Guide to Returning Gifts: Retailers With the Best and Worst Return Policies

Some stores will let you return anything, even without a receipt. Others have time limits and restocking fees.

By Samantha B. Gordon
Deals Editor

Updated November 14, 2023

Gift box with x marked on it, arrow pointing back to store icon.

If you believe it’s the thought that counts, then you won’t be offended if you give a gift to someone who can’t use it for whatever reason. And if you receive something that isn’t quite the right fit, you shouldn’t feel guilty about returning or exchanging it for something different.

Some retailers have flexible return and exchange policies all year long; others are a bit stricter. But many retailers often extend their return windows around the holidays, offering more generous return guidelines for holiday purchases.

No matter where you shop, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the options. Below, we’ve outlined the current guidelines at most popular retailers.

Here are the retailers with the best and worst return policies.

Best for Returning Gifts

Amazon
You have 30 days to return any new, unopened items shipped by Amazon and most sellers. The company provides shipping labels for mail-in returns, or you can take items to any of the company’s over 18,000 drop-off locations. This includes Amazon Lockers, which can often be found at Whole Foods and Walmart, as well as UPS stores and Kohl’s.

For the holiday season, Amazon is extending its return window. Most items purchased between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31 can be returned up until Jan. 31, 2024. This is a narrower window than in the last couple of years, when the return window started in October.

Items purchased through third-party sellers may be subject to different return policies.

Bed Bath & Beyond
Now owned by Overstock, Bed Bath & Beyond has a new return policy of 30 days. This pales in comparison to the old one-year return policy, especially because there are no longer any walk-in locations. As of now, there is no extended return window for the holidays.

Costco
There’s no time limit on some returns and no receipt is necessary except for a few items, including tires, batteries, cigarettes, and alcohol. Electronics, including computers, TVs, major appliances, cameras, tablets, and more, can be returned, but there’s a 90-day window that starts from the date the customer receives the item.

Eddie Bauer
Eddie Bauer used to allow returns anytime, but now it honors returns only for one year with proof of purchase, whether it’s a receipt or an Adventure Rewards number. Without proof of purchase, Eddie Bauer used to have a policy offering a partial refund, but that language is now gone from its website, so reach out to customer service. Returns can be made in-store or via the mail (the company will provide a shipping label), whether the item was purchased online or in person. And any purchases made before Sept. 12, 2023, will be refunded as a store credit only.

Forever 21
Forever 21 gives shoppers 30 days to make returns. You must bring the original receipt or a gift receipt for returns of in-store purchases, and online orders can be returned via mail along with the packing slip or in-store. And regardless of where you’re returning, all items must be unworn and unwashed, and have the original tags attached.

Home Depot
Most items are eligible for returns for up to 90 days after purchase. They must be new and unopened, and as long as you have proof of purchase, you can get a refund by the original payment method, in cash, or as store credit. If you don’t have a receipt, try to make the return within 30 days and the company may be able to find your purchase in its system if you used a debit or credit card for the transaction. You’ll need to show ID to return items without a receipt.

If you use The Home Depot Consumer Credit Card, The Home Depot Commercial Revolving Charge, or The Home Depot Commercial Account, you have a full 365 days to make a return, and your purchase will be stored in the system for a year in case you lose your receipt.

Some items have shorter return windows. You get only 30 days to return area rugs, furniture, gas-powered equipment, and consumer electronics. And if your order arrives damaged or defective, you’ve got a very short window of 48 hours to report it, so always inspect your products as soon as you get them.

JCPenney
If you have a receipt, the company accepts returns and exchanges for up to 60 days. If you don’t have a receipt, JCPenney will allow you to exchange the item or get a refund as store credit for the lowest price the item was in the previous 45 days, and you’ll need to show ID in lieu of a receipt. If you have a gift receipt, you can exchange an item or get a gift card at the receipt price.

For the holidays, anything purchased on or after Oct. 15 can be returned through Jan. 15, 2024, with an original or gift receipt. And even if you lose the receipt, you may still qualify for partial store credit.

Kohl’s
The return policy at Kohl’s gives shoppers up to 180 days for returns of most purchases. No receipt? The store can look up previous purchases. Premium electronics must be returned within 30 days in original packaging, though if purchased on or after Nov. 1, you have until Jan. 31, 2024, to return them.

