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15 Best Places to Get Free Newspapers

By Laurie Blank Updated

Stack of folded newspapers

Updated November 2026

The best places to get free newspapers are your public library, hotels, recycling centers, convenience and grocery stores (ask for yesterday's unsold copies), free local weekly papers, and neighbors or Facebook Marketplace. Most of these will hand over old newspapers if you simply ask. And if you only want to read the news, your library card likely gets you free digital access to major newspapers.

Whether you want newspapers for coupons, packing, gardening or reading, here's where to find them for free, plus tips for getting a steady supply.

Free Newspapers at a Glance

Where to look Best for Tip
Public library Reading, plus old copies Ask what they do with last week's papers
Free local weeklies Reading local news and coupons Check racks at grocery stores and cafes
Hotels Same-day papers in bulk Ask the front desk mid-morning
Recycling centers Large amounts for packing or mulch Call ahead first
Convenience and grocery stores Unsold copies with coupon inserts Ask about Monday leftovers from Sunday
Neighbors and online groups Ongoing supply Post a request on Facebook Marketplace or Nextdoor
Library card (digital) Reading national papers online Look for PressReader or a free NYT pass

Why Get Free Newspapers?

Print newspapers aren't as easy to find as they once were, but they're still useful for much more than reading:

  • Coupons. Sunday papers still carry coupon inserts. (See our guide to getting free newspaper coupons.)
  • Packing and moving. Newspaper is free cushioning for dishes and fragile items.
  • Gardening. Layers of newspaper make cheap mulch and help smother weeds. Shredded newspaper also works well in compost.
  • Crafts, cleaning and pets. Think paper-mâché, streak-free window cleaning and lining bird cages.

15 Places to Get Free Newspapers Near You

1. Public Libraries

Many libraries subscribe to several daily papers, and those copies stack up quickly. Ask at the front desk what they do with older issues. Many branches will happily set some aside for you instead of recycling them.

Libraries are also the best place to read newspapers for free. Many offer free digital access to hundreds of papers through services like PressReader, and some offer free passes to The New York Times or The Wall Street Journal with your library card. For example, the Free Library of Philadelphia added The New York Times to its PressReader collection, and Multnomah County Library lists several top newspapers card holders can read free. Check your own library's website under "digital resources" or "newspapers."

RELATED: 10 Ways to Get Free Newspaper Coupons

2. Free Local and Community Newspapers

Many towns still have free weekly or monthly papers: community news, alternative weeklies, real estate guides and shoppers' papers. You'll usually find them in racks at grocery store entrances, coffee shops, libraries, apartment lobbies and city halls.

These are free by design, so you can take a copy without asking. They're a great option if you searched for "free newspaper near me."

3. Hotels

Hotels often provide newspapers for guests, and many are left behind in rooms, lobbies and breakfast areas. Ask the front desk whether you can take leftover copies.

Higher-end and business hotels are more likely to stock papers than budget motels. If you need newspapers regularly, ask the manager whether staff could set them aside for you to pick up each week.

4. Recycling Centers

Recycling centers collect huge amounts of newspaper. Use the Earth911 recycling locator to find centers near you, then call ahead and ask whether you can take some. Policies vary, so don't just show up and start digging through bins.

5. Convenience Stores

Convenience stores and gas stations often sell daily papers. Once the day is over, unsold copies are usually returned or thrown out. Ask the clerk whether you can have leftovers, especially on Monday for any unsold Sunday editions, which carry the most coupons.

Want more ways to save on groceries without clipping? Try these money-saving apps.

6. Grocery Stores

Grocery stores that sell newspapers may give away day-old copies. Traditional grocery chains like Kroger, Publix, Safeway and Food Lion, and local independent grocers, are more likely to stock papers than big-box stores.

7. Drug Stores

Pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreens may sell newspapers, and some keep papers in the waiting area by the pharmacy counter. Ask whether they have unsold or older copies they'd let you take.

8. Coffee Shops (Local Ones)

Local coffee shops often keep newspapers for customers to read, and many are left behind at the end of the day. Ask near closing time.

Note that Starbucks stopped selling newspapers in its U.S. stores in 2019, so independent cafes are a better bet.

9. Colleges and Universities

Campus libraries, student centers and dining halls often carry newspapers, including free student-run papers. Start at the campus library and ask where else papers are distributed. Local high schools sometimes have extras from classroom projects too.

10. Nursing Homes and Senior Centers

Many assisted living facilities and senior centers provide daily papers for residents. When my grandmother was in a nursing home, there were always newspapers in the common areas. Ask whether they'd share outdated copies on a one-time or regular basis.

11. Family, Friends and Neighbors

Plenty of people still get a daily paper, and some keep stacks of old issues in the garage or basement. Ask the people you know. Many will be glad to clear them out.

12. Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor and Craigslist

Post a request in your area's Buy Nothing group, on Facebook Marketplace or Nextdoor, or on Craigslist offering to pick up old newspapers. People who are moving or decluttering often have piles they'd love to get rid of.

13. Newspaper Printers and Distributors

Printers and distribution centers end up with overruns and misprints. Call your local paper's printing or distribution center and ask whether they have extras. Some also sell or give away "end rolls" of blank newsprint, which is great for packing and kids' art.

14. Salons, Car Dealerships and Auto Shops

Waiting rooms at hair and nail salons, car dealership service departments and auto repair shops often have newspapers. These pile up over the week, so ask whether you can take older copies.

15. Airports

Airport newsstands sell papers, and many travelers leave them behind at gates and lounges. If you work at or regularly pass through an airport, ask a newsstand about unsold copies.

How to Read Newspapers Online for Free

If you just want to read the news, you don't need a print copy:

  • Your library card. As mentioned above, many libraries offer free digital access to major newspapers through PressReader or day passes. This is the easiest way to read papers that are otherwise behind a paywall.
  • Free news sites. AP News, NPR and PBS NewsHour are free to read without a subscription.
  • Free article allowances. Some newspapers let you read a few articles free after you register an account. Check your favorite paper's site.
  • Local news sites. Many local outlets and nonprofit newsrooms publish their reporting free. Search for your city's name plus "local news."

Prefer to buy a copy? See our list of places to buy newspapers.

Tips for Getting Free Newspapers

  • Just ask. Most businesses recycle old papers anyway and are happy to give them away.
  • Time it right. Ask stores the day after an edition comes out. Ask hotels mid-morning, after guests check out.
  • Set up a regular pickup. If you need a steady supply, offer to swing by the same day each week.
  • Respect the rules. Don't take papers from newsstands, someone's driveway or a store's display without asking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I get a newspaper for free?

Your public library, free community weeklies, hotels, recycling centers, and convenience or grocery stores (for unsold copies) are the most reliable places. Neighbors and online groups like Buy Nothing are good for ongoing supplies.

How do I find free newspapers near me?

Look for free local weeklies in racks at grocery stores, coffee shops and libraries. Then call your nearest library, hotel and recycling center and ask whether they give away older copies.

Can I read newspapers for free with a library card?

Often, yes. Many public libraries offer free digital access to hundreds of newspapers through services like PressReader, and some provide free New York Times or Wall Street Journal passes. Check your library's website.

Do stores give away old newspapers?

Many do if you ask. Convenience stores, grocery stores and drug stores often have unsold copies the day after an edition comes out.

Does Starbucks still have newspapers?

No. Starbucks stopped selling newspapers in its U.S. stores in 2019. Local coffee shops are more likely to have papers.

What can I use free newspapers for?

Coupon clipping, packing fragile items, garden mulch and compost, cleaning windows, crafts and lining pet cages are all popular uses.

Sources

Where to get newspapers for free