Don't Get FOMO for Final 90% Markdowns on Target Christmas Clearance

In 2023, Target pulled out all the stops and started their Christmas clearance sales before Christmas 2022. That means you could use the Target Christmas clearance sales to shop for seasonal home decor for the holiday season — instead of using the sale to stock up for 2023. (Though you could totally do that, too!)

Come early January we reach the time of their final in-store markdowns — with savings up to 90%. But shelves always empty fast, as we’ll explain.

Here are all the ways you can make the most of Target’s Christmas clearance prices. Spoiler alert: a lot of it is about timing and using your Target RedCard (there’s even a reloadable debit version of the card now, with no credit check).

It’s especially important this year to download The Krazy Coupon Lady app. When you download the app, we’ll notify you as soon as Target’s additional sales go live.

 

1. Target Christmas clearance sales actually started before Christmas.

Target broke records in 2022! In years past, Target’s Christmas clearance sale didn’t start until Boxing Day (aka Dec. 26).

But in 2022, their 30% clearance markdowns started as early as Dec. 14. Then on Dec. 26, they marked in-store holiday clearance down to 50% off, then 70% off on Dec. 29. And on Jan. 4, 2023, you could find 90% off markdowns on the last remaining goodies on store shelves.

 

Some of our favorite in-store clearance deals at Target:

• Stocking Cookie Cutter – As low as $0.09
• Tree Cookie Cutter – As low as $0.09
• Santa Cookie Cutter – As low as $0.09
• Replacement Bulbs – As low as $0.19
• Angels Gift Wrap – As low as $0.28
• Inclusive Gift Wrap – As low as $0.28
• Presents Gift Wrap – As low as $0.47
• Mini Stocking – As low as $0.47

TIP: Score an additional 5% off by using your Target RedCard at checkout.

 

Online Target deals that we loved:

• Toddler Pajamas – As low as $2.99
• Baby Pajamas – As low as $5.13

 

2. Shop after Dec. 29 if you want the biggest discount.

Here’s a secret: Target Christmas Clearance gets better the longer you wait.

We saw Target holiday items get marked down by 50% starting on Dec. 26. And just as we expected, even more holiday items — like wrapping paper — got marked down outside the home decor section on that date.

The dates were a little messy this year because Target started their 30% off clearance sales early. But Target did more markdowns on Dec. 29, which brought prices down to 70% off.

The final set of markdowns — 90% off — hit the stores on Jan. 4, 2023.

 

3. The best deals do not equal the best inventory.

There’s a flip side of this “waiting” coin, though. The longer you wait, the more picked over the holiday inventory will be — and Target stores won’t restock more. If there’s a specific item you’re dying to get your hands on, you might want to shop earlier, even though the sale prices won’t be quite as steep.

But if you’re okay picking among what’s left over to ready yourself for next Christmas, you’ll find the best sales by waiting until after Dec. 31.

Related: Find out when the popular Stanley Quencher Tumbler restock happens at Target.

 

4. Shop for skin care products during Target’s after-Christmas sales, too.

You know what else goes on sale during after-Christmas clearance sales? (It’s not all just Christmas lights and garland.)

The after-Christmas sales also include those mini gift sets you see all over Target — including in their beauty section.

Target sells some beloved beauty brands, including:

• Burt’s Bees
• Lip Smacker
• Native
• Ulta products

These gift sets started going on sale for 50% off on Dec. 26.

 

 

5. Find clearance Dollar Spot items in the seasonal section.

Target Dollar Spot items go on clearance, too! In some stores, you’ll be able to find items marked all the way down to 90%, according to the sale schedule right there in the Dollar Spot section when you first walk in the store.

But in other stores, you’ll have to search a little differently. Dollar Spot clearance may get moved to the seasonal section. But it will still be subject to the same sales regardless of where it’s stashed.

 

6. The Target Semi-Annual Toy Sale goes into final stages in January — get 70% off!

By the time you get to after Christmas, the Target clearance section has been picked over, verging on the edge of nonexistence. But that doesn’t mean the sales are over.

On Dec. 27, Target launched their Semi-Annual Toy Sale — a couple of weeks earlier than anyone expected! This sale helps the store clear out excess inventory in the toy aisle and typically runs for three weeks:

• Week One: 30% off
• Week Two: 50% off
• Week Three: 70% off

The same principle applies here: you’ll get better prices the longer you wait, but inventory will be more picked over.

 

There were some of our favorite Target toy deals in store:

• Disney Raya and the Last Dragon Surprise Box – As low as $1.64
• 5 Surprise Dino Strike Volcano Series 4 Mystery Collectible Capsule – As low as $1.70
• Puzzle Set – As low as $3.70
• Racetrack Set – As low as $22.79

 

7. You have to wait until Walmart Christmas Clearance for prices to really get competitive.

Walmart’s Christmas clearance sales are not as good as Target’s. But with holiday clearance at Target, it’s all about timing.

The earlier a sale happens, the better it is. But the longer time goes on, the less inventory you have to pick from.

Historically, Walmart hasn’t released their 75% off pricing until two to three days after Target’s 70% off sale goes live. By that time, Target has already marked items down to 90%.

Walmart doesn’t mark items down to 90% until mid-January — which is around the same time Target has already moved on to their Semi-Annual Toy Sale.

It’s not that Target’s discounts are bigger — ultimately, Walmart meets the 90% markdown. But because Target offers these sales earlier, their prices are almost always cheaper than Walmart’s on any specific given day.