You don’t have to be a Pinterest kingpin to find yourself walking the aisles of a Michaels craft store. There’s always a school project in need of supplies or a holiday requiring decorations. So even if you’re craft-challenged, you need to know how to save anywhere from 60 - 90% off at Michaels. This includes being in tune with the Michaels sales schedule, using Michaels coupons, uncovering clearance gems like Michaels grab bags, and taking advantage of what the retailer offers for free (hello, kids craft classes).
Read these tips for saving at Michaels and you’ll be racking up Michaels Rewards and slinging a glue gun in no time. Download the KCL app so we can alert you when there’s a Michaels deal you shouldn’t miss.
Michaels Sales: What to Expect Throughout the Year
From January through December, here's what you can expect from Michaels sales. These dates are a rough estimate because they do mix it up from year to year.
January
Semi-Annual Clearance Event: Dec. 31, 2023 - Jan. 6, 2024 (Confirmed)
70% off Christmas decor, baking supplies, art supplies, kid crafts, yarn, and more
The Big Storage Sale: Jan. 7 - 20, 2024 (Confirmed)
Up to 60% off storage solutions like baskets, carts, specialty craft storage, etc.
February
Valentine's Day Sale — Feb. 11 - 19 (Confirmed)
You'll find deals like B3G3 free strung beads, B1G1 free frames and shadow boxes
President's Day Sale — Feb. 16 - 19 (Confirmed)
Shoppers received an extra 25% off their entire order during this event, including on sale items.
Stock Up & Save Event — Feb. 20 - March 2 (Confirmed)
The Stock Up & Save Event is always chock full of B1G1 Free or B1G2 Free deals on canvases, frames, paints, and the like. This sale even boasted B1G1 Free on select Cricut items (mats and tools).
March
Lowest Prices of the Season Sale — March 15 - 24, 2024 (Confirmed)
Historically this sale offers deals like 50% off all Cricut Materials, Mats, and Tools, Easter decor, baskets, baking, decorating, party supplies, Ashland Spring lighting, greenery, containers, floral, decor, and more
April
Maker Haul — April 14 - 20, 2024 (Confirmed)
Deals like B1G2 free on select canvases, B3G3 free strung beads, plus BOGO 50% off on Bella+Canvas T-shirts, Cricut materials, and yarn.
May
The Big Summer Sale — May 12 - 25, 2024 (Confirmed)
This is when you'll find 50% off summer decor like rattan lanterns, outdoor rugs, garden decor, and other patio decor. If you're looking for red, white, and blue decorations for Memorial Day and Fourth of July, that will still only be 30% off during this particular sale. You'll want to wait for...
Memorial Day Sale — May 24 - June 1, 2024 (Confirmed)
That red, white, and blue decor will hit 50% off during this sale. We also typically see B1G1 50% off Camp Creatology Kits, which is perfect timing for Michaels' crafting summer camp, which starts in June. Additionally you'll see 40% off graduation decor, but wait a week to buy that. It should move up to 50% off the first full week of June.
June
Lowest Prices of the June 7 - 16, 2024 (Confirmed)
We expect deals like B1G2 free select picture frames, shadow boxes, Artist's Loft canvas, $2.99 Gildan T-shirts and crew necks, photo boxes, and up to $50 off select sewing machines.
July
Semi-Annual Clearance Event — July 7 - 13, 2024 (Predicted)
70% off frames, art supplies, yarn, baskets, florals, and more
August
Maker Haul — July 28 - Aug. 10, 2024 (Predicted)
This is another stock-up sale when you can usually get B3G3 Free acrylic paints, B2G1 Free ribbon, B3G2 Free craft markers, pens, and pencils — you get the drift.
Everything to Create Anything Sale — Aug. 11 - 24, 2024 (Predicted)
Find B1G1 free pictures frames, 50% off back to school decor and classroom items, and 40% off fall decor.
September
Labor Day Sale — Sept 1 - 7, 2024 (Predicted)
Halloween decor hits the 40% off mark, plus B1G1 Free picture frames, and crafts at B1G1 50% off.
