Target clearance markdown schedule: 30%, 50%, 70% and 90% off
How Target clearance markdowns usually progress from 30% to 70% and 90% off, which departments mark down when, and how to time your trip.
Target clearance is easy to spot — those red-and-white stickers are everywhere — but timing it is the hard part. Wait too long and the shelf is empty. Buy too soon and you paid 30% off for something that hit 70% the next week. This guide explains how Target clearance usually steps down, which departments tend to mark down on which days, and how to decide when to pull the trigger.
As always: Target doesn't publish its markdown calendar, and stores don't all follow the same schedule. What's below is what deal hunters widely report. Use it as a starting map, then learn your own store.
The short version
- Target clearance usually moves in steps: 15–30% → 50% → 70%, with 90% off mainly for seasonal items.
- The percentage is printed in the top corner of the clearance sticker.
- Different departments are commonly reported to mark down on different weekdays.
- Seasonal clearance (holiday, back-to-school, summer) follows its own faster timeline.
- Use the Target app scanner to see the current price; stickers can lag.
How Target clearance stickers work
A Target clearance sticker shows the clearance price and, in a small corner, the percentage off the original price. That little number is the key to the whole system. It tells you which step the item is on.
| Sticker % | Typical stage | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 15% / 20% / 30% | First markdown | Wait unless you need it |
| 50% | Mid stage | Buy if it's popular or low stock |
| 70% | Usually the last regular step | Buy — it may be pulled soon |
| 90% | Seasonal final markdown | Grab it if it's still there |
Not every item hits every step, and some skip straight from 30% to 70%. If an item is at 70% and not seasonal, deal hunters generally treat that as the floor.
The commonly reported weekday schedule
Shoppers have tracked which departments get new markdowns on which days. This is the version you'll see most often, but your store may differ:
- Monday: electronics, kids' clothing, books, baby, stationery
- Tuesday: women's clothing, pets, domestics/home, food
- Wednesday: men's clothing, health & beauty, lingerie, toys
- Thursday: home décor, housewares, shoes, sporting goods, luggage
- Friday: auto, hardware, cosmetics, jewelry
Treat this as a hypothesis. Visit your store's clearance section a couple of times on different days and you'll quickly learn its rhythm.
Seasonal clearance moves faster
Seasonal items — Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter, summer, back-to-school — usually follow a compressed timeline after the holiday:
- Day after the holiday: often 50% off (sometimes 30%).
- A few days later: commonly 70% off.
- About a week or more out: 90% off for whatever's left, before it's pulled.
The day-after rush is real for Halloween candy and Christmas décor. If you want specific items, 50% on day one is often the right call. If you're happy with whatever's left, 90% is a fun treasure hunt.
How to time your Target clearance trip
- Check stock count in the app. If only one or two remain, 50% may be your only shot.
- Weigh demand. A trendy Stanley-style cup or popular LEGO set won't wait for 70%. Off-brand bath mats will.
- Watch the sticker age. Items that have sat at 50% for a while are good candidates for 70% soon.
- Scan everything. Sometimes the system price is lower than the sticker, especially right after a markdown day.
Clearance vs. a Target price error
Clearance is deliberate. A price error on target.com — a dropped digit or a promo applied to the wrong item — is an accident, and Target can cancel those orders before they ship. Before you order something that looks impossible, run our verification checklist and read Do stores have to honor price errors?. If you get the cancel email, here's what happens to your money.
Stacking Target clearance
A few ways people stretch clearance further, when the terms allow:
- Target Circle offers sometimes apply on top of clearance — check the terms on each offer.
- Target Circle Card savings commonly apply to clearance purchases.
- Gift card promos during big sale events can add value to a clearance haul.
Rules change, so read the current terms in the app before you count on a stack.
Never miss the big ones
We post standout Target clearance and real glitches on our Target deals page. Set up alerts to hear about them first, and check our guide to the best clearance deals online for timing across other stores.
Quick answers
What are Target's clearance percentages?
Usually 15–30%, then 50%, then 70% off. Seasonal items can drop to 90% off.
Does Target clearance go lower than 70%?
For most regular merchandise, 70% is typically the final markdown. Seasonal items often reach 90%.
What day does Target mark down clearance?
It depends on department and store. The commonly reported schedule puts electronics and kids on Monday, women's and home on Tuesday, men's and toys on Wednesday, décor and shoes on Thursday, and hardware and cosmetics on Friday.
Where is the percentage on a Target clearance sticker?
In a small corner of the sticker, usually top right.
Is Target online clearance the same as in-store?
Not always. In-store clearance is often store-specific and doesn't always match target.com.