Stores Like Burlington: 12 Off-Price Stores Worth the Treasure Hunt
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About Burlington
Founded
1972
USA
Ships to
US
Sizes
XS-3X, kids and baby
Editor-reviewed
Every recommendation read and refined by hand
Honest tradeoffs
Drawbacks listed, not hidden
No paid placements
Brands cannot pay to be ranked
When did the coat store stop being mostly about coats? Burlington dropped "Coat Factory" from its name years ago, and the shift was honest — the racks of puffers and wool peacoats are still the deepest in off-price, but now they share floor space with a baby section, a shoe wall, a clearance-priced sectional, and the kind of home-goods aisle where you find a $9 throw pillow next to a $40 espresso machine that may or may not have all its parts.
The person Burlington still serves best is specific: the shopper who needs a winter coat for the whole family without flinching at the register, who'll dig through a disorganized rack for a brand they recognize, and who treats the trip as the sport.
The friction is real too. Store inventory swings wildly between locations, the checkout lines coil around like a theme-park queue, and the online store is an afterthought compared to what's actually in the building. You can't reliably browse Burlington from your couch the way the treasure-hunt experience deserves.
For anyone who's tired of guessing whether the good stuff made it to their nearest store, there's a whole world of off-price worth knowing.
The person Burlington still serves best is specific: the shopper who needs a winter coat for the whole family without flinching at the register, who'll dig through a disorganized rack for a brand they recognize, and who treats the trip as the sport.
The friction is real too. Store inventory swings wildly between locations, the checkout lines coil around like a theme-park queue, and the online store is an afterthought compared to what's actually in the building. You can't reliably browse Burlington from your couch the way the treasure-hunt experience deserves.
For anyone who's tired of guessing whether the good stuff made it to their nearest store, there's a whole world of off-price worth knowing.
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12 brands
The 12 Best Alternatives to Burlington
1
TJ Maxx
Est. 1976
Framingham, Massachusetts, USA
≈
similar
Shoppers who want the widest brand mix and a stronger home section than Burlington.
The original off-price treasure hunt — designer apparel, home, and beauty marked down, with new shipments hitting the floor multiple times a week.
Pros
- Best-in-class brand variety across apparel and home
- Runway and Gold Ticket sections for designer finds
- Loyalty program with extra Maxx perks
Cons
- Inventory varies just as much store to store
- Online selection is a fraction of in-store
2
Marshalls
Est. 1956
Framingham, Massachusetts, USA
≈
similar
Shoppers who want Burlington's family-clothing breadth with a deeper shoe wall.
TJX's sister chain with a near-identical off-price model, slightly stronger footwear and family apparel.
Pros
- Strong shoe selection
- The Cube footwear shop in larger stores
- Shares loyalty rewards with TJ Maxx
Cons
- Home goods thinner than TJ Maxx
- Quality control on clearance racks is hit-or-miss
Visit Marshalls
Full guide: Stores Like Marshalls
3
Ross Dress for Less
Est. 1982
Dublin, California, USA
$
cheaper
The most price-driven bargain hunters who don't mind chaos.
Deeper discounts than Burlington with a no-frills, dig-through-the-bins approach to brand-name closeouts.
Pros
- Genuinely the cheapest of the major off-pricers
- Great for basics, party supplies, seasonal
- New markdowns constantly
Cons
- No online shopping at all
- Stores are often the messiest in the category
4
Nordstrom Rack
Est. 1973
Seattle, Washington, USA
$$$
pricier
Shoppers chasing higher-end labels than Burlington typically stocks.
Off-price arm of Nordstrom carrying overstock and last-season designer goods at steep cuts.
Pros
- Real designer and premium-contemporary labels
- Strong online store, unlike Burlington
- Generous return policy tied to Nordstrom
Cons
- Higher base prices than Burlington
- Some inventory is made-for-Rack, not true overstock
Visit Nordstrom Rack
Full guide: Stores Like Nordstrom Rack
5
Saks Off 5th
Est. 1990
New York, New York, USA
$$$
pricier
Shoppers who want luxury labels at off-price math instead of mid-tier brands.
Luxury off-price outlet selling Saks Fifth Avenue overstock and designer markdowns.
Pros
- Designer and luxury labels at deep cuts
- Strong handbag and shoe departments
- Solid online experience
Cons
- Pricier entry point than Burlington
- Much of stock is outlet-made rather than store overstock
6
Gabe's
Est. 1961
Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
$
cheaper
Eastern US shoppers wanting Ross-level pricing with a wider brand mix.
Regional off-price chain with extreme discounts on brand-name apparel and home — a true treasure hunt with even lower floors.
Pros
- Aggressive pricing, often below Ross
- Deep brand-name closeouts
- Growing footprint across the Southeast/Mid-Atlantic
Cons
- Limited to certain regions
- Quality and condition vary widely
7
Sierra
Est. 1986
Framingham, Massachusetts, USA
≈
similar
Burlington shoppers who mainly come for coats and active outerwear.
TJX-owned off-price retailer focused on outdoor, active, and casual brands at discount — the place for discounted name-brand jackets.
Pros
- Excellent for discounted outdoor outerwear and footwear
- Strong online catalog
- Shares TJX loyalty rewards
Cons
- Fewer physical locations
- Less dressy/home selection than Burlington
8
Daffy's successor — Century 21
Est. 1961
New York, New York, USA
≈
similar
Urban shoppers chasing designer markdowns in a Burlington-style dig.
NYC off-price institution reborn, stacking designer apparel and home goods at department-store-killing prices.
