There are two kinds of post-holiday people: those who fight off food comas from the couch, and those who hit up the Walmart Christmas clearance sale. It’s not hard to guess which group KCL falls into, since we like to track every upcoming Walmart sale. When there’s a chance to save up to 90% on holiday decor, gifts, and toys for the year ahead, we don’t miss it. I hunt for clearance deals every holiday season at a bunch of stores, and I can confidently say Walmart has one of the best after-Christmas clearance sales out there.
I laid out everything you need to know about the Walmart after-Christmas sale in 2025, and when you’ll find the lowest prices on wrapping paper, artificial trees, and more.
Can’t wait for after Christmas? See all the top Walmart deals you can grab right now, or download The Krazy Coupon Lady app.
Walmart Christmas clearance is an annual multiweek sale where seasonal items get markdowns of 50% - 90% in stores.
Walmart follows a similar Christmas clearance schedule every year, and while the exact date it starts can vary a little, one thing's for sure — the clearance deals always get better as Walmart's sale goes on.
The in-store discounts usually start at 25% off about 4 - 5 days before Christmas, then hit 50% off starting the day after Christmas. But discounts can reach up to 90% by the second week of January if inventory lasts. I'm talking Christmas lights, ornaments, garlands, gift sets, artificial trees, and more at rock bottom prices.
Last season, we saw 90% finds on Jan. 10, 2025. Other shoppers noticed it on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, but locations varied.
Keep in mind that Walmart Christmas clearance isn't the same at every store.
That's the tricky thing about Walmart's Christmas clearance — it's different at every store.
KCL deal experts go to multiple Walmart stores across the country and often find a variety of clearance deals. So there's no guarantee you'll find the same items at your local Walmart — and at the same price and time — as shoppers in other locations.
KCL predicts Walmart Christmas clearance will start in stores on Dec. 26, 2025.
Based on what Walmart has done in previous years, we expect the next Walmart Christmas clearance to kick off the day after Christmas (Dec. 26) in stores, with markdowns of 50% off. In 2024, our KCL deal hunters in Illinois spotted early Walmart Christmas clearance at their store on Dec. 23.
As for the online clearance deals, you may see some pop up on Walmart.com on Dec. 25, but since Walmart stores are closed on Christmas Day, the majority of the in-store clearance deals don't roll out until Dec. 26.
Predicted Christmas Clearance Schedule (2025 - 2026)
Not all Walmart stores mark down Christmas clearance items at the same time, but there's a general time frame you can follow so you know when to make your move:
Dec. 23: 50% - 70% off select items in stores only
Dec. 26: 50% off in stores
Jan. 1: 75% off in stores
Jan. 6: 90% off in stores
Generally speaking, the selection of clearance items gets slimmer as discounts get bigger. So you have to time your trip to the store just right. Last year, KCL actually found more Christmas clearance items at 90% off than 75% off, but we had to visit multiple Walmart stores daily to find them, and that's not how it usually goes.
KCL TIP: Wait for Christmas clearance to hit 75% off before heading to your Walmart store. You'll still have a decent selection of items to pick through, but for less than half the regular price.
Tips for Shopping the Walmart Christmas Clearance Sale
1. Shop first thing in the morning for the best Christmas clearance selection.
When the store first opens, Walmart’s clearance shelves are fully stocked with decor, gifts, apparel, and more. But by midday, most of those shelves will be cleared out. And as discounts get bigger, the more difficult it is to find items actually worth grabbing.
If you want the best selection of items when that 75% markdown hits, head to your Walmart store early in the morning (like as soon as the doors open at 6 a.m.).
2. Buy gifts and holiday decor you can use next year.
To make the most of Walmart’s Christmas clearance, your best strategy is to look ahead to birthdays, holidays, and special occasions in 2024. Why? Because gift wrap and Christmas lights aren’t the only items on clearance. You’ll also find toys, gifts, books, and more that you can buy and stash for a later date.
3. Stock up on clearance gift wrap for just $0.01 per square foot.
Walmart already ties with Target and Dollar Tree for the best wrapping paper cost per square foot (that’s $0.03 per square foot, in case you were wondering). But Christmas clearance deals bring that price down to a brag-worthy $0.01 per square foot.
For example, a 30-square-foot roll of Holiday Time Gift Wrap at Walmart costs $0.98 at regular price, which means you’re paying $0.03 per square foot. But when it goes on clearance for 75% off, that price drops to just $0.24 per roll — giving you a $0.01 cost per square foot. At KCL, we recommend you never pay more than $0.05 per square foot. As far as gift wrap prices go, this is the best you’re gonna get.
I’ve been grabbing clearance gift wrap at Walmart for the last three years, and I’m pretty much set for life.
4. Check Walmart.com for Christmas clearance deals too.
The online markdowns aren’t as predictable on Walmart.com as they are in Walmart stores, but the discounts can get almost as high — up to 75% off. Still, nothing's guaranteed. So I like to think of the online Christmas clearance as a bonus to any deals I find in-store. Basically, you should check out the selection to cover your bases, but don’t dismiss the in-store deals.
5. Use the in-store price scanner to unlock hidden clearance prices.
Walmart digitally marks down clearance items in their database, but employees manually place those yellow clearance stickers around the store. So items frequently get price drops in the system before they get a new yellow sticker. This is what we call hidden Walmart clearance.
As you browse the in-store Christmas clearance, keep your Walmart app handy (download for iOS / Android). You can use the Walmart price scanner tool in the app to scan clearance barcodes and check for even lower markdowns.
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