L.L.Bean
Until 2018, the company used to allow customers to exchange or return an item even years after purchasing it. Customers now have one year after, accompanied by proof of purchase. Returning items by mail will cost you $6.50 per package unless you used Bean Bucks or an L.L.Bean credit card for the purchase. In those cases, mail-in returns are free. You can also make a return to a walk-in location at no cost.

For returned gifts, you’ll get a merchandise credit if you don’t want to make an exchange.

Lands’ End
The retailer’s return policy is flexible. For returns made within 90 days of purchase, a full refund will be issued by the original payment method. If you return something by mail, Land’s End will now deduct $6.95 from your refund credit for using the Happy Returns label. If you want to return something without proof of purchase or after the 90-day window, Land’s End will issue a merchandise credit. Anything that’s been personalized or purchased as a final sale can’t be returned.

Lowe’s
Most items can be returned up to 90 days after purchase. As long as you have proof of purchase, Lowe’s will refund in cash, by the original payment method, or as store credit. If you lose your receipt, the store may have a record of the purchase in its system with the original credit card, checking account number, MyLowe’s card, or phone number. If no record of a purchase can be found, Lowe’s may still be able to provide in-store credit for the current selling price. You’ll need to show ID for returns without proof of purchase.

Some items can be returned only within 30 days and must be in “like new” condition. This includes TVs, major appliances, liquid paint, and outdoor power equipment. If you receive an item that’s damaged or defective, you have only three days to contact the company to document it.

And if you have a Lowe’s Commercial Account (LCA), Lowe’s Business Advantage (LBA), Lowe’s Advantage Card (LAC), or Lowe’s Business Rewards (LBR), the company gives you a full 365 days to make a return.

Macy’s
You have 90 days to return most items purchased at Macy’s. It’s free to return a purchase whether in-store or by mail, and while you can return online orders in stores or online, in-store purchases can be returned only to stores and not via mail. Shipping costs for purchases are nonrefundable, and items must be new, unused, and with original tags.

For the holidays, anything purchased on or after Oct. 2 can be returned up until Jan. 31, 2024. This is one week earlier than last year.

Nordstrom
There’s no formal return policy; returns are handled case by case. No receipts are required, there are no time limits, and no original tags are needed (except for special occasion dresses). Returns made by mail and in-store can take five to seven days to process; mail-in returns can take up to two weeks. You can return Nordstrom store and online purchases to Nordstrom Rack locations, and if you’re returning by mail, Nordstrom will email you a prepaid return label.

Target
You have up to 90 days to return most items at Target (but 30 days for most electronics and 15 days for Apple products). The retailer provides free shipping on returns, and you can bring your items to any location as well. The company may honor returns on items that have been opened, damaged, or don’t come with a receipt, but it doesn’t guarantee this. If you have a Target Red Card, the return window is extended an additional 30 days.

For the holidays, the 30-day return window (15 days for Apple products) begins Dec. 26 for electronics and entertainment items purchased between Oct. 1 and Dec. 25.

Walmart
For most items, Walmart offers a 90-day return window. Electronics get 30 days, and post-paid cell phones have only a 14-day window. The retailer provides free returns regardless of whether you’re returning in-store or by mail and offers pickup services, though freight charges for large items are nonrefundable. For the holidays, most items purchased between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31 can be returned up to Jan. 31, 2024.

Zappos
This online-only retailer promises free returns on all U.S. orders for up to a year as long as the items are unworn and returned in their original packaging, with original tags still in place. Return shipping is free, and the company also allows exchanges.

Need more holiday inspiration? Go to Consumer Reports’ holiday gift guide for updates on deals, expert product reviews, insider tips on shopping, and much more.

Tough for Returning Gifts

Apple
Apple gives you just 14 days to return an item and get a refund, whether it’s purchased online or in a store. And you can’t return something if you didn’t buy it directly from an Apple Store or Apple online.

For the holidays, Apple’s return policy is a bit more flexible. Items purchased online between Nov. 3 and Dec. 25 may be returned through Jan. 8, 2024.

Barnes & Noble
For online and in-store purchases, you have 30 days from the date you received the item to make a return, but you’ll need a receipt or an invoice and the item must be unopened and in its original condition. If mailing back your items, refunds and returns are processed only once an item is received, and you have to pay for shipping. In-store returns are welcome regardless of purchase method. With a gift receipt, you have 60 days to return an item for store credit.

