The BOGO acronym stands for buy one, get one, and on a store sign it usually means that when you buy one item, you get a second one free or at a discount. Shoppers say it as a word, "BOH-go," and you will see it on grocery shelves, pharmacy flyers, restaurant menus and shoe store windows.
The letters alone do not say what the second item costs. "BOGO free" means the second item costs nothing, while "BOGO 50% off" means you pay half for it. Reading the words after BOGO is the whole trick to knowing what you will pay at the register.
Quick facts
Stands for
Buy one, get oneType
Acronym, said BOH-goCommon forms
BOGO free, BOGO 50% off, B1G1Used in
Store signs, flyers, coupons, restaurant dealsFine print
Often "of equal or lesser value"Related terms
B2G1, OBO, MSRP, SKU
The BOGO acronym, letter by letter
Every letter opens one word of the phrase:
- B: Buy
- O: One
- G: Get
- O: One
So BOGO is a quick way to write "buy one, get one." Stores often add a word after it to finish the thought: BOGO free, BOGO half off, BOGO 25% off. When a sign just says "BOGO" with nothing else, most shoppers read it as buy one, get one free, but check the shelf tag to be sure.
Kinds of BOGO deals you will see
| Sign says | What it means | You pay for |
|---|---|---|
| BOGO free | Buy one, get a second one free | One item |
| BOGO 50% off | The second item is half off | One and a half items |
| B1G1 | Another way to write BOGO | Depends on the rest of the sign |
| B2G1 free | Buy two, get a third one free | Two items |
| BOGO mix and match | The second item can be a different product in the same sale | Usually the higher priced item |
Some grocery chains ring up a BOGO deal as half off each item, so buying just one may give you that item at half the regular amount. Others give the discount only when both items are in the cart. The shelf tag or the store's policy will say which.
Reading the fine print on a BOGO sign
Small words under the big letters change the deal. Watch for these:
- "Of equal or lesser value": the free or discounted item must cost the same or less than the one you pay for.
- "Limit 2 per customer": you can use the deal only so many times.
- "Select styles" or "select items": not everything in the aisle is included.
- "With card" or "members only": you need the store's loyalty card or app.
- Dates: many BOGO deals run only for a week or a weekend.
Shoe store window: "BOGO 50% off, second pair of equal or lesser value." If you pick one pair priced higher and one priced lower, the lower priced pair is the one that gets half off.
Is a BOGO deal always a good deal?
A BOGO offer is a good deal when you would have bought both items anyway, or when the item keeps well, like canned food, soap or batteries. It is less helpful if the second item goes to waste or if the regular price was raised before the sale. Comparing the unit price on the shelf tag, the cost per ounce or per count, is the simplest way to check.
Restaurants use the same idea: "BOGO burgers on Tuesday" means two burgers for the cost of one. Coupons may also say BOGO, and the coupon terms decide whether it can be combined with other offers.
How to say and write BOGO
Say it as one word, "BOH-go," with a long O in both syllables. Shoppers pronounce it like a word, so BOGO meets the narrow definition of an acronym. Write it in capitals, BOGO, with no periods. In casual writing you will also see "Bogo" or "bogo," and "B1G1" is a common space saver.
- "Is the ice cream still BOGO this week?"
- "I stocked up on paper towels during the BOGO sale."
- "The coupon is BOGO free on any large drink."
- "Those shirts are BOGO, so grab one for your brother."
For more on why words like this count as acronyms, see what is an acronym.
Shopping letters that sit near BOGO
BOGO is one of several short forms you meet when buying things:
- OBO, "or best offer," on items for sale secondhand.
- MSRP, the manufacturer's suggested retail price, printed on many tags.
- SKU, the stock keeping unit code a store uses to track each product.
The famous acronyms hub has many more everyday letters.
Questions people ask
What does BOGO mean?
BOGO means buy one, get one. It is a sale where buying one item gets you a second item free or at a discount, depending on what the sign says.
Is BOGO always free?
No. BOGO free means the second item is free, but signs also say BOGO 50% off or BOGO 25% off. Read the words after the letters.
What does BOGO of equal or lesser value mean?
It means the item you get free or discounted must cost the same as or less than the item you pay for. The store applies the discount to the lower priced item.
How do you pronounce BOGO?
Say it as one word, BOH-go. Most shoppers and store staff say it this way.
What does B1G1 mean?
B1G1 is another way to write buy one, get one. It means the same thing as BOGO.