Last updated March 31st 2026
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Is Buying a Gun Online Actually Cheaper?
Short answer: yes. Almost always yes. I’ve been tracking gun prices across online retailers and local shops for years now, and the pattern is overwhelming. Online beats local pricing roughly 9 times out of 10. That’s not some made-up stat for clicks. We’ve compared thousands of real prices using our price comparison tool, and the data tells the same story over and over.
But wait, you’re thinking. What about shipping? FFL transfer fees? Sales tax? All valid concerns, and we’ll break all of that down. The good news is that even after you stack those extra costs on top, online pricing still comes out ahead on the vast majority of firearms. We’re talking $50 to $150 in savings on most popular models.
The reason is simple. Online retailers have lower overhead, more buying power, and they’re competing against dozens of other online stores. Your local shop is competing against maybe two or three other stores in your area. That’s not a knock on local dealers. I love my local guys. But the economics just work differently when you’re selling 10,000 Glocks a month versus 10.
So if you’ve been wondering whether it’s actually worth the hassle of buying online and doing the FFL transfer thing, the answer is a pretty loud yes. Let me show you the numbers.
Online vs Local Gun Store: Real Price Comparisons
I pulled pricing on six of the most popular firearms in America and compared what you’ll actually pay online versus what you’ll find at a typical local gun shop. These aren’t cherry-picked outliers. These are bread-and-butter guns that every shop carries.
The Glock 19 Gen 5 runs about $499 online from major retailers. Walk into most local shops and you’re looking at $559 to $579. That’s an $80 gap before we even talk about fees. The Smith & Wesson Shield Plus tells a similar story: $379 online versus $449 at your neighborhood store. And the Ruger 10/22, America’s favorite plinker, goes for around $239 online while local shops typically tag it at $279 to $289.
It gets more dramatic with rifles. A PSA AR-15 that sells for $449 online might cost $549 or more locally, if your shop even carries Palmetto State Armory products. Many don’t. The Sig P365 sits around $479 online versus $549 at local counters. And a Mossberg 500 shotgun goes for about $359 online compared to $419 in store.
Now let’s add the real costs. Figure $25 for shipping and $30 for an FFL transfer fee (which is roughly average). That’s $55 in extra costs on top of the online price. Run the math on every single gun above, and online still wins. Every. Single. One. The Glock 19 still saves you $25. The Shield Plus saves you $15. The PSA AR-15? You’re pocketing $45 even after all the fees.
These aren’t theoretical savings. This is real money staying in your pocket. And on higher-end guns where the spread is even wider, the savings can be $200 or more. If you’re curious about when prices drop the lowest, timing your purchase right can stack even more savings on top.
The Hidden Costs of Buying Online
Let’s be honest about the full picture. Buying a gun online isn’t just “click and it shows up at your door.” There are extra costs, and you should know exactly what they are before you pull the trigger on a purchase. Shipping typically runs $10 to $30 depending on the retailer and what you’re buying. Handguns are usually on the lower end, long guns a bit more. Some retailers like Palmetto State Armory run free shipping promos regularly, which is a nice bonus.
The FFL transfer fee is the other cost you can’t avoid. Your local FFL (the dealer who receives the gun and runs your background check) charges anywhere from $20 to $50 for this service. The national average sits around $25 to $35. Call around to a few FFLs in your area because the prices vary wildly. I’ve seen $15 transfers and I’ve seen $75 ones. If you need help understanding the process, our guide to buying guns online walks through every step.
Sales tax is the wild card. Some online retailers collect it, some don’t, depending on whether they have nexus in your state. But here’s the thing: your local shop charges sales tax too. So that’s mostly a wash. When you add up shipping plus transfer fee, you’re looking at $35 to $75 in total extra costs. And as we showed above, the online price advantage usually exceeds that by a comfortable margin.
When Local Gun Stores Actually Win
I’m not going to pretend online is better in every scenario. It isn’t. If you’re buying a used gun, nothing beats being able to pick it up, rack the slide, check the bore, and feel how worn the internals are. You can’t do that through a screen. Used gun prices at local shops can also be very competitive since there’s no MAP pricing to worry about.
Custom work and guns that need fitting are another local win. If you’re buying a high-end 1911 that needs to be tuned to your hand, or you want a gunsmith to do some work before you take delivery, being face to face with your dealer matters. And sometimes you just need a gun today. Background check, out the door, done. No waiting for shipping, no coordinating with an FFL. Time has value too.
There’s also real value in supporting local businesses. Your local gun shop sponsors youth shooting programs, hosts safety classes, and keeps the gun culture alive in your community. That’s worth something, even if it costs a few extra dollars. I buy plenty of accessories, ammo, and the occasional firearm from my local shops. Just not every firearm.
Why Online Prices Are Lower
It comes down to overhead and volume. An online retailer doesn’t need a storefront on Main Street with $8,000/month rent, a staff of six behind the counter, and a showroom full of inventory. They operate out of warehouses, often in low-cost areas, and they move serious volume. When you’re ordering 5,000 Glock 19s from the distributor instead of 50, you get a much better unit cost. That savings gets passed to you. If you want to understand the full breakdown of how gun pricing works from manufacturer to your hands, check out our piece on how gun pricing works.
