When I first wrote this post back in 2016, my oldest daughter was starting kindergarten and I was obsessing over whether those little prepackaged snack packs were actually a good deal or just a convenience tax. She’s in high school now — and honestly? I’m still asking the same question.
Prices have changed a LOT since 2016, so I went back through the BJ’s snack aisle to run the numbers again. Here’s what I found.
Are the Multipack Snacks at BJ’s Club Cheaper?
Let’s get into it. I’m comparing current BJ’s prices on multipack snacks versus their bulk bag equivalents, per ounce. And yes, I’m factoring in coupons — because that’s the whole game.
SKINNYPOP MULTIPACK SNACKS
SkinnyPop Original 100-Calorie Bags, 28 pk./0.65 oz. — $16.99
Use the $2.00 off coupon (clips frequently in the app and Member Savings)
Final Price: $14.99 — that’s $0.82 per ounce
SkinnyPop Original Popcorn, 14 oz. — $7.99
Final Price: $0.57 per ounce
Difference: $0.25 per ounce — this one’s not close.
GOLDFISH CRACKERS MULTIPACK SNACKS
Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Cheddar Crackers Snack Packs, 30 ct./1.5 oz. — $14.99
Final Price: $0.33 per ounce
(No bulk Goldfish bag price confirmed at press time — will update. A coupon does come around on the bulk bag regularly so keep an eye out.)
VEGGIE STRAWS MULTIPACK SNACKS
Sensible Portions Garden Veggie Straws Variety Snack Pack, 30 pk./1 oz. — $13.99
Final Price: $0.47 per ounce
Sensible Portions Garden Veggie Straws With Sea Salt, 23.5 oz. — $6.24 (on Instant Savings, regularly $7.49)
Final Price: $0.27 per ounce
Difference: $0.20 per ounce — bulk wins big here, especially when the Instant Savings is running.
FRITO-LAY CHIPS MULTIPACK SNACKS
Frito-Lay Variety Pack Classic Mix, 50 ct./1 oz. — $23.99
Final Price: $0.48 per ounce
Lay’s Classics & Smartfood White Cheddar, 2 pk. — $8.98 ( you can mix and match the Lay bags)
Use the $1.00 off coupon (clips frequently)
Final Price: $7.98 or $0.40 per ounce (approximate — check your pack sizes)
Difference: $0.08 per ounce
HOW MUCH DO REUSABLE SNACK BAGS COST?
Back in 2016 I was pricing out Glad sandwich bags. In 2026 a lot of us have switched to reusable silicone bags — Stasher-style — which means the per-use cost goes way down over time.
If you already have them, portioning from a bulk bag is essentially free. If you’re still tossing a plastic bag every day, factor in about $0.06–$0.08 per bag which can close the gap with multipack pricing pretty quickly.
CONCLUSION
Nine years ago I was pleasantly surprised that multipacks were only a few cents more per ounce. In 2026, the gap has widened on some items — SkinnyPop, especially, is significantly cheaper in bulk. But for items like Goldfish and Frito-Lay variety packs, the per-ounce difference remains small enough that the convenience might genuinely be worth it, depending on your family’s routine.
My take: if your kids are grabbing snacks on their own, the multipacks earn their keep. If you’re the one packing lunches, buy bulk and portion it out.
I seldom buy the prepackaged items unless I have a MQ coupon to stack with the BJ’s coupon because of the cost, generally. However, I like that the prepackaged stuff doesn’t go stale like every box/container of crackers my kids open and forget to close properly, and they are super handy for on the go. So for us, a little of both makes sense.
I have to agree right now in these hot summer months things go stale so quickly. This month was the first time I decided to buy the prepackaged snacks and my husband is loving it for his lunch. I think we will continue to do a little of both too.