If you’ve been hunting clearance deals at Walmart for years (like us), you’ve probably heard all kinds of price tag hacks — like how certain numbers mean rock-bottom prices or how yellow stickers mean a markdown’s about to happen. But here's the thing: 2025 is different. More Walmart stores are switching to digital shelf labels that update automatically.
That’s good for accuracy, sure, but it's also changing how we spot markdowns and find those hidden $1 gems (and Walmart freebies) we all love.
Let me break down how to read paper tags if your store still has those, how to read the new Walmart digital price tags, and what the changes mean for your clearance game.
What's on this page:
Walmart's paper tags show you when to wait for better prices, but those tags are getting phased out.
You'll still find paper price tags in some stores. And knowing how to read them can save you money, while they last.
Paper tags are handy because they show you the last date the price changed. This is huge for clearance items because most Walmart stores mark down clearance stuff about once a month, usually in the first half of the month. So if you see a clearance item that was last marked down three weeks ago, you might want to wait a bit longer for the next markdown.
Here's what to look for if your store still has paper tags:
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Check the dates — that last price change date can help you guess when the next drop's coming.
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Yellow stickers still mean clearance — if you see yellow, it's marked down.
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Clearance aisles aren't going anywhere — even stores with digital tags usually keep a clearance section with yellow stickers.
The new digital tags are more accurate, but are also harder to read, which makes spotting clearance tricky.
Digital price tags update automatically, usually overnight. So the price you see on the digital tag is the current price, which means fewer surprises at checkout.
But digital tags change our Walmart shopping game in some big ways.
The Good Stuff:
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Prices are accurate — no more guessing if the clearance sticker is current.
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Everyone can see the real price — you don't need to know how to use the Walmart app to know what something costs.
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No more outdated stickers hanging around after prices drop.
The Not-So-Good Stuff:
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Red color blocks are confusing — they mean Rollback OR clearance, so you can't easily tell from far away. (This caused headaches during the last Walmart Toy Sale, when spotting true clearance from a distance was nearly impossible.)
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No date clues — you can't predict when the next markdown's coming.
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Fewer hidden deals — since employees can update prices in real time, you're less likely to find those deeply discounted items that never got tagged.
Using the Walmart app to check prices always wins over any tag type.
Whether you're looking at paper or digital tags, the Walmart app is still your best friend. Signs are usually accurate these days, but if you’re serious about clearance hunting, scan anything that even might be marked down.
Prices can still vary by department, and sometimes the app shows a price drop before you see it in the store.
Some pricing rules never change, even with digital tags.
Walmart Rollback deals are still temporary (usually lasting 4 - 10 weeks), clearance items still tend to drop about once a month, and you still need to check both types of tags if your store has both systems. Those pricing rules haven't changed.
These "Secret Code" Myths Will Waste Your Time
Let me clear up a few Walmart shopping myths that many shoppers still believe are true:
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Prices ending in “1” aren’t the lowest they'll go — clearance can always drop some more.
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Prices ending in ".97" don't mean anything special — you'll see ".97" on regular prices and markdowns.
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Clearance isn't easy to spot anymore — those bright yellow stickers made it simple, but digital tags use red for everything (Rollbacks and clearance).
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Rollbacks don't always beat other stores — they just beat Walmart's regular price.
Yellow clearance stickers might disappear.
If Walmart goes completely digital, those yellow clearance stickers and even the dedicated clearance aisle could disappear.
For now, most stores still have both, but hidden clearance is getting harder to spot with digital signs.
KCL TIP: Since the new tags don’t use yellow ink, you’ll only see yellow if your store adds signage over the digital tag.
You can still hunt for Walmart clearance if you know the secrets.
The real strategy hasn't changed: get familiar with your store's markdown schedule, use the Walmart app to double-check pricing, and never assume the sticker price is the final price. Whether it's paper or digital, there's always a deal to be found if you know where to look.
We put together a full guide on Walmart clearance secrets that shows you how to find the best deals, when to shop for the lowest prices, and how to use both paper and digital price tags to your advantage. Even with Walmart's new digital price tags, these hacks help you spot real clearance items from far away and avoid paying more than you need.
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