Can you return clearance items? Walmart, Target and more
By Sloane Glitchford, Founder · Checked 22 Oct 2026, 14:52 UTC
What Walmart, Target, Kohl's, Lowe's, TJ Maxx and Home Depot return policies say about clearance and final-sale items, quoted from each store's own page.
The short answer
Often yes, going by the written policies, as long as the item isn't on the store's final-sale list or marked final sale. None of the return policies we read on October 22, 2026 at Walmart, Target, Kohl's, Lowe's or TJ Maxx says that clearance items are automatically final sale. Most of them don't use the word "clearance" at all. What they do have is a list of final-sale or non-returnable items, and a note that some items carry their own return terms on the receipt, tag or product page. [1] [3] [4] [6] [7]
Lowe's is the clearest exception: its policy lists as-is merchandise as nonrefundable, says Lowe's Outlet sales are final apart from a few permitted returns, and says Christmas and Halloween items bought after the holiday are final sales. [6]
We couldn't load Home Depot's Return Policy page when we checked on October 22, 2026, so we don't say anything about Home Depot clearance below. Check that page yourself.
"Clearance is always final sale" is something shoppers say, not something these policy pages say. Go by the store's written policy, the receipt and any final-sale marking on the item.
Store by store
| Store | Does the return policy mention clearance? | Final sale or non-returnable, per the policy | Standard window (most items) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walmart | No | A named list, e.g. firearms, prescription items, trading cards, gift cards, downloadable software | 90 days |
| Target | No | A named list, e.g. trading cards, opened collectibles, personalized items, gift cards | 90 days, unopened and in new condition |
| Kohl's | No | Beverages, opened breast pumps, trading cards, blind-box toys, final-sale Sephora products | 90 days, or 120 with a Kohl's Card |
| Lowe's | No, but see as-is, Outlet and post-holiday items | As-is merchandise, Outlet sales, post-holiday Christmas and Halloween items, plus others | 90 days, new and unused |
| TJ Maxx | No | Online: "some items may be final sale," shown in the shipping email and product page | 40 days online, 30 days in store for a refund |
| Home Depot | Not checked (page blocked our fetch) | Not checked | Not checked |
Source: each store's own return-policy page, checked 2026-10-22. [1] [2] [3] [4] [6] [7] [8] Holiday purchases get longer windows at some of these stores right now; see Holiday return windows below.
Walmart
Walmart's Return Policy (updated October 9, 2026) gives 90 days for most items, with shorter windows for some categories. Its "Final Sale Items" section is a list of named products, such as firearms and ammunition, prescription medications, trading cards, gift cards and downloadable games. Clearance isn't on it, and the return policy doesn't mention clearance anywhere. [1] [2]
The only "clearance" mention we found on that policies page is in Walmart's price match policy, which says it won't match Walmart.com clearance prices. That's about matching prices, not returns. [1]
Target
Target's return policy says most unopened items in new condition returned within 90 days get a refund or exchange. It doesn't mention clearance. [3]
Three lines matter for clearance shoppers:
- Some items have "a modified return policy noted on the receipt, packing slip, Target policy board (refund exceptions), Target.com or in the item description." [3]
- "Holiday & limited-time-only collections: Items may have modified return policies." That matters for after-holiday seasonal markdowns. [3]
- Its final-sale list names trading cards, open or defective collectibles, personalized items and digital downloads, opened breast pumps, gift cards and select Target Plus Partner items. Shorter windows apply to electronics and Apple products. [3]
Kohl's
Kohl's return policy says most merchandise can be returned within 90 days, or 120 days with a Kohl's Card, "with or without a receipt." It doesn't mention clearance. [4]
The detail that matters for marked-down items: without a receipt, and if Kohl's can't look up the purchase, you get a Kohl's Merchandise Credit "for the lowest discounted 13-week sale price." So a no-receipt return of something you bought on clearance may come back as credit at a sale price rather than cash. [4]
Kohl's lists beverages, opened breast pumps, trading cards and blind-box toys as non-refundable, and says final-sale Sephora products can't be returned. [4]
Lowe's
Lowe's return policy gives 90 days for most new, unused merchandise with proof of purchase. It doesn't use the word "clearance," but three parts of it cover the kinds of items people often find marked down: [6]
- As-is merchandise is on its list of nonrefundable items. [6]
- Lowe's Outlet: "Except for permitted returns, all sales are final." The permitted returns are major appliances with mechanical or electrical defects, returned within 48 hours. [6]
- After-holiday items: "Christmas and Halloween items must be returned on or before the day of the holiday. Items purchased after the holiday are final sales." [6]
TJ Maxx (TJX)
TJ Maxx's online return policy gives 40 days from the order date and says "some items may be final sale or subject to additional return restrictions." That status shows in the item details of your shipping confirmation email and on the product page. [7]
For in-store purchases, a refund needs a valid register receipt within 30 days. Returns after that, with a gift receipt or without a receipt get merchandise credit. Neither page mentions clearance. [8]
We read TJ Maxx's pages only. Marshalls and HomeGoods have their own policies, which we didn't check.
