The Holiday Return Policies of Every Major Retailer (2025 - 26)

If you already have a long after-holiday to-do list, it probably seems nearly impossible to keep track of all the different store return policies.

The good news is that many stores extend their holiday return policies beyond the usual 30 days to a couple months (in some cases). In other words, you get a grace period to return stuff you bought during the holiday shopping season. Check out the return policies of major stores below for the 2025 - 26 shopping season.

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Major Stores With Extended Return Windows

Walmart

• Deadline: Jan. 31, 2026

• Purchase Window: Oct. 1 - Dec. 31, 2025

• More Details: This extended Walmart return policy doesn’t cover online purchases made from Walmart Marketplace sellers. Plus, appliances, some tech items, and fine jewelry have shorter return windows. So be sure to check the fine print.

Target

• Deadline: Jan. 24, 2026, for most purchases; Jan. 8, 2026, for Apple products.

• Purchase Window: Nov. 1 - Dec. 24

• More Details: Target-owned brands can be returned for up to a year. These include Cat and Jack, Spritz, Up & Up, Wondershop, and more Target brands.

Amazon

• Deadline: Jan. 31, 2026, for most items; Jan. 15, 2026, for Apple products

• Purchase Window: Nov. 1 - Dec. 31

• More Details: Amazon has many free return drop-off locations, including Kohl's and Whole Foods stores. You don't even need to pack up your items.

Best Buy

• Deadline: Jan. 15, 2026, for most purchases; Jan. 31, 2026, for Best Buy Plus and Total members

• Purchase Window: Oct. 31 - Dec. 31

• More Details: Activatable devices still must be returned within 14 days of purchase.

Related: Check out our list of retailers that let you return used items for a full refund .

Department Stores and Specialty Retailers

Macy's

• Deadline: Jan. 31, 2026

• Purchase Window: Oct. 6 - Dec. 31, 2025

• More Details: Last Act merchandise isn't included in this extended return policy. Dyson merchandise is also excluded. Non-Star Rewards members will be charged a $9.99 return shipping fee for mailed returns.

Kohl's

• Deadline: Jan. 31, 2026

• Purchase Window: Oct. 5 - 31, 2025

• More Details: Yes, those "purchase window" dates above are correct; only purchases made in October get extended returns. For everything else, the regular 90-day return policy is in effect. Sephora at Kohl's items have their own return policy: Purchases made between Oct. 5 - Dec. 30, 2025, can be returned through Jan. 31.

T.J.Maxx

• Deadline: Jan. 25, 2026

• Purchase Window: Oct. 5 - Dec. 24, 2025

• More Details: Mailed returns cost $11.99, but you can return for free at the store. You must return at T.J.Maxx; you can't bring your returns to a sister brand, such as Marshalls.

Marshalls

• Deadline: Feb. 4, 2026

• Purchase Window: Oct. 5 - Dec. 24, 2025

• More Details: If you buy from Marshalls, you must return at Marshalls. You can't return at any of their sister brands, such as T.J.Maxx.

JCPenney

• Deadline: Jan. 31, 2026

• Purchase Window: Oct. 1 - Dec. 31, 2025

• More Details: No receipt? You can ask for a Merchandise Return Voucher, which essentially gives you store credit (for the value of the item's lowest selling price in the last 45 days).

Nordstrom Rack

• Deadline: For in-store purchases, it's Jan. 15, 2026, or 30 days from purchase (in-store), whichever is later. For online purchases, it's Jan. 15, 2026, or 40 days after purchase, whichever is later.

• Purchase Window: Oct. 6 - Dec. 24

• More Details: If you miss the return deadline, Nordstrom can still accept the return at their discretion and might give you 50% of the original sale

Apple

• Deadline: Jan. 8, 2026

• Purchase Window: Nov. 12 - Dec. 25, 2025

• More Details: If this deadline seems early, remember that Apple's usual return window is 14 days from purchase.

Fashion and Beauty Retailers

Sephora

• Deadline: Jan. 30, 2026

• Purchase Window: Oct. 31 - Dec. 30, 2025.

• More Details: This is an improvement over last year, when the purchase window cut off Dec. 1.

Ulta

• Deadline: Jan. 31

• Purchase Window: Nov. 1 - Dec. 31

• More Details: The Ulta Beauty x Mini Brands Advent calendars aren't eligible for returns.

Old Navy

• Deadline: Jan. 15

• Purchase Window: Oct. 15 - Dec. 24

• More Details: You have to make your return with Old Navy. Don't try to return Old Navy items at Gap, Banana Republic, or any sister stores.

lululemon

• Deadline: Jan. 22, 2026

• Purchase Window: Oct. 20 - Dec. 24, 2025

• More Details: Just need another size? Go in-store to ask for an exchange, no receipt needed.

Victoria's Secret

• Deadline: Jan. 31, 2026

• Purchase Window: Oct. 29 - Dec. 24, 2025

• More Details: Missed the return deadline? You can ask for an exchange, at Victoria Secret's discretion.

How 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.

Still prefer to mail in your return? These retailers give you prepaid (aka free) shipping labels for holiday returns by mail:

• Amazon (on eligible items)

• Apple

• Banana Republic

• Best Buy

• Chewy

• Costco

• Home Depot

• Lowe’s

• Nike (it’s free for Nike Members only)

• Nordstrom

• Old Navy

• Shein (free for your first return, then $7.99 per return)

• Target

• Walmart (not for Marketplace items)

• Williams Sonoma (depending on the reason for your return, you may face shipping fees)

• Zappos

You May Also Be Interested In:

• Stores With the Best Return Policies

• How to Make Easy (And Free) Amazon Returns

• Stores That Let You Just Keep Returns and Still Give You a Refund