Holiday return policies 2026: deadlines and status by store

Every row below comes from the store’s own return pages, read on October 19, 2026. A store that hasn’t posted 2026 dates shows its standard window, not last year’s dates.

Status by store

Store	Status	Holiday purchases	Return by
Walmart	Posted	Oct 1 to Dec 31, 2026	Jan 31, 2027
Macy’s	Posted	Oct 5 to Dec 31, 2026	Jan 31, 2027
Kohl’s	Posted	Oct 4 to Dec 30, 2026	Jan 31, 2027
Amazon	Not posted yet	Standard window applies	30 days after delivery for most items
Target	Not posted yet	Standard window applies	90 days for most items; 30 for most electronics; 14 for Apple, Beats, and phones
Best Buy	Not posted yet	Standard window applies	15 days; 60 for Plus and Total members
Apple	Not posted yet	Standard window applies	14 days after you receive it
Costco	No holiday extension	Standard policy	No return window set for most items; 90 days for listed electronics
Lowe’s	No holiday extension	Standard policy	90 days for most items; holiday decor by the holiday itself

Store names link to our guide for that store. Home Depot isn’t listed because its live return page returned an access-denied error on October 19, 2026.

What the posted policies leave out

Walmart names wireless phones, protection plans, major appliances, Dyson products, and select seasonal and luxury goods as exceptions; its notice to Marketplace sellers adds food and beverages. The consumer policy page gives the months without a year; Walmart’s notice to Marketplace sellers states 2026 and 2027. Which purchases actually gain time, with worked dates, is in Walmart holiday returns 2026.

Macy’s keeps Dyson and Mac Duggal items at 30 days, and Last Act merchandise is final sale. Store purchases go back to a store. Members of Star Rewards return by mail for free; everyone else has $9.99 plus tax deducted from the refund. Our Macy’s holiday returns 2026 guide covers gift returns, the full exception list, and the last return day for each purchase date.

Kohl’s extends all Kohl’s merchandise, including premium electronics and watches, jewelry, and mattresses. Sephora at Kohl’s runs on its own dates: purchases from October 30 to December 30, 2026 can go back through January 31, 2027. Most items paid with a Kohl’s Card already get 120 days, which run past January 31, so the extension matters most for premium electronics, watches, and mattresses, and for October purchases paid another way. The table in Kohl’s holiday returns 2026 shows who gains time.

Last season, for stores that haven’t posted

These are 2025 terms, shown only so you know what each store did last time. They are not 2026 dates.

Store	2025 holiday purchases	Return by
Amazon	Nov 1 to Dec 31, 2025	Jan 31, 2026 (Apple-branded products: Jan 15, 2026)
Best Buy	Oct 31 to Dec 31, 2025	Jan 15, 2026, excluding activatable devices, AppleCare+, and holiday decorations; Plus and Total members had until Jan 31, 2026 for purchases through Dec 3
Apple	Received Nov 12 to Dec 25, 2025	Jan 8, 2026

When to expect the rest

Last year, Apple, Amazon, and Best Buy had their holiday terms on official pages by November 13, 2025.

1. Oct 16 to Nov 13 Apple, between two archived copies
2. Oct 22 to Nov 9 Amazon, between two archived copies
3. By Nov 7 Best Buy, in the archived copy of that date

Based on Internet Archive copies of each store's 2025 return page.

If those stores repeat last year’s start dates, purchases made before the end of October would get only the standard window. Keep receipts, note each item’s standard return date, and check the store’s page again before you count on holiday time.

Stores that don’t extend

Costco’s return policy has no holiday section. It sets no return window for most products, though it notes that limitations apply. The electronics on its 90-day list count from the day you received them.

Lowe’s goes the other way for holiday items. Christmas and Halloween items must be returned on or before the day of the holiday. Items bought after the holiday are final sale.

Update log

• October 19, 2026: first published. Walmart, Macy’s, and Kohl’s had posted 2026 dates.
• October 20, 2026: linked the new Macy’s and Kohl’s guides and noted which Kohl’s purchases gain the most from the holiday window.