One of the most highly anticipated seasons of the year is officially upon us. None other than Girl Scout cookie season—a.k.a. those few glorious months when young girls everywhere take on the task of selling some of the most famous cookies ever.
Selling nearly 200 million boxes of cookies a year is no easy feat—but that’s the point. The Girl Scouts of the USA’s mission is to build girls “courage, confidence, and character.” What better way to do that than going door-to-door or marketing cookies outside of local grocery stores?
The Girl Scouts put an emphasis on learning about the real world and its challenges. And, this year, it seems the lesson is one focused on the economy and inflation because many Girl Scout troops have raised their cookie prices for the first time in years.
Girl Scouts Raise Cookie Prices for 2024 Season
For the 2024 season, many boxes of Girl Scout cookies will cost $6 a piece—increasing from last year’s $5 price tag.
Each Girl Scout Council has the power to set its own prices, and a Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) spokesperson says that many councils have "made the tough decision to shift prices." This marks the first major price hike for some councils since 2015, when boxes went from $4 to $5.
“Prices reflect the current cost of cookies and the cost of providing high-quality Girl Scout programming and experiences in an ever-changing economic environment,” GSUSA's website says.
The price increase might not come as a surprise to everyone, as some councils, like the Girl Scouts of Western New York, made the move to $6 during the 2023 season. Additionally, some councils, like the Girl Scouts of Louisiana-Pines to the Gulf, have been selling their “specialty flavors,” including the Toffee-tastic and S’mores cookies, for the premium $6/box and selling their regular cookies, like the Thin Mints, Tagalongs, and Samoas, for $5/box for years now.
"Nationally, the prices can range from $4 to $7. Some specialty products, like our gluten-free cookie varieties, may be priced higher than other Girl Scout Cookies, reflecting the cost of production," says the GSUSA spokesperson.
The new pricing will take effect on Jan. 9, the first day of Girl Scout cookie season, and also be reflected online when those sales begin on Feb. 16. This year, the Girl Scout cookie line-up features all the usual suspects—including Thin Mints, Tagalongs, Samoas, Do-si-dos, Adventurefuls, Trefoils, Lemon-Ups, S’mores, and Toffee-tastic cookies.
One you won't see is last year's newest addition, the Raspberry Rally. In 2023, the Girl Scouts announced they would be placing the cookie on an indefinite pause as they focused on supplying their original favorites.
It’s unclear if the Girl Scouts’ bakeries were unable to keep up with the demand for the Raspberry Rally cookies, as the online-exclusive cookies sold out fairly quickly. However, if you still really want to try them, consumers are continuing to resell boxes of the limited-edition cookies for a pretty penny on secondhand sites.
One look at those prices and $6 for a box of cookies doesn’t sound too bad after all. But, to put the price increase into perspective, a package of Girl Scout cookies, which can include anywhere from about 15 to 44 cookies per box depending on the variety, costs $6, while a regular package of Oreos, which includes about 36 cookies, costs somewhere around $4.
However, it is important to remember that buying Girl Scout cookies supports a great cause and teaches young girls entrepreneurship. Plus, no one can deny just how delicious they are. So, it might just be worth shelling out that extra buck for your favorite cookie.
