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Holiday return policies for 2026 have not all been published yet, so the safest guide is what retailers did last year. This article lays out the 2025 return windows and fees reported by CBS Philadelphia and TheStreet, plus what to check before you buy gifts. Every date below is from the 2025 season. Retailers change their holiday return policies from year to year, so confirm the current terms on each store’s website.
Last year’s holiday return policies at major retailers
CBS Philadelphia updated its list on December 25, 2025. It reported these purchase windows and return deadlines.
- Amazon accepted returns until January 31, 2026, on purchases made November 1 to December 31. Apple products from that period had until January 15.
- Walmart gave shoppers until January 31, 2026, on purchases made October 1 to December 31. CBS noted that marketplace items could not be returned under the extended window.
- Target covered purchases made November 1 to December 24. Electronics, entertainment, and most Target Plus items were due by January 24, 2026. Apple, Beats, and mobile phones were due by January 8. Other new, unopened items followed the standard 90-day window.
- Best Buy set a January 15, 2026 deadline for purchases made October 31 to December 31. Items bought with third-party activation contracts, such as phones and tablets, were excluded.
- Macy’s allowed returns until January 31, 2026, on purchases made October 6 to December 31.
- Kohl’s allowed most items bought October 5 to December 31 to come back by January 31, 2026.
TheStreet, in a November 14, 2025 report, said Amazon, Walmart, and Target were making only minor changes that year and advised checking the policy for each item.
Return fees to watch for
Free returns are not guaranteed, especially by mail. CBS Philadelphia listed these 2025 fees.
- Macy’s charged $9.99 to mail a return, though Star Rewards members, a free program, paid nothing.
- J. Crew charged $7.50 for a prepaid mailing label.
- Zara charged $4.95 per return request.
- Dillard’s charged a $9.95 return label fee, plus a restocking fee.
- Urban Outfitters charged a $5 restocking fee on most mailed returns.
- Best Buy could charge a 15% restocking fee on some opened items.
- Amazon charged a fee unless you used a free drop-off option, such as designated Kohl’s, Whole Foods, or Staples locations.
The report notes that fees come out of refunds, and that returning items in store or to a designated location generally avoids them.
What to check before buying holiday gifts
- Find the return page. Search the retailer’s name plus “holiday return policy,” and look for the current year.
- Note the purchase window. The extended deadline usually applies only to purchases made between certain dates.
- Look for exclusions. Phones, opened electronics, and marketplace items are common exceptions.
- Check the fee for mailed returns. In-store returns are often free.
- Keep receipts, packaging, tags, and manuals. TheStreet says complete documentation can lead to better outcomes, such as cash refunds instead of store credit. Some discount retailers offer store credit only.
- Give a gift receipt. It lets the recipient return the item without revealing the price.
Why holiday return policies matter this year
TheStreet reports that the National Retail Federation estimated 19.3% of online sales would be returned in 2025, and that 9% of returns were fraudulent. Retailers have tightened rules and fees in response, so read the terms. If you are buying gifts online, see the posted cutoffs in our holiday shipping deadlines guide, and for how much shoppers are expected to spend, see the NRF holiday sales forecast.
Editor’s take
The pattern from last year is useful but not a promise. The risk is assuming a gift bought in early November can be returned in January without checking, because the cutoffs vary by store and by product. For anything expensive, especially electronics, take a screenshot of the return policy on the day you buy it. If a store adds fees or shortens the window for 2026, that will show up on the store’s own return page before it shows up anywhere else. We will update this guide when major retailers post their 2026 windows.
