Everything You Need to Know About Holiday Shopping and Returns at Your Favorite Stores

Every holiday shopping season, Amazon, Target, Best Buy, Walmart, and countless other retailers compete for your dollars. But great deals aren’t the only thing to look for. A generous return policy and extended return windows can make all the difference for both you and your giftee — because what you get often has to go back. We’ve rounded up some of your favorite retailer’s holiday shopping and return policies to take a bit of the guesswork out of getting exactly what you want this year.

Store policies may vary by location and exclusions apply.

Related: Store Return Policies for Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy & More

Amazon

Holiday return window: Most items shipped between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31 can be returned through Jan. 31, 2021.
Standard return window: 30 days for most items
Gift return policy: Amazon credit with a gift receipt; no exchanges or instant refunds
Free return shipping: On eligible items

See full return policy.

Related: The Top Items Our Readers Have Bought on Amazon This Holiday Season

Apple Store

Holiday return window: Items received between Nov. 10 and Dec. 25 can be returned through Jan. 8, 2021.
Standard return window: 14 days
Gift return policy: Apple gift card with a gift receipt, serial number, or order number
Free return shipping: Yes

See full return policy.

Barnes & Noble

Holiday return window: Items purchased between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31 can be returned through Jan. 31, 2021.
Standard return window: 30 days for most items
Gift return policy: 60 days with a gift receipt for store credit or a gift card
Free return shipping: No

See full return policy.

Related: Clever and Creative Gifts for Book Lovers

Bath & Body Works

Standard return window: Anytime
Gift return policy: Exchange or store credit with a gift receipt; without a receipt, exchange or credit (for the lowest selling price, subject to applicable promotions) at the store’s discretion
Free return shipping: No

See full return policy.

Best Buy

Holiday return window: Qualifying items purchased between Oct. 13, 2020 and Jan. 2, 2021 can be returned through Jan. 16, 2021. For purchases made Dec. 3 or later, Elite Plus members have 45 days for returns. Elite members have 30 days to return purchases made Dec. 18 or later. Cell phones and major appliances excluded.
Standard return window: 15 days for most items (30 days for Elite members; 45 days for Elite Plus members)
Gift return policy: Merchandise credit with a gift receipt in store; refund credited to purchaser’s account for returns by mail
Free return shipping: Yes (exceptions apply)

See full return policy.

Cabela’s

Standard return window: 60 days
Gift return policy: Exchange or store credit with a gift receipt (in store or online)
Free return shipping: Free for exchanges; $7.50 with prepaid label if returning for refund

See full return policy.

Costco

Standard return window: Anytime for most items
Gift return policy: Costco Shop Card with gift receipt
Free return shipping: Yes

See full return policy.

Related: Amazing Gift Card Deals From Costco and Sam’s Club

Foot Locker

Foot Locker Extended Return Policy For 2020 Covid-19 Closures: Online or in-store purchases made after Feb. 1, 2020 can be returned up to 30 days after stores reopen.
Standard return window: 45 days
Gift return policy: Exchange or store credit only with a gift receipt
Free return shipping: $6.99 with prepaid label, unless item is defective

See full return policy.

GameStop

Holiday return window: Items purchased between Nov. 1 and Dec. 24 can be returned through Jan. 15, 2021.
Standard return window: 30 days for most items
Gift return policy: Exchange or store credit with a gift receipt (in-store or online)
Free return shipping: Yes

See full return policy.

Gap/Old Navy/Banana Republic

Holiday return window: Items purchased between Nov. 1 and Dec. 24 can be returned through Jan. 18, 2021, or up to 45 days after purchase, whichever is later. Online returns must be received by Jan. 18 or 45 days after purchase.
Standard return window: 45 days
Gift return policy: Gift card with a gift receipt (in-store or online); without a receipt, merchandise credit (for the current selling price) via mail
Free return shipping: Yes

See full return policy.