Lowest Prices of the Season Event — Sept. 15 - 24, 2024 (Predicted)
50% - 70% off categories like wrapped canvas, frames and shadow boxes, beads, and fall floral
October
Monster Deals — Oct. 20- 26, 2024 (Predicted)
Finally — 60% off Halloween decor is expected.
November
The Great Big Tree Spree — Oct. 27 - Nov. 9, 2024 (Predicted)
Up to 60% Christmas trees
Black Friday — Nov. 24 - 30, 2024 (Predicted)
We didn't see markdowns on Cricut machines during Black Friday 2023, but Michaels did offer a free Essentials Bundle valued at $138 with any Cricut 3 or Cricut Explore 3 purchase.
December
The Big Holiday Sale — Dec. 1 - Dec. 6
The Great Big Holiday Sale: Up to 50% off Christmas decor, Christmas floral, Christmas ribbon, garland, lanterns, lighting, ornaments, and party supplies
Seasonal and Holiday Sale Specifics
The Michaels holiday clearance schedule is pretty predictable when it comes to holiday and seasonal markdowns — think of it like a clearance life cycle. It goes something like this:
Items get stocked well ahead of a holiday and start to get minor markdowns shortly after that.
Markdowns increase through Michaels sales until the holiday passes, and then they explode.
Once inventory is very low — it can be weeks, but more likely months — items go into a Michaels Grab Bag (a cornucopia of leftover clearance boxed up and sold for $10).
When is Michaels 70% off sale?
Michaels runs a 70% off sale twice a year — it's their Michaels semi-annual clearance event. You'll see it in January and July. In January they have 70% off all kinds of Christmas decor and kids crafts. During the July Michaels sale there's 70% off frames, art supplies, yarn, baskets, florals, and more.
Halloween
Michaels does it up for Halloween, with decor hitting stores as early as July. But if you're asking when does Michaels Halloween go on sale, well, you'll see it hit 50% off in September. Then it reaches 60% off in October. It won't go lower than that until after Halloween has passed, when pickings are slim.
Floral Department
Never buy anything full price from the floral department at Michaels, because you can always get 40% - 70% off, depending on when you shop. Items in the floral department are on sale at least one week out of every month, except for October. If you can wait for months with 50% off or more, that's ideal!
Tips to Save More at Michaels
Look to coupons, weekly ads, price matches, and more to maximize savings at at Michaels.
1. Shop smart with 20 - 40% off coupons.
While they may not always be the 40% off coupons of yesteryear, you can find Michaels coupons for every time you shop at the retailer. Typically the coupon will be for 20% off all regular price purchases, but sometimes Michaels will drop a coupon for 30% and on increasingly rare occasions, 40%. Notably, these coupons cannot be used on sale or clearance items, nor can they be used on the almighty Cricut. But they still prevent you from paying full price on an otherwise regular priced item.
2. Use the Michaels app to find weekly deals and coupons.
With the Michaels app you'll find the Michaels weekly ad which is organized by department and highlights the current deals in each category at a glance. The easiest way to check out the weekly ad is in the Michaels app (iOS / Android). You can just select a category, like Art Supplies, to jump to the latest deals.
TIP: Tap “Coupons” in the upper right-hand corner and you’ll get to see all the coupons available that day.
3. Ask for a price match at Michaels.
If you see an identical item at Michaels that's cheaper at any brick-and-mortar retailer or any of the online stores listed below, Michaels will meet the competitor's price.
Unfortunately, you can't use a coupon at all — from a Michaels store or otherwise — on top of the price match. So make sure you choose whichever option gives you the best deal.
TIP: Take photos while shopping in competitor stores or screenshot online competitor prices to show a Michaels team member so you won't need to haul around printed proof.
4. Sunday is the best day of the week to shop.
Michaels sales refresh every Sunday. However, since Michaels doesn't give rain checks on sale items, you should hit the store on the same day that new markdowns happen. This helps ensure you get the best selection of sale items.
5. Buy in bulk to save up to 50%.
Shop the MichaelsPro Buy in Bulk website to find mason jars, frames, candles, and more up to 45% off regular price. Here are a few examples of how buying Michaels Pro Packs can save you money — even without shopping during Michaels sales.
