Brynne Conroy | 

Lowe's Return Policy: All the Major Rules & Restrictions to Know

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Home improvement purchases aren’t always a sure thing, but the good news is that Lowe’s is one of the stores with the best return policies. In most cases at Lowe’s, you won’t even need your receipt to get a full refund if you need to return something. You can even return (dead!) plants for up to a year, similar to how the Home Depot return policy and the Walmart return policy work.

Even though Lowe’s clearly explains their return policy online, nearly every rule can be adjusted at the discretion of a store manager. I’ll walk you through all the major parts of the Lowe’s return policy you need to know, plus where you’ll be able to get the most flexibility with returns, refunds, and exchanges.

Keep in mind that Lowe’s price match policy is different from the return policy — and it has a shorter timeframe for you to claim a lower price. So in some cases, it may make sense to go ahead and make a Lowe’s return if you’re outside the 30-day price match window.

Want to keep up with all the best Lowe’s sales and Lowe’s coupons? Be sure to download The Krazy Coupon Lady app and add Lowe’s to your list of favorite stores.

How long do I have to return an item to Lowe’s?

customer service at lowes

Lowe’s return policy gives you 90 days to return most new and unused items for a full refund. You can think of Lowe’s 90-day return window as the standard, but like any return policy, there are a few exceptions.

For example, these items have a shorter 30-day return window:

  • TVs and Electronics

  • Outdoor Power Equipment (90 days for Craftsman and Black + Decker)

  • Water Heaters

  • Air Conditioners

  • Liquid Paint

  • Highway Trailers

It’s important to remember that Lowe’s store managers always have the final say — and some managers are more lenient than others when it comes to stretching the return policy.

TIP: If you need to make a return but missed your return window, call your local Lowe’s store and explain your situation to the manager. You might get lucky, so it’s worth a shot!

Can I make a Lowe’s return without a receipt?

a person looking at a receipt in the plant section of lowes

Since Lowe’s can verify your purchase a few different ways, they’ll accept returns without a receipt in most cases. You’ll just need a valid ID and at least one of the following:

  • The phone number on your MyLowes account

  • Your Lowe’s Advantage credit card (if you have one)

  • The debit or credit card used to pay for your purchase

  • Your checking account number

If you don’t have your original receipt or one of the items above to prove your purchase, the best you’ll get is store credit for your Lowe’s return.

Be warned — if you return too many items without a receipt, Lowe’s may ban you from making receiptless returns in the future.

Do I need a receipt for Lowe’s warranty?

Yes, you’ll need a receipt to return an item under Lowe’s warranty, especially if you’re past the standard 90-day return window. Without a receipt, you’ll receive store credit (aka a Lowe’s refund card).

How long do Lowe’s credit card holders have for returns?

hand holding lowes advantage credit card in store

If you have a Lowe’s Advantage Credit Card, you have 365 days to return most items versus the standard 90-day return window. However, the same exceptions under Lowe’s standard return policy also apply to Lowe’s credit card holders (i.e. items that have shorter return windows like appliances, paint, etc.).

What is Lowe’s appliance return policy?

You only have 48 hours to return Lowe’s appliances, and the clock starts ticking as soon as you receive your item. Because of the short return window, it’s important to fully check your appliance for any problems or damage as soon as it’s delivered (especially if you buy Lowe’s scratch and dent appliances).

Lowe’s 48-hour return policy applies to:

  • Refrigerators

  • Freezers

  • Washers & Dryers

  • Ranges

  • Hoods

  • Dishwashers

  • Over-the-Range Microwaves

  • Cooktops

  • Wall Ovens

  • Washer Pedestals

If you leave your appliance unopened and uninstalled, you’ll technically have a 30-day window to return it. But the second you open even the smallest piece of packaging, the 48-hour return window starts.

TIP: The 48-hour return window also applies to golf carts and utility vehicles purchased through your personal Lowe’s account.

What is Lowe’s plant return policy?

Plants are one of the best exceptions to Lowe’s standard return policy. You have 365 days to return trees, shrubs, and perennial plants to Lowe’s for a full refund — even if your plants are dead. The only catch is you need your original receipt.

All other Lowe’s plants (that aren’t trees, shrubs, or perennials) fall under the standard 90-day return window.