Competition is the other big factor. Your local shop competes with maybe a handful of other stores within driving distance. Online, they’re competing with every other online dealer in the country. That kind of pressure keeps prices sharp. It’s the same reason everything from electronics to car parts is cheaper online. Firearms are no different.
How to Find the Lowest Price Online
Don’t just Google the gun name and click the first link. You’ll overpay. Prices vary wildly between online retailers, sometimes by $50 or more for the exact same SKU. The fastest way to find the lowest price is to use our gun price comparison tool. It searches across all the major retailers in real time and shows you who has the best deal right now. Takes about five seconds.
You should also bookmark our gun deals page, which tracks daily price drops and promotions across every major online gun store. When a Glock 19 drops to $459 or a Shield Plus hits $349, it’ll be on there. And for a ranked breakdown of the best places to shop, our list of the cheapest online gun stores is worth a read.
One tip that saves people real money: always factor in the total cost. A gun that’s $10 cheaper at Store A but charges $30 shipping is actually more expensive than Store B with $15 shipping. Our price tool helps with this, but it’s worth doing the quick math yourself. And don’t forget to find a cheap FFL near you before you order. That’s the one variable you have full control over.
Best Online Gun Stores for Savings
Not all online gun stores are created equal. Some consistently undercut the competition, and these are the ones I keep coming back to. Palmetto State Armory is the king of budget-friendly firearms and runs constant sales. Their AR-15 deals are legendary. Brownells has been in the game since 1939 and their pricing on parts, accessories, and complete firearms is consistently competitive. Plus they have stellar customer service.
Guns.com is a solid choice if you want a clean shopping experience with good prices and frequent promotions. GrabAGun lives up to their name with aggressive pricing, especially on handguns. And KyGunCo out of Kentucky consistently has some of the lowest prices I’ve seen, particularly on Glocks and Smith & Wessons.
For a full ranked list with detailed breakdowns on pricing, shipping policies, and customer service ratings, check out our guide to the cheapest online gun stores. We keep it updated as prices and policies change. And if you’re looking for the hottest deals happening right now, our best gun deals page has you covered.
Today’s Best Online Gun Deals
Don’t take my word for it. Here are today’s actual deals from major online retailers. Compare these to what your local shop is charging and the answer to “is it cheaper to buy online?” becomes pretty obvious.
Updated: April 1, 2026 at 12:01 AM EST
We've scoured the top firearms retailers to find today's biggest discounts. Here are the best gun deals available right now, ranked by percentage off retail price.
April 1, 2026
Top 8 Handgun Deals
Top 8 Rifle Deals
Top 8 Shotgun Deals
14,522+ Deals on Guns & Ammo
Browse, filter, and search thousands of deals from the top firearms retailers.
Prices and availability are subject to change. Deals are checked daily but may expire. Links may contain affiliate tracking — this helps support USA Gun Shop at no extra cost to you.
Prices change daily, so if you see something you like, don’t sleep on it. For the full list of current deals updated in real time, head over to our gun deals page.
Another way to save is buying used. Our used vs new guns guide breaks down when pre-owned is the smarter buy. Do not forget about manufacturer promotions either. Our gun rebates page tracks every active rebate program. And for trusted retailers, check our best online gun stores rankings.
Online vs Local Gun Store FAQ
Is it cheaper to buy guns online or in store?
Online is cheaper about 90% of the time. Even after adding shipping ($10-$30) and FFL transfer fees ($20-$50), online prices beat local gun shop prices by $50 to $150 on most popular firearms.
How much do FFL transfer fees cost?
FFL transfer fees typically range from $20 to $50, with the national average around $25 to $35. Prices vary by dealer, so call a few FFLs in your area to find the best rate.
Do you have to pay sales tax when buying a gun online?
It depends on the retailer and your state. Many online gun stores collect sales tax if they have nexus in your state. However, your local shop charges sales tax too, so this cost is generally a wash between online and in-store purchases.
What are the hidden costs of buying guns online?
The main additional costs are shipping ($10-$30), FFL transfer fee ($20-$50), and potentially sales tax. Even with these costs added, online prices are still lower than local shops on the vast majority of firearms.
How much can you save buying a gun online?
Savings vary by firearm, but typical savings range from $50 to $150 after all fees. On higher-end firearms, you can save $200 or more. For example, a Glock 19 Gen 5 saves about $25 net after fees, while a PSA AR-15 saves around $45.
When is it better to buy from a local gun store?
Local shops are better for used guns (you can inspect them in person), custom work or guns needing fitting, when you need a firearm immediately, and when you want to support local businesses that serve your shooting community.
Why are online gun prices lower than local stores?
Online retailers have lower overhead (no storefront rent or large sales staff), higher volume purchasing power from distributors, and face more competition from other online dealers nationwide. These factors combine to push prices lower.
What is the best online gun store for low prices?
Palmetto State Armory, Brownells, Guns.com, GrabAGun, and KyGunCo consistently offer the lowest prices. PSA is especially known for budget AR-15 deals, while KyGunCo often has the best handgun pricing.
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