Regular: Celebrate It Mini Mason Jars, 12 count, $21.99 Bulk Buy: Celebrate It Mini Mason Jars, 6 in a pack, 12 count, $72.60 ($12.10 per pack) Bulk Savings: $9.89 per pack or 45% off
Regular: Ashland 4" x 6" White Pillar Candle, $8.99 Bulk: Ashland 4" x 6" White Pillar Candle, $4.98 Bulk Savings: $4.01 per candle or 45% off
6. Ask for a teacher, military, or senior discount to save between 10 - 15%.
Heads up though — you can't combine a coupon with these discounts! And regular coupon exclusions apply.
So, the key here is to use your Michaels teacher discount of 15% only when you'd save more than you would by using a coupon, as these discounts are for entire purchases, rather than for just one item.
Follow these steps to get your Michaels discount:
Teachers and seniors, sign up for Michaels Rewards and verify your educator ID (or age) online before you get to the cash register.
Military personnel, show your military ID at the register. The military discount is available for active-duty military, veterans, and spouses.
The discounts range from 10% - $15%.
Not all discounts are created equal. Here's how much you can save if you're eligible for one of these:
Teacher discount: 15% on classroom-related items
Military discount: 15% on your entire purchase every day
Senior discount: 10% on your entire purchase every day (55 years and older)
Michaels employees get a 30% discount, plus you can use a coupon.
You can use your Michaels employee discount even during Michaels sales and events, plus you can use a coupon with your discount. The coupon is still subject to regular coupon exclusions, though. The only thing you can't do with your employee discount is apply it to clearance items.
7. Use Raise.com to save up to 7.7% on a Michaels gift card.
A discounted gift card isn't a coupon, it's a form of payment, so it always stacks with a coupon or a sale.
Sometimes people receive gift cards they know they won't use, so they sell them to Raise, and Raise turns around and sells them to people like us who want them. But the best part is that Raise sells the gift cards for less than their face value. So you might pay $93.23 for a $100 gift card!
8. Free stuff: Yes, you can find some of it at Michaels.
There are some good freebies at Michaels if you know where to look — from free kids craft classes to crochet patterns.
Sign up for free kids' in-store or online events. Kids can make everything from friendship bracelets to seasonal wreaths during Michaels' free craft classes for kids.
Adults can take free online classes, just pay for the materials. There are a slew of Zoom classes for grownups for which signup is free. However, if you want to actually make the featured craft, you will have to purchase the associated materials. Classes range from jewelry making to cake decorating and everything in between.
Get free crochet and knitting patterns. Michaels offers free knitting and crocheting patterns throughout the yarn department so you can make pieces like scarves and blankets. You can also access these online through Michaels' Yarn Library.
9. Use Michaels curbside pickup (it's free!) to avoid going into the store.
Don't want to go into Michaels? No problem. You can place an order on Michaels.com for curbside pickup. When your order is ready, you'll receive an email from Michaels saying "come and get it!" The email includes a phone number for you to call when you arrive. Then, a Michaels associate will bring your items out to your car.
Michaels curbside pickup is available during store hours with a 5 p.m. cutoff time for same-day pickup Monday - Saturday, and a 3 p.m. cutoff time on Sunday.
When you're shopping on Michaels.com, look for "Store Pickup" next to your item. This means the item is eligible for curbside pickup.
TIP: If you place your order before 3 p.m, you'll probably be able to pick up your purchase that same day.
10. And last, but certainly not least, know that Michaels return policy allows returns for up to two months, but no exchanges.
On its face, Michaels return policy seems straightforward. You have 60 days (two months) to return an item to the store if you have the receipt and the item is in new and unused condition. That means the packaging is all intact and you didn't open the item at all.
Without a receipt, the store will try to find your receipt information by looking it up in their database (using your Michaels Rewards account or the credit card you used). You'll get your return in the form of store credit for the lowest selling price of the item over the past 90 days. Your item still has to be in brand-new condition, though.
A little more about that no exchanges policy.
Here's the sticky part — Michaels does not offer exchanges at all. If you want to bring something in and get a different color or otherwise make an exchange, they will make you return the item and repurchase it. You can only apply coupons still valid on that day, so whatever discount, sale, or coupon you used when you first bought the item won't be valid anymore. This means you could end up rebuying your item at full price.
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