sorts these stores based on their popularity, determined by the percentage of consumers who view them favorably. Results from the study on the best department stores show that around two-thirds of consumers say they have a positive opinion of Costco.
2. Target: 67%
Costco is followed by Target, which 67% of US consumers view favorably. It’s worth noting that despite its high rank, as many as 13% of those surveyed indicated they “disliked” Target. In comparison, just 3% said the same for Costco.
3. Walmart: 66%
Walmart ranks third on this list of the top department stores in the USA, with a popularity rating of 66%, just one percentage point behind Target. Incidentally, Costco, Target, and Walmart also rank among the country’s largest retailers, each generating revenues of over $100 billion in 2023.
4. JCPenney: 64%
After Walmart, Texas-headquartered JCPenney is in fourth place. As many as 64% of consumers say they have a positive impression of the store. Another 25% said they felt neutral toward the company, while 9% expressed dislike.
5. Dollar Tree: 63%
Completing the top five on the list of the top 10 department stores in the USA is Dollar Tree, which operates over 15,000 discount variety stores across the country. With its widespread presence, the Fortune 500 company is known for its exceptional value.
6. Sam’s Club, Big Lots, T.J. Maxx: 62%
Sam’s Club, Big Lots, and T.J. Maxx are tied for sixth place, each with a popularity rating of 62%. Between the three, Sam’s Club, which operates as a membership-based warehouse club offering bulk quantities and discounted prices, has a slightly higher percentage of consumers indicating they disliked the store—8% compared to Big Lot’s 6% and T.J. Maxx’s 5%.
9. Burlington Coat Factory: 60%
Boasting more than 1,000 stores across as many as 47 states across the USA, Burlington Coat Factory is the ninth-most popular department store—60% of local consumers say they like it.
Established in 1972, the retailer’s focus is in clothing, footwear, and home goods, and is currently headquartered in Burlington, New Jersey.
10. Kohl’s: 59%
Founded in 1962 and currently headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, Kohl’s also ranks among what consumers consider to be the 10 best department stores in the country. In Q2 2024, the popular department store retail chain was the 10th most popular department store, with a rating of 59%.
The company is known for its frequent sales, Kohl's Cash rewards program, and partnerships with popular brands and designers.
Top 10 department stores in the USA: by generation
The rankings of these top department stores in the USA differ from generation to generation. For instance, Target, Costco, and Dollar General Corp. are the three most popular stores among millennials.
Generation X’s top three are Target, Costco, and Sam’s Club. Meanwhile, baby boomers’ consider Walmart, Costco, and Dollar Tree to be the top department stores in the USA.