It’s fast approaching the holidays, and if you already have a long list of to-dos, it probably seems nearly impossible to keep track of all the different store return policies — especially their holiday return policies.
The good news is that many stores extend their holiday return policies during the last few months of the year so you can focus on celebrating instead of stressing over deadlines.
To make your life easier, we dug into the return policy details you need to know for easy holiday shopping returns in 2024 and into 2025.
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Here’s a quick look at the stores that offered extended returns last year (2023).
While we wait for stores to confirm their extended holiday returns policies for this holiday season, check out last year's return time periods. We expect stores to offer similar grace periods this year.
1. The Walmart 2024 holiday return policy will give you until Jan. 31.
The regular Walmart return policy gives you 90 days to return most unwanted items. But Walmart has a tradition of extending the window for the holiday season. This year, they'll allow stuff purchased as early as Oct. 1 to be returned through Jan. 31.
This extended return policy doesn’t cover online purchases made from Walmart Marketplace sellers, though. Plus, appliances, some tech items, and fine jewelry have shorter return windows. So be sure to check the fine print.
2. Target usually pauses its 90-day returns clock through Dec. 26.
You normally have 90 days to make most Target returns under the Target return policy, or 120 days if you paid with a Target RedCard, for most purchases like home goods, toys, etc. However, that window gets shortened for electronics (30 days), Apple products (15 days), and mobile phones (14 days).
In 2023, for Target purchases made between Oct. 1 – Dec. 24, the return clock didn't start ticking until Dec. 26, meaning you had 90 days from that point to return most stuff.
For other specialty categories with shorter return windows, these were the extended Target holiday return windows for the 2023 holiday shopping season:
Mobile phones: return by Jan. 8
Apple products (excluding iPhone): return by Jan. 9
Electronics and entertainment (excluding Apple): return by Jan. 24
KCL TIP: If you’re a Target RedCard member, you’ll always get an extra 30 days for returns.
3. The Macy’s holiday return policy is up in the air due to changes this year.
Macy’s return policy normally gives you 30 days to return most purchases. But with their extended holiday return window, in recent years, shoppers have had until Jan. 31 to return purchases made on or after Oct. 2. However, that lengthy holiday return policy was tied to their former (longer) 90-day return policy. This year, Macy's enacted a 30-day return policy, so we'll see if that affects the holiday return window too.
In-store returns to Macy’s are always free, but unless you’re a member of the Star Rewards program, you’ll pay a $9.99 return shipping fee for online returns. Learn more about Macy's Star Rewards.
4. Kohl’s holiday return window usually gives you until Jan. 31 for premium electronics and Sephora items.
You usually get 90 days to make most Kohl’s returns. Some items have a shorter window, though. For example, premium electronics need to be returned within 30 days, and Sephora items must be returned within 60 days.
But last year during the holidays, Kohl's gave shoppers extra time on those shorter-return window items. Sephora items and premium electronics purchased after Nov. 1 could be returned through Jan. 31 in 2023.
5. Ulta’s holiday return window is the standard 60 days.
Ulta doesn’t usually have an extended holiday return window, but you still have 60 days to return purchases under the normal Ulta return policy.
6. Sephora’s holiday return policy usually gives you until Jan. 31.
Last year, Sephora’s extended holiday return window gave shoppers up until Jan. 31 to return items purchased from Oct. 27 – Dec. 1, 2023. For items purchased after Dec. 1, 2023, you had only 30 days to make your Sephora returns.
KCL TIP: If you opt to purchase Sephora products at Kohl’s instead, you’ll be covered by the Kohl’s holiday return window, which last year gave you until Jan. 31 to return purchases made from Nov. 1 – Dec. 25.
7. Victoria’s Secret’s holiday return policy usually gives you most of January to make holiday returns.
Victoria’s Secret return policy normally gives you 30 days to return purchases, but you don’t have to stress about the time crunch for the holidays. In 2023, you actually had until Jan. 23 to return any Victoria’s Secret purchases made between Oct. 15 – Dec. 24.
8. Bath & Body Works has a 100% satisfaction guarantee, so there's no holiday return window.
The Bath & Body Works return policy is already pretty flawless. You can return items to any Bath & Body Works store for a full refund, up to a maximum of $250 in non-receipted returns within 90 days — so no holiday extension is necessary.
Related: Check out our list of retailers that let you return used items for a full refund.
9. Best Buy’s holiday return policy usually gives you until Jan. 13 to return (most) purchases.
Instead of the standard 14 - 15 days you get with the standard Best Buy return policy, the Best Buy holiday return policy gives you a bit more time to bring back certain items.
