Target Christmas Clearance: Your Game Plan for Up to 90% Off in 2025

The KCL team loves treasure hunting during holiday clearance sales . At the end of every holiday season, we search through the Target Christmas clearance section for the lowest-priced finds.

Even though shopping for holiday items is probably the last thing on your mind after Dec. 25, 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 pajamas, 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 multiweek 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 those 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).

KCL predicts the next Target Christmas clearance sale will start at select stores on Dec. 26, 2025 (if not sooner).

Target’s Christmas clearance usually follows a predictable pattern, making it easy to plan your post-holiday shopping.

We normally see discounts start at 50% by Dec. 26 (if not a week earlier in select stores), 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 around one week before Christmas Day.

Expected Target Christmas Clearance Markdown Schedule (2025)

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 last year:

• Dec. 18: 70% off limited items (usually the Wondershop brand) at certain stores

• Dec. 26 - 29: 50% off - 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.

How to Spot Hidden Christmas Clearance at Target

Don’t just stick to the main clearance aisle. Some of the best Christmas clearance deals are hiding in plain sight around the store. Check endcaps first, especially around beauty, home, and seasonal aisles. Look closely at items labeled “Limited Edition” or “stocking stuffer,” plus anything with holiday packaging like Christmas trees, snowflakes, or red and green designs. Holiday-scented items are another big clue, even if they’re mixed in with regular products. If it looks festive, scan it. You’ll often find surprise markdowns that aren’t obvious at first glance.

Target Christmas Clearance 2025 Watch List

Based on what Target has marked down in past years, these are items we expect to see on Christmas clearance again in 2025. You’ll often find these mixed into regular aisles or on endcaps, so don’t rely only on the main clearance section. Selection and discounts vary by store.

Beauty and Self-Care

• Holiday-themed Makeup Erasers, often on endcaps in the beauty area

• I Dew Care reindeer headbands

• EcoTools brushes and accessories on endcaps

• Dr Teal's holiday-scent bath salts

• Olive & June holiday nail sets

• MCoBeauty stocking stuffers

• Native and Dove holiday scents

• Burt’s Bees and ChapStick in holiday packaging

• EOS holiday mini tubes

• Tree Hut holiday scents, like Mistletoe Magic and Merry Mint

• NYX Epic Ink Liner in holiday or limited-edition packaging

Food and Drink

• Liquid I.V. Hot Chocolate

Cleaning and Household

• Clorox Wipes in holiday packaging

• Dude Wipes Dingle Bells holiday packs

• Scrub Daddy holiday or special-edition packs

Kitchen and Entertaining

• Dixie limited-edition holiday plates

• Target-brand holiday paper plates

• Ziploc limited-edition storage bags

• Glad Takeaways holiday containers

• Reynolds Wrap holiday Fun Foil

Clothing and Home

• Holiday-themed pajamas

• Christmas-looking throws and sheets found in regular home aisles

KCL TIP: If an item is branded “Limited Edition” or “Stocking Stuffer,” or has obvious holiday colors, scents, or designs, scan it. Many of these items quietly drop to 50% - 70% off before being moved to the clearance section.

Best Deals From Target Christmas Clearance 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

Tips for Shopping Target Christmas Clearance

1. The best time to shop for Target Christmas clearance is when discounts hit 70% off (around Dec. 29).

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 at 30% or 50% off, you’ll pay more. If you wait too long for 90% off, the inventory is usually picked over. Hitting the 70% off window gives you the biggest savings while still leaving plenty of items to choose from.

2. 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.

3. 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 like 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.

4. 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 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.

Related: Our Top Tips for Saving on Target Toys

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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. We’ve seen plenty of Christmas clearance items ring up cheaper than the shelf tag, especially after a second or third markdown.

You May Also Be Interested In:

• Your Complete Guide to Target's Clearance Schedule

• Target Salvage Stores: Where to Find Them

• When to Expect Target's Toy Clearance Sale