Barnes & Noble is extending its return window for the holidays. Purchases made Nov. 1 through Dec. 31 are refundable or exchangeable through Jan. 31, 2024.

Best Buy
The electronics retailer has a meager 15-day window for returning most items outside of the holidays. Cell phones and cellular tablets and watches get 14 days. The store requires proof of purchase and has a 15 percent restocking fee on certain items, including drones and some digital cameras and lenses if the original packaging has been opened. For activatable devices like phones and tablets, the restocking fee is a flat $45.

Its holiday return policy is more generous. Items (except major appliances and holiday products such as artificial trees and other holiday items) bought between Oct. 27 and Dec. 30 can be returned through Jan. 13, 2024.

GameStop
Unlike some retailers that can provide a partial refund or look up your purchase, GameStop always requires a receipt or an order number to process a return. You get 15 days for a refund or an exchange of unopened products, which is halved from the policy last year, but only seven days for pre-owned products and tablets. For merchandise that’s been opened, you can only get an identical exchange within 30 days. And if you’re returning by mail, you’ll be charged an $8.99 fee; in-store returns cost nothing.

Kmart
You have 30 days for returns with a receipt. With a gift receipt, you can exchange an item or get store credit. If you’re a member of the free Shop Your Way program, you’ll have 45 days to request a refund or an exchange. Seasonal holiday items can’t be returned once the holiday has passed, and there are no extended return windows for holiday gifts.

Newegg
This online seller of electronics and other products guarantees a refund on most items marked as sold and shipped by Newegg as long as they’re returned new and unopened within 30 days of purchase. Return shipping is free, and there are no restocking fees. Items bought via Newegg’s marketplace are subject to the seller’s individual return policy.

Sears
As with Kmart, which merged with Sears in 2004, returns must be made within 30 days and with a receipt. With a gift receipt, you can exchange an item or get a gift card. If you’re a member of the free Shop Your Way program, you have 45 days for a refund or exchange.

Wayfair
Most items can be returned within 30 days, provided they’re unopened and in the original condition. There are some exclusions, including clearance items, bundled items (unless you’re returning everything in the bundle), and Open Box items. But if you received a damaged or defective item, the exclusions don’t apply. Mattresses come with a 100-night guarantee, and Wayfair typically provides return pickups for large items. Just note that appliances are ineligible for returns once they’ve been installed.

For the holidays, purchases made between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31 can be returned until Jan. 31, 2024.

4 Tips for Returning Gifts

Don’t open the box. If you try to return an item and the original packaging isn’t intact, merchants may impose a restocking fee (often 15 percent of the purchase price or more). That’s especially common for electronics.

Other products, such as computer software, CDs, and DVDs, generally aren’t returnable once their packaging has been opened, unless they’re defective. And if products are missing tags, you may be stuck with them. So, at the very least, take a look at the return policy before removing any packaging if there’s a chance you may need to return an item.

Keep those gift receipts. Make sure you don’t toss them out with the wrapping paper because merchants often turn you away if you don’t have one. If you didn’t get a gift receipt (and you don’t want to ask the giver for the original), you may be eligible for store credit, though it may be only in the amount of the lowest price the item sold for recently.

Check return policies and note any time limits. You can do that most easily online, or you can ask at a store’s customer service counter. Big merchants usually allow up to 90 days for most items to be returned, but they may have far shorter periods for certain goods. During the holidays, however, some retailers will extend their deadlines, often until late January.

For items purchased online, note whether the merchant has walk-in store locations and allows in-person returns. That way, you can avoid repacking the item and paying for any return shipping costs.

It’s also important to check whether you’ve purchased an item from a third-party seller, because it may have different return policies than the retailer. This includes retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, eBay, Newegg, and Walmart.

Bring ID. Some chains, including Best Buy and Home Depot, use computerized return authorization systems to detect abuse. So you may be asked to show your driver’s license or other government-issued ID when you return an item in person.

Merchants scan and store data from your ID to track your history, noting factors such as the frequency of your returns, their dollar value, how often you return items without a receipt, and the time between returns.

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated for the 2023 holiday season.

Samantha B. Gordon

Samantha B. Gordon is the deals editor at Consumer Reports. She has been covering the online marketplace for CR since 2019, helping readers save money and find the best prices on high-quality products. Previously, Samantha was the managing editor of the e-commerce team at Reviewed. In her free time, Samantha can be found crafting and playing her guitar. Follow her on X: @sam_the_editor.