Home Depot

Standard return window: 180 days for most items (365 days with a Home Depot credit account)
Gift return policy: Gift card with a gift receipt (in-store or online)
Free return shipping: Yes

See full return policy.

JCPenney

Standard return window: Anytime for most items, exceptions apply
Gift return policy: Exchange or gift card with a gift receipt
Free return shipping: No

See full return policy.

Kmart

Standard return window: 30 days for most items
Gift return policy: Exchange or gift card with a gift receipt
Free return shipping: No

See full return policy.

Kohl’s

Holiday return window: Premium electronics purchased between Nov. 1 and Dec. 25 can be returned through Jan. 31, 2021.

Kohl’s Extended Return Policy For 2020 Covid-19 Closures: 180-day return policy extended until up to 30 days after stores reopen.

Standard return window: 180 days for most items (30 days for premium electronics)Gift return policy: Merchandise credit with a gift receiptFree return shipping: No

See full return policy.

L.L.Bean

Standard return window: 365 days
Gift return policy: Merchandise credit with a gift receipt
Free return shipping: $6.50 with prepaid label; free for L.L.Bean Mastercard holders

See full return policy.

Related: Stores With Comfortable Clothes That You Can Wear for Years

Lowe’s

Standard return window: 90 days for most items
Gift return policy: N/A
Free return shipping: Yes

See full return policy.

Macy’s

Holiday return window: Items purchased between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31 can be returned through Jan. 31, 2021 or last date allowed under applicable return policy, whichever is later. Apple products, tech accessories and tech watches, Last Act merchandise, furniture, mattresses, area rugs, lighting, designer merchandise, vendor-direct merchandise, Bluemercury merchandise, Macy’s Beauty Box, food and beverage, and Macy’s Optical items are excluded.
Standard return window: 90 days; exceptions apply
Gift return policy: Merchandise credit with a gift receipt
Free return shipping: Yes

See full return policy.

Nordstrom

Standard return window: Anytime
Gift return policy: Gift card for full amount with a gift receipt and for current price without
Free return shipping: Yes

See full return policy.

Overstock

Holiday return window: For items purchased between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31, returns can be initiated through Jan. 31, 2021, or within 30 days of delivery, whichever is later.
Standard return window: 30 days
Gift return policy: N/A
Free return shipping: No

See full return policy.

Sears

Holiday return window: Items received between Nov. 10 and Dec. 25 can be returned through Jan. 8, 2021.
Standard return window: 30 days for most items, 45 days for standard returns, and 30 days for items with delivery or installation for Shop Your Way members. Exceptions apply.
Gift return policy: Exchange or gift card with a gift receipt
Free return shipping: No

See full return policy.

Target

Holiday return window: For electronics and entertainment products (excluding Apple products) purchased between Oct. 1 and Dec. 25, the 30-day return window begins on Dec. 26. Apple products (with the exception of mobile phones) purchased during this time period can be returned for up to 15 days following Dec. 26.
Standard return window: 90 days for most items (120 days for most Target RedCard purchases)
Gift return policy: Gift card with a gift receipt or merchandise return card (for in-store use only) without
Free return shipping: Yes

See full return policy.

Victoria’s Secret

Holiday return window: Items purchased between Nov. 22 and Dec. 24 can be returned for up to 120 days from the date of sale.
Standard return window: 90 days
Gift return policy: Exchange or merchandise credit with a gift receipt (in-store purchases can be returned only in-store)
Free return shipping: Yes

See full return policy.

Related: These Catalogs Defined Shopping for Generations — and Now They’re Mostly Gone

Walmart

Holiday return window: For items purchased between Oct. 16 and Dec. 25, products with 14-day return windows can be returned by Jan. 8, 2021; 30-day items can be returned by Jan. 24, and 60-day items by Feb. 23, 2021. Postpaid wireless phones and Marketplace purchases are excluded.
Standard return window: 90 days for most items; exceptions apply
Gift return policy: Exchange or gift card; can also be refunded to original payment method with gift receipt.
Free return shipping: Yes

See full return policy.