The KCL team loves treasure hunting during holiday clearance sales. So at the end of every holiday season, we scrape through the Target Christmas Clearance section for all the lowest-priced finds.
If you’re looking to score some standout deals, there’s no better time to shop for Christmas decor than in the days after Christmas. Even though shopping for holiday items is probably the last thing on your mind after Dec. 25 comes and goes, you can save up to 90% on gift wrap, ornaments, artificial trees, and more for the next holiday season. At Target, you’ll find plenty of items to buy on after-Christmas clearance that you can use throughout the year, like PJs, slippers, makeup, skincare products, and more.
Even better, Target’s Christmas Clearance runs right along with their Semi-Annual Toy Sale, which starts in late December and runs through January. This is when you’ll score up to 70% off clearance toys in stores — and save an extra 5% with your RedCard.
To help you score the best Christmas clearance deals at Target, I laid out their full schedule of holiday clearance markdowns, plus expert tips for saving even more on these Target deals after Christmas.
When is the Target Christmas Clearance?
The Target Christmas Clearance is an annual event that starts in mid-December (around Dec. 13 – 15) and lasts through the first week of January.
Target starts Christmas Clearance at 30% off, but discounts reach up to 90% off by the end of the sale. We generally suggest waiting until Dec. 26 to save at least 50% on Christmas Clearance. So if you can, hold off until then to score even better deals.
What is Target’s Christmas Clearance Schedule?
The Target Christmas Clearance Schedule starts at 30% off, then goes up to 50% off, then moves to 70% off. Finally, discounts reach up to 90% off if Christmas Clearance items are still leftover.
Target follows the same Christmas Clearance Schedule every year, and you can always expect discounts to hit 50% off on Dec. 26. We generally see discounts reach up to 70% within the next five days, and up to 90% off within the first week of January (if supplies last). After that, all remaining Christmas Clearance items are usually gone within 24 – 48 hours.
Target Christmas Clearance Schedule 2024 (predicted)
Dec. 13 – 15: 30% off
Dec. 26: 50% off
Dec. 29: 70% off
Jan. 4: 90% off
Related:Your Complete Guide to the Target Clearance Schedule
When is the best time to shop for Target Christmas Clearance?
The best time to shop for Target Christmas Clearance is when discounts reach up to 70% off, usually around Dec. 29. This is the third leg of the clearance event and it’s what we call the sweet spot.
If you shop too early (at 30% or 50% off), you’ll miss out on stellar savings. Shop too late (at 90% off) and there won’t be much left to grab.
But if you make your move a few days after Christmas, when holiday clearance hits 70% off, you’ll still have a variety of items to choose from and save more than half the regular price.
What are the best Christmas Clearance Deals at Target?
Some of the best items to buy at Target after Christmas are clearance gift wrap, wall decor, string lights, and matching family pajamas.
There’s a right way and a wrong way to shop Christmas clearance deals at Target. First, just because something is 90% off doesn’t mean you need it. If you have no use for it, even for the next holiday season, skip it.
Focus on the things you’ll definitely need at some point in the coming year, like clothing, gifting supplies, and Christmas decor staples. Last year, we found $0.30 ornaments and gift bags, artificial trees, figurines, and stockings for $1.50, and matching holiday pajamas for as low as $3.
