In the realm of discount retail, Big Lots has become a household name for affordable home goods, furniture, groceries, and seasonal merchandise.
Known for its treasure-hunt shopping experience and budget-friendly pricing, Big Lots plays a critical role in serving value-conscious American consumers.
As of 2025, how widespread is Big Lots’ footprint across the United States?
Let’s dive deep into the latest numbers, regional breakdowns, and future expansion strategies that investors and businesses need to know.

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How Many Big Lots Stores Are There in the United States?

As of 2025, there are 903 Big Lots stores operating across the United States.

Despite intense competition from dollar stores and mass retailers, Big Lots has maintained a strong national presence by focusing on low-cost essentials, closeout merchandise, and affordable furniture.

Top 10 States with the Most Big Lots Stores

Insights from the Top 10 States with the Most Big Lots Stores

• Ohio, Big Lots' home state, naturally leads with 83 stores — serving both urban and rural areas with high brand loyalty.
• Texas and Florida follow, leveraging their massive suburban expansion and cost-conscious demographics that align perfectly with Big Lots’ value proposition.
• North Carolina and Tennessee show that Southeastern states remain crucial strongholds, driven by affordable living and suburban growth.
• Pennsylvania, New York, and Georgia reflect Big Lots' ability to maintain a presence even in more competitive Northeastern and Southeastern urban markets.
• Kentucky has a surprisingly high per capita store density — one store for every 127,000 people — emphasizing the brand’s focus on smaller cities and towns.

📈 Summary Insight:
Big Lots thrives in middle-income communities, secondary cities, and rural-suburban corridors where price sensitivity drives retail decisions.

Learn how xMap helps brands find high-opportunity suburban markets

States and Territories Without Any Big Lots Stores

Big Lots currently has no presence in:

• Puerto Rico
• Hawaii
• Alaska
• South Dakota
• District of Columbia
• American Samoa
• Guam
• U.S. Virgin Islands
• Northern Mariana Islands

The primary reasons include small market sizes, geographic isolation, and logistical challenges.

📈 Insight:
Expanding into underserved rural states or experimenting with smaller format stores could offer Big Lots new growth opportunities.

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Top 10 Cities with the Most Big Lots Stores

Insights from the Top 10 Cities

• San Antonio leads the way with five locations, underlining Big Lots’ strength in large, cost-conscious cities with strong suburban communities.
• Columbus, Big Lots’ hometown, shows the company's ability to build a dense store network close to headquarters.
• Louisville, El Paso, and Indianapolis show that Big Lots excels in mid-sized metro areas where larger format stores can be easily placed.
• Florida cities like Ocala and Jacksonville demonstrate Big Lots' targeting of fast-growing retirement and family markets.
• Spartanburg and Columbia in South Carolina further reinforce Big Lots' success in Southeast suburban hubs.

📈 Summary Insight:
Big Lots strategically clusters stores around affordable mid-tier metros and emerging suburban markets, ensuring visibility and convenience for price-sensitive shoppers.

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Total Big Lots Stores Impact on the U.S. Market

The Resilient Discount Retailer

In 2025, Big Lots continues to hold a strong position in the discount retail sector, despite rising competition from Dollar General, Five Below, and Walmart.
Their treasure-hunt model, offering a constantly changing assortment of merchandise at low prices, keeps value-driven consumers coming back.

Big Lots is particularly attractive in times of economic uncertainty as families seek lower-cost household goods without sacrificing quality.

Key Categories Fueling Success

Big Lots' diverse product mix includes:

• Furniture and home decor (30% of sales),
• Seasonal items (20%),
• Consumables and food (15%),
• Hard home (appliances, kitchenware),
• Soft home (bedding, towels).

This multi-category approach diversifies risk and drives year-round customer traffic.

Analyzing Big Lots' U.S. Growth Trajectory

Past 10 Years of Expansion (2015–2025)

• 2015: ~1,450 stores
• 2020: ~1,400 stores
• 2025: 903 stores

Big Lots has strategically downsized, focusing on profitable locations rather than maintaining a larger but less efficient footprint.
This shift prioritizes unit profitability over simple store count.

Growth and Reinvestment Strategy

Investor Insights: Big Lots' 2025 Vision

Strengths

• Highly loyal customer base among suburban and rural shoppers,
• Increased margins through focus on furniture and private-label products,
• Flexibility to pivot merchandise based on seasonal trends and market conditions.

Opportunities

• Smaller format stores for urban/suburban infill opportunities,
• More omnichannel integration to meet evolving shopping behaviors,
• Increased private-label emphasis to boost brand control and profitability.

📈 Big Lots’ ability to adapt its store footprint and merchandise mix offers resilient opportunities for investors, especially in suburban and secondary market retail spaces.

Learn how geospatial AI boosts smart retail reinvestment strategies

Conclusion

As of 2025, Big Lots stands strong in the competitive retail landscape by focusing on value, flexibility, and community-centric growth.
Their strategic store optimization and ability to align with consumer spending habits position them well for steady, long-term success.

How xMap’s Insights Help Retailers and Investors

With xMap’s Polygon AI, businesses can:

• Identify suburban communities underserved by discount retailers,
• Analyze income segmentation and household composition,
• Predict future retail demand shifts based on regional development patterns,
• De-risk expansion by layering competitive density analysis with demographic insights.

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