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
Senior Deals Editor

Updated November 12, 2026

Hands hold a gift receipt and itemized store receipt above an open gift box lined with tissue paper, set on colorful striped wrapping paper with green ribbon.

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. And many retailers often extend their return windows around the holidays, offering more generous return guidelines for holiday purchases.

No matter where you shop or what you’re buying, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the return and exchange policies. Below, we’ve outlined the current guidelines at many of the 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. 15, 2027. Last year, the policy lasted through the end of January, so they’ve shortened the window a bit this year.

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 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 most 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’s return policy has changed a lot in recent years. Back in the day, it accepted returns at any time. Then the policy was shortened to one year. This year, that policy is now a 30-day window. However, holiday purchases do qualify for a longer return window. You have 45 days to return anything ordered between Nov. 18 and Dec. 25, with that clock starting on the day the order is placed.

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. Shipping your return back will cost you $9.99, so look for in-store opportunities to save money. 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, 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. 1 can be returned through Jan. 31, 2027, with an original or gift receipt. This is a larger window than last year, giving you even more time to make any necessary returns. 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 120 days for returns of most purchases. No receipt? The store can look up previous purchases with your credit card, order number or Kohl’s Rewards number.

For the holidays, anything purchased between Oct. 4 and Dec. 30 can be returned up to Jan. 31, 2027. In-store purchases can only be returned in stores, but online purchases can be returned via mail or in stores.

If you make a purchase at Sephora at Kohl’s, the holiday policy includes any purchases made from Oct. 31 through Dec. 30.

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 purchase, 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 to the original payment method. If you return something by mail, Lands’ End will now deduct $8.95 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 30 days to return most items purchased at Macy’s (it was 90 days last year). 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. Items must be new, unused, and with original tags. 5

For the holidays, anything purchased from Oct. 5 through Dec. 31 can be returned until Jan. 31, 2027. 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). Target-branded items have a 365-day return window as long as you have your receipt. 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 Nov. 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.

If you purchased something from a Marketplace seller, most are returnable within 30 days. You can package and ship it yourself, or you can bring it to Walmart to have it packaged for you (some items may not be eligible for this service).

Zappos
This online-only retailer promises free returns on all U.S. orders for 60 days 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. Until last year, the return window was 1 year.

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. 6 and Dec. 25 may be returned through Jan. 8, 2027.

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, which can save you that shipping cost. 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, 2027.

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. 30 and Dec. 31 can be returned through Jan. 15, 2027.

GameStop
Unlike some retailers that can provide a partial refund or look up your order if you don’t have proof of purchase, GameStop always requires a receipt or an order number to process a return and may require your ID. You get 15 days for a refund or an exchange of unopened products, but only seven days for pre-owned products and tablets. And if you’re returning by mail, you’ll be charged an $8.99 fee; in-store returns cost nothing.

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, 2027.

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, DVDs, and games, 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 a different return policy than the retailer. This includes retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, eBay, and Walmart.

Bring ID. Some chains, including Best Buy, Home Depot, and Lowe’s, 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 2026 holiday season.

Samantha B. Gordon

Samantha B. Gordon is the senior 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.