The KCL team loves treasure hunting during holiday clearance sales. And at the end of every holiday season, we search through the Target Christmas clearance section for all the lowest-priced finds.
Even though shopping for holiday items is probably the last thing on your mind after Dec. 25 comes and goes, you can save up to 90% on gift wrap, ornaments, artificial trees, and more for next year. And at Target, you’ll find plenty of items on clearance beyond holiday staples, like Pj's, slippers, makeup, skincare products, and more.
Even better, the Christmas clearance runs right along with the Target Semi-Annual Toy Sale, which starts in late December and goes through January. This is when you’ll see up to 70% off clearance toys in stores and save an extra 5% with your Circle Card.
To help you score the best Christmas clearance deals at Target, here's the full schedule of holiday clearance markdowns, plus expert tips for saving even more on Target deals after Christmas.
Target Christmas clearance is an annual multi-week event where you can buy seasonal items for 50% – 90% off.
Target Christmas clearance kicks off every year starting in mid- to late December and runs through the first day or two of January. In 2024, we found 70% off as early as Dec. 18 in Target stores in Wisconsin.
Target typically starts holiday markdowns at 50% off, but discounts quickly climb to as much as 90% off by the end of the sale.
Note: Clearance timing can vary by location, so check your store for updates. Most Christmas clearance is gone within 24 - 48 hours after hitting 90% off (if it even gets that high).
Related: Your Complete Guide to the Target Clearance Schedule
KCL predicts the next Target Christmas clearance sale will start at select stores on Dec. 18, 2025.
Target’s Christmas clearance usually follows a predictable pattern, making it easy to plan your post-holiday shopping. But in 2024, Target surprised us with 70% off at some stores as early as Dec. 18 and 90% off by Dec. 30 — throwing the usual timeline out the window.
Nowadays, their discounts tend to start at 50% by Dec. 26 (if not a week earlier), then jump to 70% within about a week. If stock lasts, select items may even reach 90% off by Dec. 30 or the first few days of January.
Keep in mind, not all stores go to 90%. Some stop at 70% and send leftover items to Target salvage stores.
How do we make our prediction?
Target never announces their clearance schedule ahead of time, but based on what they've done in prior years, we expect them to start markdowns one week before Christmas Day.
Expected Target Christmas Clearance Markdown Schedule
Not all Target stores mark down Christmas clearance items at the exact same time, but here's a general timeline you can follow to plan your shopping, based on what Target did in 2024:
Dec. 18: 70% off limited items (Wondershop) at certain stores
Dec. 26 - Dec. 29: 50% off to 70% off (30% - 50% off food)
Dec. 30 and later: Up to 90% off what's left (50% off food)
As discounts increase, inventory gets slim, so timing is everything. While last year we found more Christmas clearance items at 70% off than 50%, it required checking multiple Target stores daily. That’s not typical, but it can pay off if you’re up for the hunt.
KCL TIP: Shop early for the best selection. However, if you’re hunting for rock-bottom prices, hold out until Dec. 30 or later — but be prepared for limited inventory.
The best time to shop for Target Christmas clearance is when discounts hit 70% off.
The best time to shop Target Christmas clearance is when discounts hit 70% off, typically around Dec. 29 - Jan. 1. That's the sweet spot of the sale.
If you shop too early (30% or 50% off), you’ll pay more. And if you wait too long (90% off), it's slim pickings. Timing your trip just right ensures you save big while still finding a variety of items to choose from.
The best Christmas clearance deals at Target are plush blankets, gift wrap, stockings, and ornaments.
Some of the must-buys during Christmas clearance at Target include gift wrap supplies, monogram stockings, ornaments, and blanket sets.
But just because something is 90% off doesn’t mean you always need it. Focus on items you’ll actually use, whether for next Christmas or throughout the year. Last year, we found $1.43 ornament sets (with 20 pieces inside!), $1.43 gift wrap, $1.90 plush blankets, and even holiday-shaped cookie cutters as low as $0.19 each.