Pros
- Strong designer and European-label selection
- Iconic NYC treasure-hunt floors
- Good for handbags and accessories
Cons
- Very limited locations after restructuring
- Can skew pricier on premium labels
9
DD's Discounts
Est. 2004
Dublin, California, USA
$
cheaper
Families on the tightest budgets who shop Burlington for kids' and basics.
Ross's deeper-value sibling aimed at the most budget-focused families — basics, apparel, and home at rock-bottom prices.
Pros
- Among the lowest prices in off-price
- Great for family basics and kids
- Good seasonal and home buys
Cons
- No online store
- Brand mix is more value than designer
10
HomeGoods
Est. 1992
Framingham, Massachusetts, USA
≈
similar
Shoppers who go to Burlington mostly for the throw pillows, rugs, and kitchen finds.
TJX's home-only off-price store — the strongest answer to Burlington's growing home and decor aisles.
Pros
- Deepest off-price home selection anywhere
- Great for furniture, decor, kitchen, rugs
- Constantly rotating stock
Cons
- No apparel at all
- No meaningful online shopping
11
Old Navy
Est. 1994
San Francisco, California, USA
Sizes XS-4X
≈
similar
Shoppers who want Burlington's family pricing without the inventory roulette.
Not off-price, but delivers the same cheap, family-wide apparel coverage Burlington offers — with reliable online stock and sizing.
Pros
- Reliable, predictable inventory online and in-store
- Strong size range including plus and kids
- Frequent storewide sales
Cons
- No designer/brand-name variety
- Quality is basic fast fashion
Visit Old Navy
Full guide: Stores Like Old Navy
12
Macy's Backstage
Est. 2015
New York, New York, USA
≈
similar
Shoppers who want a treasure hunt attached to a full department store.
Macy's in-store off-price concept blending department-store brands with discount pricing under one roof.
Pros
- Mix of Macy's brands at off-price
- Convenient inside existing Macy's stores
- Returns handled through Macy's
Cons
- Selection smaller than standalone off-pricers
- Quality of clearance varies
Cheapest of the bunch
If Burlington's prices are what keep you coming back, Ross, DD's Discounts, and Gabe's go even lower. Ross is the national standby with constant markdowns, DD's targets families on the tightest budgets, and Gabe's offers surprisingly deep brand-name closeouts if you're in its Southeast and Mid-Atlantic territory. None of the three offer real online shopping — these are pure in-store digs.
Best for coats and outerwear
Burlington built its name on coats, and a few alternatives carry that torch. Sierra is the standout for discounted name-brand jackets, fleece, and active outerwear, with a genuinely usable website. Marshalls and TJ Maxx rotate strong seasonal coat sections too. If outerwear is your main reason to shop, these beat guessing what Burlington's local rack has this week.
Where the online store actually works
Burlington's biggest weakness is its thin web presence. Nordstrom Rack, Saks Off 5th, Sierra, and Old Navy all let you browse and buy real inventory from your couch. Nordstrom Rack and Saks Off 5th add designer labels; Sierra covers outdoor brands; Old Navy gives you predictable sizing and stock. For anyone done driving store to store, these solve the core frustration.Which Alternative Is Right for You?
Go to Ross or DD's Discounts if rock-bottom price beats everything and you don't mind no website. Pick TJ Maxx or Marshalls for the closest like-for-like treasure hunt with a better brand mix and a loyalty program. Choose Nordstrom Rack or Saks Off 5th if you want genuine designer labels and a real online store. Head to Sierra if coats and outerwear are why you shop Burlington in the first place, and HomeGoods if you mostly raid the home aisles. Want reliability over the hunt? Old Navy and Macy's Backstage give you predictable stock and sizing without the location-to-location roulette. Frequently Asked Questions
QIs TJ Maxx or Burlington cheaper?
They're roughly comparable on base pricing, but Burlington often edges out TJ Maxx on coats and baby items, while TJ Maxx tends to have a stronger home and beauty section. For the absolute lowest prices, Ross and DD's Discounts beat both.
QWhy does Burlington's inventory vary so much between stores?
Like all off-price retailers, Burlington buys closeouts, overstock, and canceled orders, so each store gets different lots. That's why the same trip can be a jackpot at one location and a bust at another. TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and Ross all work the same way.
QWhich off-price store has the best online shopping?
Nordstrom Rack and Saks Off 5th have the most robust e-commerce, followed by Sierra. Burlington, Ross, and DD's Discounts barely sell online at all, which is a major reason shoppers look elsewhere when they want to buy from home.
QWhere can I find discounted brand-name coats like Burlington's?
Sierra is the best dedicated source for discounted name-brand outerwear and jackets. TJ Maxx and Marshalls also stock strong seasonal coat sections, and Nordstrom Rack carries higher-end outerwear labels at markdowns.
QIs Burlington good for home goods or just clothes?
Burlington's home section has grown a lot, but it's still secondary to apparel and coats. If you mainly want decor, rugs, kitchen, and furniture, HomeGoods has by far the deepest off-price home selection, with TJ Maxx's home aisles a close second.
Our Verdict
The Best Burlington Alternative For You
Go to Ross or DD's Discounts if rock-bottom price beats everything and you don't mind no website. Pick TJ Maxx or Marshalls for the closest like-for-like treasure hunt with a better brand mix and a loyalty program. Choose Nordstrom Rack or Saks Off 5th if you want genuine designer labels and a real online store. Head to Sierra if coats and outerwear are why you shop Burlington in the first place, and HomeGoods if you mostly raid the home aisles. Want reliability over the hunt? Old Navy and Macy's Backstage give you predictable stock and sizing without the location-to-location roulette.