Price match and price adjustment policies (2026): who refunds the difference after you buy
Bought something and then saw it cheaper? Some stores will refund the difference, some won't, and the rules are very different. Below is what each store's own policy page says. We only include terms we could read on the live official page. Policies change, so check the page before you ask.
Quick answer: who adjusts after purchase
| Store | Price drops after you buy | Matches competitors? | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target | Within 14 days, against Target's own prices | The policy covers Target.com, Target stores and Target Circle deals | Oct 17, 2026 |
| Best Buy | If Best Buy lowers its price during the return and exchange period | Yes, "Qualified Competitors" at the time of sale | Oct 17, 2026 |
| Walmart | Walmart.com: no | Walmart.com: no. Stores match Walmart.com's price | Oct 17, 2026 |
| Home Depot | Within 30 days | Yes, local stores and select online retailers | Oct 17, 2026 |
| Costco.com | Within 30 days | No | Oct 17, 2026 |
Target price match guarantee
From Target's Price Match Guarantee (checked Oct 17, 2026):
- "We'll match the price if you buy a qualifying item at Target and then find the identical item for less at Target.com, in Target stores or with a Target Circle™ deal." "Price matches may be requested at time of purchase or within 14 days after purchase."
- "Screenshots or pictures cannot be accepted." "Original receipts, physical or digital, or packing slips are required for price adjustments up to 14 days after purchase."
- Not eligible if "the lower price is from a different Target store," or if the item "is on clearance, closeout, liquidation, refurbished or is a typographical error."
- Price matching of items sold by Target.com or app prices is "not available in Alaska and Hawaii."
Target's holiday price match dates for 2026 weren't on its policy page when we checked. We'll add them once Target posts them. See also Target clearance markdowns and Target deals.
Best Buy price match guarantee
From Best Buy's Price Match Guarantee (checked Oct 17, 2026): Best Buy matches "the current product price of key online and local competitors ("Qualified Competitors") for immediately available new products sold from Best Buy (excludes Marketplace Products, clearance, refurbished and open-box items)." Also: "If we lower our in-store, online or app price during the return and exchange period, we will match our lower price, upon request." It allows "One price match at the time of purchase, per identical item, per customer." Exclusions include "items for sale at a Qualified Competitor the Thursday before Thanksgiving Day through the Monday after Thanksgiving." See Best Buy deals.
Walmart price match: stores vs Walmart.com
From Walmart's "Does Walmart price match?" (checked Oct 17, 2026): "For items purchased in a Walmart U.S. store, we will match the price of the identical item advertised on Walmart.com. Restrictions apply." "The Walmart store manager on duty has the final decision on any price match." For Walmart.com, it does not price match "prices offered by competitors, prices for items previously purchased on Walmart.com that have since decreased in price, prices available through Marketplace or offered by third-party sellers." See Walmart hidden clearance and Walmart deals.
Home Depot price match
From Home Depot's Price Match Guarantee page (checked Oct 17, 2026): "If you notice a price drop after placing an order at The Home Depot, you can request a price adjustment within 30 days of your purchase." It matches "a variety of local retailers and select online competitors," including Lowe's, Menards, Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy and Target, but competitor items "Must be sold and fulfilled by the retailer, not a third-party through a marketplace-style platform." It does not match "auction, marketplace or membership-based sites like eBay, Wayfair, Costco, or Sam's Club." Items must be identical "(same model, brand, size, and color)" and in stock. See Home Depot clearance price endings and Home Depot deals.
Costco.com price adjustments
From Costco's "Price Match - Costco.com Orders" (published 05/15/2026, checked Oct 17, 2026): "For members other than resellers, purchases that reduce in price within 30 days of the date of purchase are eligible for a price match." For items with specific sale dates, the request "must be submitted within both the active promotional dates and 30 days of the purchase date." "Costco does not price match with other businesses or retailers," and "Costco does not price match Costco warehouse prices for Costco.com purchases." This page covers Costco.com orders. See Costco price endings and Costco deals.
Price errors aren't price matches
A price match is for a real lower price. Target excludes typographical errors, and stores can cancel orders placed at a mistaken price; see what happens when a price-error order is cancelled. Our own rule: price-history checked deals, 20%+ below the usual price, clearly labeled; we only call it a glitch when it's verified. Before you ask for an adjustment, run through the deal verification checklist.
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Quick answers
Which stores refund the difference if the price drops after I buy?
From their official pages (checked October 17, 2026): Target, within 14 days, against Target prices; Home Depot, within 30 days; Costco.com, within 30 days; and Best Buy, if it lowers its own price during the return and exchange period. Walmart.com does not match items that later drop in price.
Does Target accept screenshots for a price match?
No. Target's policy says "Screenshots or pictures cannot be accepted." Show the current price on Target.com, the Target app or the digital ad.
Does Walmart price match competitors?
Walmart says it does not price match prices offered by competitors for Walmart.com items. In a Walmart U.S. store, it will match the identical item's price on Walmart.com, and the store manager on duty has the final decision.
Can I get a price match on a price error?
Usually not. Target excludes typographical errors from price matching. For mistaken prices, see our guide to cancelled price-error orders.
Do you earn money from these store links?
No. The store links on this page are plain links, not affiliate links.