While there are a couple of stipulations that can be frustrating, overall the Old Navy return policy has been relatively fair toward me as a shopper, although they shortened their return window to 30 days a few years back. Today, I’ll show you everything you need to know to help the return process go smoothly. Plus, new in 2025, Old Navy has extended the time you have to return kids' clothes (you now have a year) in certain circumstances. I'll explain it all.
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The Old Navy return policy now gives you only 30 days for returns for most items.
Whether you’re shopping Old Navy online or in a physical store, you have 30 days to return most Old Navy items. If it’s an online purchase, the clock starts ticking for the 30-day return window on the day the item is shipped.
But you have up to a year to return kids' clothes (only in some circumstances).
In 2025, Old Navy updated its return policy. Now, kids' clothing can be returned up to 365 days from purchase. Yes, that includes all Old Navy kids' clothing and shoes (just not accessories like sunglasses or hair clips). Old Navy used to have this policy just for school uniforms. Now, it includes all kids' clothing.
There are a few important rules, though:
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You need your original paper receipt or the emailed shipping confirmation (if you ordered online). Old Navy will not look up your purchase with your phone number or payment card. You need the receipt if you're returning beyond the usual 30 days.
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You need to bring your return to an Old Navy or Old Navy Outlet store.
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You can’t return kids’ clothes for just any reason. You can return for quality issues:
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Holes
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Rips
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Tears
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Excessive shrinkage
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Excessive pilling
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Broken stitches
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Nonfunctional buttons and zippers
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But you can't return for these things:
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Stains
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Misuse
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Changes in size
In other words, if your kid spills juice on the dress, rips a hole in some pants while climbing a tree, or just outgrows the item, you can’t just return it. Whether a rip is a quality issue or a misuse issue is going to be up to the employee when you try to make the return.
Old Navy may accept regular returns after 30 days for store credit.
After the 30 days are up, you can still try to return your item for store credit, but that’s totally up to the associate or manager. So you could potentially be out of luck depending on who’s helping you.
You’ll stand a greater chance of successfully returning your item for store credit if you have your receipt and tags, and if the item is still in stock at Old Navy after the 30-day return window closes. If all of those things check off, you’ll likely get store credit — at the item’s current selling price.
For example, I bought a dress for $17.99, and when I went to return it two months later — with its tags and my original receipt — I ended up getting $14.99 back in store credit because it was on sale for $3 less. On the flip side, if you buy something at Old Navy and it goes on sale within the next two weeks, you can contact them for a price adjustment and get some money back.
KCL TIP: If the item is an exclusive online item, you can’t return it in-store past the 30-day mark. You’ll have to contact Old Navy Customer Service and speak to them.
You can make an Old Navy return without a receipt.
Lost your receipt and want a cash refund? Old Navy employees can usually look up your order via your debit or credit card — just make sure you have your photo ID on hand. The big exception to this is kids' clothes past 30 days (because you're taking advantage of the yearlong return policy). For those, you'll need the original receipt or email shipping confirmation.
KCL TIP: Old Navy tracks your returns to make sure you aren’t taking advantage of their policy. Too many “No Receipt” returns and they could ban you from any future returns.
You can't return worn items to Old Navy.
Even if it’s clean. If it’s been worn or even washed, Old Navy won't accept your return. the exception is kids' clothes. If it's been worn, you can still return it for up to a year, if it has one of the examples of manufacturer damage described above.
KCL TIP: Other stores will let you return clothing items as long as they’re washed and clean. Check out the Dick’s return policy for a good example.
You can usually make Old Navy returns without tags.
Old Navy accepts returns of items without tags, as long as you haven’t worn the item for a full day.
But what if you just realized the fit was wrong after you tried it on for a few minutes while at home? You should still be able to make your return.
If you’re exchanging an item for a different size or color, no receipt is required as long as the item is still in new condition.
Keep the tags on your Old Navy swimwear.
When it comes to returning swimwear, you'll need to have the original price tags and hygienic liner.
The Old Navy return policy prohibits returns on final sale items.
KCL TIP: All mask purchases are considered final sale.
You can return an online purchase in-store.
You can return an item purchased online at an Old Navy store, but you can’t mail back something you bought in-store.
Old Navy’s online return policy offers free return shipping.
Some stores charge return shipping and restocking fees, but not Old Navy. Returns are free. You'll just need to print out the return shipping label (you'll find it in the Old Navy online returns portal).
Beware: Old Navy isn’t always prompt with mail-in refunds.
The good news is that Old Navy’s customer service reps are excellent, so once you touch base, they’re likely to sort things out and get your money back quickly.
Refunds for gifts are issued as in-store credit.
When you return a gift with a receipt, you’ll receive a gift card for the gift’s full amount. But if you return a gift without a receipt, in five to 10 days, Old Navy will mail you a “merchandise certificate” equal to the item’s current price (which might be lower than the purchase price).
Old Navy’s holiday return policy is a little bit looser.
Old Navy has a great little holiday return policy that you should be aware of:
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If you buy an item Oct. 24 - Dec. 24, you can return it by Jan. 15, or 30 days after your purchase/ship date — whichever is later.
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If you’re returning an online item through the mail, know that Old Navy has to get it by Jan. 15 or 30 days after purchase/ship date — whichever is later.
Keep in mind that it’ll take at least five to seven days for your items to reach them via mail, and proof of purchase is required.
You can't return Gap items to Old Navy stores.
The same goes for online orders. If you purchased an item on Gap.com and want to do an in-store return, you’d have to return it to a Gap store — not an Old Navy.
KCL TIP: If you ordered items online from Gap, Old Navy, Athleta, or Banana Republic, you can totally return them in the same packaging. Just follow the online prompts to complete the returns process.
Coupons and promo codes are deducted from your return.
For example, I once bought an Old Navy scarf online with a 5% off promo code. I had saved $6 on my total order — including the scarf.
I decided to exchange the scarf in-store. The promo code was only good online, and I had already used it, so I ended up paying $6 more for the new scarf, losing the 5% savings on my entire order. Womp.
Even with that $6 inconvenience, I still think the Old Navy return policy overall is fair.
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