What is Lowe’s paint return policy?

a person looking at paint at lowes

You only have 30 days to return liquid paint for a full refund, and you’ll need your original receipt. Your paint also must be in “like-new” condition, but if you received the wrong color or your paint is defective, Lowe’s will make an exception for your return or exchange.

Since you can’t return paint without a receipt, it helps to make paint purchases through your MyLowes account for tracking purposes.

Can I return an item that I already used or installed?

Lowe’s is touchy about returning used or opened items, especially when it comes to major appliances and outdoor power equipment.

Lowe’s gives you 30 days to return unopened, undamaged, factory-sealed appliances, but you only have 48 hours for returns if your appliance doesn’t meet these conditions. You also have 30 days to return outdoor power equipment, but they too must be unused and in the original factory-sealed packaging.

On the other hand, Lowe’s is much more flexible with returning used plants (trees, shrubs, and perennials). You have up to a year to return them even if they’re dead.

Related: We assembled a big list of ways for how to save at Lowe’s.

Are there any items excluded from the policy that can’t be returned to Lowe’s at all?

dead plant being held in front of 1 year guarantee sign in the Lowe's garden center

Yes, there are a few items that are nonrefundable under Lowe’s return policy, with or without a receipt. These items include:

  • Labor and installation charges

  • Delivery and/or Lowes.com shipping charges (unless it was due to Lowe’s error)

  • In-store credits, refund cards, and merchandise cards

  • Lowe’s gift cards, third-party gift cards, and prepaid cards from Visa or Mastercard

  • Safety masks or facial coverings of any kind

What is Lowe’s return policy for gift cards?

Like we talked about above, Lowe’s return policy doesn’t extend to gift cards — at all. But that’s similar to how other stores treat sales of gift cards as final.

Can I return a Lowes.com purchase to the store?

A Lowes return receipt and a thankful sign held in front of Lowes

Yes, you can return items you bought online to a physical Lowe’s store.

In fact, if you bought any of these items online, you must return them to the store — you can’t mail them back for a refund:

  • Anything with a lithium battery

  • Flammable gas and liquids

  • Any other hazardous material

Does Lowe’s charge for return shipping?

Lowe’s offers free return shipping, so you won’t have to pay an added fee to return an item by mail.

How to mail a Lowe’s return:

  1. Sign in to your MyLowes account.

  2. Select “Order History” and the item you’d like to return.

  3. Print your return label and place it on your packaged return.

  4. Drop your return package off at the post office (or hand it to your mail carrier).

In-store returns at Lowe’s are free, too — and you’ll get your refund much quicker (typically a week or two sooner than you will with mailed returns).

Does Lowe’s charge restocking fees?

a person looking at the washer and dryers at Lowe's

Most of the time, Lowe’s does not charge restocking fees. One of the only instances where you’ll find one is if you’re returning a configured product that was a special order (like appliances, lighting, particular bath features, hardware, etc.). In those cases, if you return or exchange the item after 72 hours, you’ll be charged a 20% restocking fee.

What if my online order arrived damaged?

You have 90 days to make returns for most items, but technically, if your Lowes.com order arrived damaged or incomplete, you’re supposed to report it within 3 days. Doing so ensures you get your shipping fees refunded. And in the case of missing items, reporting the mistake can be the difference between getting the refund or not getting the refund at all.

You can report this type of incident by calling Lowe’s customer service at (800) 445-6937.

How do I contact Lowe’s customer service?

You can call Lowe’s customer service at (800) 445-6937 from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET. However, if you’re calling about a warranty issue, the lines are open until midnight at (888) 775-6937.

Can I return items to a Lowe’s Outlet store?

A Lowes Outlet store front with a rental truck parked in the parking lot

If you buy a discounted item at a Lowe’s Outlet store location, remember that your purchase isn’t covered by the standard Lowe’s return policy.

According to their website, most purchases from an Outlet location are final and may never be returned. If your item has mechanical or electrical damage or defects, though, the return may be allowed — but it’s not going to be possible for any cosmetic damage you find. So if you notice any mechanical or electrical damage, act fast. You’ll need to bring the item back within 48 hours, and you’ll need your receipt.

Also, you can’t return something you bought at a regular Lowe’s location to an outlet store. The two return policies don’t mix.

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