Tips for Shopping Target Christmas Clearance
1. Check Target.com for Christmas clearance deals.
Target clearance shopping almost always requires a trip to the store. That’s where you’ll find the deepest discounts for 70% – 90% off. But if you’re still recovering from a Christmas feast coma, you can shop a few seasonal clearance deals on Target.com too.
We’ve seen online clearance deals for 30% off holiday throw blankets, with prices starting at $6.65. Or you might find a small collection of Studio McGee holiday items for 30% off, including faux greenery, pillows, tree toppers, and tree skirts.
2. Buy Target clearance toys after Christmas to save up to 70%.
Holiday knickknacks aren’t the only items Target needs to offload after Christmas. The Target Semi-Annual Toy Clearance runs right alongside their Christmas clearance, with up to 70% off top toys in stores.
You can expect the Semi-Annual Toy Clearance to run through most of January — so keep a close eye on those clearance shelves in and around the Target toy section in the new year.
3. Look for Christmas clearance deals on skincare and makeup too.
All those Target beauty items that make great stocking stuffers also get deep discounts after Christmas. You’ll save up to 70% on products you can use year-round.
A few days after Christmas, be sure to check the clearance shelves and the endcaps of aisles around the Target beauty section at your store to see what’s been marked down.
4. Buy Target gift cards in early December at 10% off; then use them to pay for Christmas clearance items.
The Target Gift Card Sale happens every year during the first weekend in December. It’s a 2-day sale where all Target gift cards are 10% off the face value. That means you’ll save $5 on $50 gift cards, $10 on $100 gift cards, and $50 on $500 gift cards.
If you’re planning to do some after-Christmas clearance shopping, grabbing Target gift cards for 10% off during the sale is a great way to lock in bigger savings. When the Christmas clearance hits 70% off, you can use the gift cards on all your top finds to sweeten the savings even more.
5. Stop by the Target Dollar Spot for Christmas clearance finds under $5.
Did you know that all those low-priced finds for $5 and under in the Target Dollar Spot go on clearance too?
Mini Christmas trees, throw pillows, pinecones, tabletop decor — you name it. Clearance items in the Dollar Spot can reach up to 90% off.
At some stores, Dollar Spot clearance items get moved to the Christmas clearance shelves, but you’ll get the same savings either way.
6. Bring your Christmas clearance finds to the in-store scanner to double-check the price.
Those bright yellow Target clearance tags don’t always show the current price, and some items may be even cheaper than marked. Occasionally, clearance items get a second or third markdown in the system, but the stickers aren’t updated on the shelves.
While shopping for Christmas clearance items, bring your finds to an in-store price checker at Target, and scan your items to double-check the current price — you may unlock even lower prices you didn’t know about.
These are the top Target Christmas Clearance deals KCL readers shopped in 2024:
Here's a peek at what we found during the last in-store Target Christmas Clearance event in 2024. You could even save more than the advertised discount if you paid with a Circle Card.
Wondershop Plush Blanket, as low as $1.90 (reg. $20) — 91% off
Wondershop Monogram Stocking, as low as $0.95 (reg. $10) — 91% off
Christmas Picture Frame, as low as $0.48 (reg. $5) — 90% off
Wondershop Tumbler, as low as $0.86 (reg. $3) — 71% off
Wrappily Gift Wrap, $1.43 (reg. $5) — 71% off
Wondershop Cookie Cutter, as low as $0.19 (reg. $2) — 91% off
Wondershop Gingerbread Plate, as low as $0.86 (reg. $3) — 71% off
Wondershop 12 Days of Christmas, $1.43 (reg. $5) — 71% off
Wondershop Shatter-Resistant Ornaments, $1.43 (reg. $5) — 71% off
Wondershop Metallic House, $1.43 (reg. $5) — 71% off
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