Now Kohl’s always has a clearance section, but the really big moments happy during Kohl’s Clearance events when the retailer puts an extra percentage off clearance, like they last did in Oct. 2023.
For a limited time, you received an extra 50% off on top of already reduced clearance prices. We’re talking name brands like Nike, Adidas, Vans, Under Armour, and more for super cheap.
Then you could apply a 15% coupon on select items for even more savings. Just by texting SAVE02 to 56457 (KOHLS) and signing up to receive Kohl’s text alerts. You got a unique coupon code to use on your online order.
For more money-saving deals, tips, and coupons download the KCL app and favorite our Kohl’s page — we’ll send the best Kohl’s deals straight to your phone.
How to Shop Kohl’s Clearance
1. Aim for at least 65% savings. Seriously.
Kohl’s clearance ranges from 50% to 80% off, but most items I found were 55% to 60% off. It’s definitely worth digging through the racks to get that 75% or 80% off tag, though. You may just find treasure.
PRO TIP: If you’re shopping online, sort your clearance selection by “Percent Off” to see the highest savings available.
2. Shop during Kohl’s extra clearance markdown events.
A few times a year, Kohl’s offers an extra 50% off clearance items. The most recent Kohl’s extra clearance event will start on June 1 and will end on June 4, 2023. You can shop online or in stores to score the extra 50% off. The online prices already reflect the additional discount. If you decide to shop in stores the 50% off will be automatically applied at checkout.
Plus if you sign up for Kohl’s Sale Alerts to get another 15% off your entire order. It’s super easy to sign up; you just need to text SAVE02 to 56457 (KOHLS) and you’ll receive an SMS message containing a unique code for 15% off your online order.
3. Expect markdowns to increase by 5% until an item is 90% off regular price.
The timing of Kohl’s clearance markdowns is difficult to predict. I asked a dozen different Kohl’s employees from across the country when their store marks down clearance items, and I got a dozen different answers.
But here’s what I did find: Items that don’t sell are marked down an additional 5% every couple weeks, and they go quickly. That’s why an 80% off deal is so rare to find, but it doesn’t hurt to dig. The highest markdown I’ve ever seen at Kohl’s was 90% off, so it does exist!
The good news is you don’t have to rely on just clearance prices . . .
4. Sign up for Kohl’s Rewards and find stackable coupons for clearance items in your Kohl’s wallet.
Kohl’s Rewards gets a lot of praise — deservedly so — for being an easy way to earn Kohl’s Cash. But there’s another great benefit that often flies under the radar: Kohl’s will send rewards members unique dollar-discount and percent-off coupons every 2 – 4 weeks.
I’m talking 15% off your purchase or $10 off items from a specific department (the department often changes) — or both. It’s all sent straight into what’s called your Kohl’s Wallet. It’s easy to find: Simply click your profile icon at the top of the website, and your wallet is one of the first options you find.
PRO TIP: Check the top of the Kohl’s website for a special alert that says, “Take an Extra 30%, 20%, or 15% off when you use a Kohl’s Card.” If you notice that such a promo is running, check your wallet. There’s a good chance Kohl’s sent you some coupons.
5. Get free shipping by shopping in store and connecting to Kohl’s wifi.
Earning free shipping by going in store at Kohl’s isn’t actually a new concept. For a while, they’ve provided in-store kiosks as a way to shop online without the $8.95 standard shipping fee, which Kohl’s normally charges unless you spend over $75.
Now you can get free shipping when you shop through the Kohl’s app — from inside a Kohl’s store.
I found a pair of boots that looked great, but they didn’t fit. When I scanned it with my Kohl’s app, I saw “free ship to home when in store.”
An employee told me that if I connected to the store’s wifi and confirmed my location, I could then place an order from the Kohl’s app and have those boots shipped to my house — for free. WHOA.
My personal experience is that the deals on Kohl’s clearance racks are better in store than in Kohl’s online clearance section. Kohl’s online clearance currently says up to 70% off, versus stores’ 80% markdowns, for example. I have found a larger clearance selection on Kohl’s.com, but free shipping is essential to maximize savings.
6. Stack coupons, promo codes, and Kohl’s Cash on clearance items for the Kohl-y trifecta.
So, this is the trifecta — the Kohl-y Trifecta — when you really start to see the benefit of shopping Kohl’s clearance.
Kohl’s coupon policy allows for stacking certain Kohl’s coupons, promo codes, and Kohl’s Cash on already-discounted clearance items.
You can always stack coupons, promo codes, and Kohl’s Cash on The Big One items, which is how we were able to save 78% on this queen comforter set with sheets (reg. $179.99).
Buy 1 The Big One Kids Reversible Audrey Rainbow Dots Plush Comforter Set with Sheets (reg. $179.99), $62.69 sale price
Use coupon for $10 off your home purchase of $50 or more (select styles)
Use $10 Kohl’s Cash
Use unique code for 15% off in store and online
Order “free shipping to home when in store”
Pay $3.25 in tax
Final Price: $39.79 (78% savings)
7. Shop the event for 55 – 70% off Under Armour and Nike.
There’s no one brand that goes on clearance the most at Kohl’s. Aside from high-end appliances like KitchenAid mixers or video game consoles, I’ve seen Kohl’s put everything on clearance.
But the clearance prices I check first are on brands or products that are excluded from Kohl’s coupons, such as Nike and Under Armour. When these brands are on clearance, they’re usually around 55 – 70% off regular price, which beats the best sales from competitors like Dick’s Sporting Goods.
8. Look for the yellow sticker on Kohl’s clearance price tags.
How do you know something will soon be on clearance? Look for a yellow sticker on the price tag — this indicates the item has reached the lowest price of the season, and the price of this item won’t drop again. . . unless it gets another clearance markdown.
9. Yes, you can return Kohl’s clearance items.
When you make your Kohl’s return, you’ll get back exactly what you paid for — minus any applicable discounts from promo codes or coupons — regardless of whether you shopped clearance in store or online.
If you used Kohl’s Cash to buy the thing, it’ll be reinstated in your Rewards account (rather than handed back to you in the form of legal tender).
10. You can’t get a price adjustment for something you bought on clearance.
If you buy something from the Kohl’s clearance racks and it’s later marked down another 10%, don’t expect to get a retroactive price adjustment.
While Kohl’s honors price adjustments for full-price items for 14 days, clearance items are exempt from this policy.
11. Stack discounted Kohl’s gift cards for 5% savings on top of clearance prices.
Another great way to get more bang for your Kohl’s buck is to buy discounted gift cards online and use them to make your purchase.
For example, we’ve seen up to 5% savings on the face value of Kohl’s gift cards from Raise.
Kohl’s doesn’t know (or care) that you bought the gift card for a discount, so your savings are built in.
Do you have any tips for gaming Kohl’s clearance racks? Let us know in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
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