For the 2024 holiday season, Best Buy has confirmed you have until Jan. 14 to return gifts purchased between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31.
The only exceptions are for devices that need to be activated and holiday decorations — those are subject to their standard return window (15 days for holiday decorations, and 14 – 30 days for devices).
10. Amazon’s holiday return policy gives you until Jan. 15 to return purchases.
Amazon has confirmed purchases made from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31 can be returned until Jan. 15, 2025. That's the same return window as last year.
This was a shorter window compared to 2022, when Amazon gave you until Jan. 31, 2023, to return anything you purchased between Oct. 11 – Dec. 25, 2022 (which covered our Prime Day purchases in October!).
KCL TIP: Did you know that the Amazon return policy lets you make free returns at Kohl’s, Whole Foods, Amazon Hub Lockers, and Amazon Fresh locations?
11. Expect Apple’s holiday return policy to begin in early November, with a deadline of early January.
In 2023, the Apple holiday return policy kicked in on Nov. 3 and covered any purchases made until Dec. 25.
The standard Apple return policy normally gives you 14 days to make returns, but during the extended window in 2023, anything you purchased (or received) between Nov. 3 and Dec. 25 could be returned until Jan. 8, 2024.
The only exception was for iPhone purchases financed through T-Mobile — these were subject to the standard 14-day return window.
12. The T.J.Maxx holiday return policy gave you until Jan. 25 to return.
The T.J.Maxx holiday return window last year gave you until Jan. 25, 2024, to return items you bought from Oct. 8 – Dec. 24, 2023.
Purchases made starting Dec. 26 fell under the normal 30-day window outlined in the T.J.Maxx return policy.
13. Old Navy’s holiday return policy gave you until Jan. 15 or 30 days — whichever was later.
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According to the Old Navy return policy for the holidays, anything purchased between Oct. 15 and Dec. 24 was subject to the extended Old Navy holiday return policy. This policy gave you until Jan. 15, 2024, or 30 days after your purchase/ship date — whichever happened later.
14. The lululemon holiday return policy usually starts in October and runs through mid-January.
The lululemon return policy usually gives you 30 days to make a return. During the holidays last year, you had until Jan. 23, 2024, to return holiday purchases made between Oct. 16 – Dec. 24, 2023.
15. Marshalls’ holiday return policy usually allows returns until Jan. 25
The Marshalls return policy gets a little more flexible during the holidays. Last year, it covered purchases made between Oct. 8 and Dec. 24 last year and gave you until Jan. 25 to make returns.
Last year, anything purchased after Dec. 24 was subject to the standard 30-day return window for in-store purchases and a 40-day window for online purchases.
16. Nordstrom Rack’s holiday return policy usually covers you until Jan. 15.
The standard Nordstrom Rack return policy gives you 40 days to make returns. But for the 2023 season, any purchases made from Oct. 16 – Dec. 24 could be returned to Nordstrom Rack or Nordstrom locations until Jan. 15, 2024.
If you made your purchase closer to Dec. 24, they gave you 30 days after your in-store purchase or 40 days after your online purchase to make your return.
KCL TIP: Did you know you get unlimited time to make returns with the Nordstrom return policy?
Return your holiday purchases in store (if you can) to avoid return shipping fees.
Most retailers lose a ton of money on returns, mostly because it’s not cheap to process, ship, and restock returned items. That’s why some stores charge fees for returns. They’ll deduct the fee from your refund once you send back your online order, and you could pay anywhere from $4 – $11 just to mail a return back.
To avoid getting slammed with return shipping fees, head to the store to make your holiday shopping returns. Store returns are pretty much always free at any store that accepts them.
KCL TIP: Some stores — like Nordstrom and Dick’s Sporting Goods — offer free curbside returns. So you don’t even have to get out of your car to return purchases for free.
Which stores offer free return shipping?
These retailers give you prepaid (aka free) shipping labels for holiday returns by mail:
Amazon (on eligible items)
Nike (it’s free for Nike Members only)
SheIn (free for your first return, then $7.99 per return)
Walmart (not for Marketplace items)
Williams Sonoma (depending on the reason for your return, you may face shipping fees)
Your refund will probably take longer than normal.
If you already think refunds take forever, you’re in for a rude awakening during the holiday season. As soon as the new year hits, retailers are already dealing with more than their normal return load. And as online shopping gets bigger, refund times get longer.
If you’re sending holiday shopping returns by mail, be sure you jot down your tracking number and keep an eye on your return’s progress.
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