What we found at 50% off in 2023:
Wondershop Melamine Feliz Navi Dog Salad Plate — $1.50 (reg. $3)
Wondershop Melamine Gingerbread Dinner Plate — $1.50 (reg. $3)
Wondershop Melamine Gingerbread Man Bowl — $1.50 (reg. $3)
Ziploc Holiday Slider Storage Bags — $2.49 (reg. $4.99)
Threshold Raffia Tree Figurine — $5 (reg. $10)
Wondershop 49-Piece Ornament Set — $5 (reg. $10)
Wondershop Baby Plaid Matching Family Footed Pajama — $6 (reg. $12)
Wondershop Baby Ski Scene Matching Family Footed Pajamas — $6 (reg. $12)
Threshold Glittered Sisal Bottlebrush Tree Figurine — $7.50 (reg. $15)
Wondershop Adult Buffalo Check Plaid Slipper Socks — $7.50 (reg. $15)
Wondershop 15 Days of Socks Advent Calendar — $7.50 (reg. $15)
Wondershop Kids’ Holiday Santa Happy Face Slippers — $7.50 (reg. $15)
Food Gift Basket — $9.99 (reg. $19.99)
Lindor Holiday Truffles, 17.8 oz. — $10.99 (reg. $21.99)
Threshold Beaded Square Christmas Throw Pillow — $10 (reg. $20)
Jungalow Christmas Oblong Lumbar Pillow — $12.50 (reg. $25)
Jungalow Tufted Cherboard Oblong Lumbar Pillow — $12.50 (reg. $25)
Studio McGee Magnolia Christmas Leaf Garland — $15 (reg. $30)
Threshold Ceramic 6-Wick Wonderberry and Sage Candle — $15 (reg. $30)
What we found at 70% off in 2023:
Wondershop Plush Ornaments — $0.90 (reg. $3)
Wondershop Sequin Tree Figurine — $1.50 (reg. $5)
Wondershop Monogram Stocking — $1.50 (reg. $3)
Wondershop Santa Figurine Decoration — $4.50 (reg. $15)
Wondershop Holiday Bath Mat — $3 (reg. $10)
What we found at 90% off in 2023:
Wondershop Christmas Tree Ornament — $0.30 (reg. $3)
Squishmallows Disney 100 Box Set — $3.99 (reg. $39.99)
Studio McGee Christmas Tree Topper — $2 (reg. $20)
Holiday Gift Bag — $0.30 (reg. $3)
Buffalo Check Matching Family Dog Pajamas — $1 (reg. $10)
Kids’ Holiday Slippers — $1.50 (reg. $15)
Women’s Disney 100 Character Mash Pajama Set — $3 (reg. $30)
Women’s Disney 100 Mickey Mouse Slippers — $1.70 (reg. $17)
Tips for Shopping the Target Christmas Clearance
Check Target.com for Christmas Clearance deals.
Target clearance shopping almost always requires a trip to the store. That’s where you’ll find the deepest discounts for 70% – 90% off. But if you’re still recovering from a Christmas feast coma, you can shop a few seasonal clearance deals on Target.com, too.
We’ve seen online clearance deals for 30% off holiday throw blankets, with prices starting at $6.65. Plus, you might find a small collection of Studio McGee holiday items for 30% off on Target.com, including faux greenery, pillows, tree toppers, and tree skirts.
Buy Target clearance toys after Christmas to save up to 70%.
Holiday knick-knacks aren’t the only items Target needs to offload after Christmas. The Target Semi-Annual Toy Clearance runs right alongside their Christmas Clearance, with up to 70% off top toys in stores.
You can expect the Semi-Annual Toy Clearance to run through most of January — so keep a close eye on those clearance shelves in and around the Target toy section in the New Year!
Look for Christmas clearance deals on skincare and makeup, too.
All those Target beauty items that make great stocking stuffers also get deep discounts after Christmas. You’ll save up to 70% on products you can use year-round.
A few days after Christmas, be sure to check the clearance shelves and the endcaps of aisles around the Target beauty section at your store to see what’s been marked down.
Buy Target gift cards in early December at 10% off, then use them to pay for Christmas clearance items.
The Target Gift Card Sale happens every year during the first weekend in December. It’s a two-day-only sale where all Target gift cards are 10% off the face value. That means you’ll save $5 on $50 gift cards, $10 on $100 gift cards, and $50 on $500 gift cards.
If you’re planning to do some after-Christmas clearance shopping, grabbing Target gift cards for 10% off during the sale is a great way to lock in bigger savings. Shop the Gift Card Sale from Dec. 7 – 8, 2024. Then, when the Christmas Clearance hits 70% off, spend your gift cards on all your top finds to sweeten the deals more.
Stop by the Target Dollar Spot for Christmas clearance finds under $5.
Did you know that all those low-priced finds for $5 and under in the Target Dollar Spot go on clearance, too?
Mini Christmas trees, throw pillows, pinecones, tabletop decor — you name it. Clearance items in the Dollar Spot can reach up to 90% off!
At some stores, Dollar Spot clearance items get moved to the Christmas clearance shelves, but you’ll get the same savings either way.
Bring your Christmas clearance finds over to the in-store scanner to double-check the price.
Those bright yellow Target clearance tags don’t always show the current price, and some items may be even cheaper than marked. Occasionally, clearance items get a second or third markdown in the system, but the stickers aren’t updated on the shelves.
While shopping for Christmas clearance items, bring your finds over to an in-store price checker at Target. Scan your items to double-check the current price — you may unlock some even lower prices you didn’t know about!
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