Home Depot
Home Depot's Return Policy page blocked our automated fetch on October 22, 2026, so we can't tell you what it currently says about clearance or as-is items. We're not going to guess. Read that page, and ask at the register before you buy anything marked as-is.
Holiday return windows
Several of these stores stretch their return windows for holiday purchases. As of October 22, 2026:
- Kohl's: Kohl's merchandise bought October 4 to December 30, 2026 can be returned through January 31, 2027. Sephora at Kohl's has its own dates. [4]
- TJ Maxx online: orders placed 10/4/2026 to 12/24/2026 can be returned through 2/4/2027. [7]
- TJ Maxx stores: purchases made 10/4/2026 to 12/24/2026 can be returned through 1/25/2027. [8]
Walmart's holiday dates, and which stores hadn't posted theirs yet, are on our holiday return policies page. Lowe's post-holiday final-sale rule above is separate from those windows.
Before you buy clearance you might return
This is our advice, not store policy:
- Look for "final sale," "as-is" or "all sales final" on the tag, shelf sign or product page before you pay.
- Keep the receipt or use your account. Kohl's no-receipt credit uses a sale price, and TJ Maxx gives merchandise credit without a receipt. [4] [8]
- Ask at the register if you're unsure. Walmart, Target, Kohl's and TJ Maxx all say they can limit, deny or refuse returns. [1] [3] [4] [8]
FAQ
Can you return clearance items to Walmart? Walmart's return policy doesn't mention clearance, and clearance isn't on its final-sale list. Most items have 90 days, with category exceptions. [1]
Can you return clearance items to Target? Target's policy doesn't mention clearance. Most unopened items in new condition have 90 days, but some items have modified terms shown on the receipt, packing slip, policy board or product page. [3]
Are clearance items final sale? Not by default at the stores we checked. An item is final sale when the store's policy lists it or the item is marked that way, e.g. Lowe's as-is and Outlet items. [6]
Can I return clearance without a receipt? It depends on the store. Kohl's gives merchandise credit at the lowest discounted 13-week sale price if it can't find the purchase. Lowe's requires proof of purchase. [4] [6]
Take the codes with you
Hunting clearance in store? Grab the free Clearance Tag Quick Card, a one-page cheat sheet that separates what sources report about clearance tags from the myths. If you flip what you find, get the $12 Reseller Field Kit for six phone-sized field cards and a profit tracker. These are our own products. No results are promised. [9]
Policies change. Everything above was checked against each store's own pages on October 22, 2026. Always confirm on the receipt and at the register.
Sources
- Walmart, "Walmart Policies and Guidelines": Return Policy section (official), checked 22 Oct 2026, 14:51 UTC
- Walmart, "Free Returns | Walmart.com" (official), checked 22 Oct 2026, 14:46 UTC
- Target Help, "Returns" (official), checked 22 Oct 2026, 14:51 UTC
- Kohl's, "Kohl's Return Policy" (official), checked 22 Oct 2026, 14:52 UTC
- The Home Depot, "Return Policy" (official), checked 22 Oct 2026, 14:47 UTC
- Lowe's, "Returns, Refunds & Exchanges at Lowe's" (official), checked 22 Oct 2026, 14:52 UTC
- TJ Maxx, "return policy for items purchased online" (official), checked 22 Oct 2026, 14:52 UTC
- TJ Maxx, "return policy for items purchased in stores" (official), checked 22 Oct 2026, 14:52 UTC
- The Clearance Cheat Sheet: Reseller Field Kit on Whop (official), checked 22 Oct 2026, 14:51 UTC