An Insider’s Guide to the Famous Aldi Quarter Holder

Patty Catalano
Patty CatalanoFood Editor at The Kitchn
The only subject that has ever held my attention has been food, because there’s no end to what you can taste, smell, learn, and cook. I patchworked my way to recipe development and food writing by earning degrees in Family & Consumer Sciences (you may have known it as Home Ec) and Food, Nutrition, and Culinary Science, and working anywhere that would take me: university food services, local bakeries, and the set of Good Eats on Food Network. Early on, I asked my mom how she knew what a cookbook recipe (with no pictures) would look and taste like. While my mom was there to teach me, I realized that not everyone has someone to turn to for trusted cooking guidance. I try every day to be that person for The Kitchn’s readers by sharing smart recipes they can feel proud to serve. Recipe development is the most fun job I can imagine, but it also comes with a lot of dirty dishes and hours spent in the grocery store. I’ve found that I actually really love grocery shopping — especially at Costco and Aldi — and it brings me such joy to share my finds with The Kitchn readers.
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published Sep 8, 2024
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Aldi quarter holders on marble surface
Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe; Prop Styling: Thomas Hoerup

Aldi may not take up the same square footage as other grocers, but this little market is making big strides in the American grocery scene. Aldi boasts the third-highest number of stores nationwide (just behind Kroger and Walmart) and is the fastest-growing grocery chain in the country. That explains why you’ve probably started hearing your friends say, “Oh, I got it at Aldi.”

The discount grocer sets itself apart from its competitors not only by the size of its stores, but with its dedication to selling quality products at low prices. Aldi keeps costs under control by filling its shelves with private label (or store brand) products, staffing just a few workers per store, printing extra-long barcodes on packages, speedy scanning at checkout, and leaving bagging to us shoppers. 

One final, and notable, difference between Aldi and other grocery stores is its shopping cart rental strategy. Shoppers insert a quarter into a mechanism on the handle and, after they return their cart, the quarter pops back out. The “Aldi Quarter” is such a thing, the retailer started making Keychain Quarter Holders.

Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe; Prop Styling: Thomas Hoerup

But First, What’s an Aldi Quarter Holder?

Aldi Quarter Holders are key chains that have a slot perfectly sized for storing a quarter. They come in a variety of shapes, colors, and patterns (you may recognize the beloved gnome below), and each one retails for $1.49.

Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe; Prop Styling: Thomas Hoerup

What’s an Aldi Quarter Holder Used For?

Aldi shoppers know that the stores lock the shopping carts together. The lock can be released by temporarily forking over a quarter, which is then released once they return the cart to the corral. Two dimes and a nickel (or any other combination of coins) just won’t work, which is why frequent Aldi shoppers are known to have a quarter dedicated solely for this purpose. 

The Aldi Quarter Holders are useful for keeping that quarter handy, so that shoppers are always able to shop with a cart.

Credit: Patty Catalano

Where Can You Find an Aldi Quarter Holder?

Aldi periodically sells a variety of limited-edition quarter holder designs throughout the year as one part of Aldi Finds, and particularly during the end-of-year holidays. Look for them in the “Aisle of Shame” or near the registers. Sites like Etsy also carry homemade quarter holders for the same purpose, while others claim that repurposing guitar pick holders works just as well. 

Do you have an Aldi Quarter Holder? What other tips do you have for making shopping at Aldi even easier? Tell us in the comments below.

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Grocery Shopping