What Stores Have the Longest Holiday Return Windows?
Compare January 31 deadlines, electronics cutoffs, and no-deadline policies before you return holiday gifts.
Costco and Nordstrom offer the longest return flexibility for holiday gifts, because most general merchandise and ordinary apparel fall under policies without a fixed deadline. L.L.Bean follows with refunds within one year of purchase, while Walmart, Amazon, Macy's and Kohl's offered fixed 2025 holiday extensions through January 31. A holiday return window is an extended deadline that lets December purchases be returned in January.
The length depends on purchase dates, product category, and whether the item is opened.
Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on November 03, 2026.
Stores without a fixed deadline
Costco allows most general merchandise to be returned without a time limit. TVs, computers, cameras, drones and major appliances are limited to 90 days. Costco describes the 90-day limit for TVs and major appliances on its Costco TV product disclosure.
Nordstrom handles returns on a case-by-case basis to satisfy customers. That approach covers ordinary apparel and gifts without a stated deadline. Nordstrom says on its Nordstrom return policy that returns are handled case by case.
L.L.Bean allows refunds within one year of purchase. After one year, it considers only items with defects in materials or craftsmanship. That makes it the longest stated fixed period in the group.
Fixed extensions that reached January 31
Walmart gave one of the longest fixed holiday extensions. Most items bought Oct. 1 through Dec.
31, 2025 were returnable through Jan. 31, 2026. Its normal window for comparison is 90 days.
Amazon extended most purchases made Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, 2025 through Jan.
31, 2026. Apple-branded products bought in that period had an earlier cutoff of Jan. 15, 2026.
Amazon said most Nov. 1-Dec. 31, 2025 purchases were returnable through Jan.
31, 2026 in its About Amazon holiday notice. Macy's and Kohl's also stretched holiday deadlines to Jan. 31.
Macy's covered most Oct. 6 through Dec. 31 purchases.
Kohl's covered most Oct. 5 through Oct. 31 purchases, with stated premium-electronics and Sephora exceptions.
Why electronics face earlier cutoffs
Electronics often have shorter limits than clothing or general gifts. Costco limits TVs, computers, cameras, drones and major appliances to 90 days. That exception matters for large holiday gifts.
Apple products also faced earlier dates at several stores. Amazon required Apple-branded holiday purchases to be returned by Jan. 15, 2026.
Target placed Apple and carrier-connected phones on shorter exception timelines for Nov. 1 through Dec. 24 purchases.
Best Buy had the tightest practical electronics deadline. Most items bought Oct. 31 through Dec.
31, 2025 were returnable only until Jan. 15. That was still an extension from its normal 15-day period.
How normal windows compare with holiday windows
Target normally allows 90 days for most unopened items. For Nov. 1 through Dec.
24 purchases, it extended electronics and entertainment returns. Target explains its 90-day standard and holiday electronics timing on its Target return policy. Walmart's holiday extension also built on a 90-day normal window.
The holiday change mainly added calendar time for October through December purchases. Shoppers with October receipts gained the most extra days. Best Buy shows the opposite pattern.
Its normal period is short, so even an extended Jan. 15 cutoff remains tight. Electronics buyers needed to act sooner there than at department or mass retailers.
What should you check before returning a gift?
Purchase date controls which deadline applies. A Nov. 15 television and a Dec.
20 sweater may fall under different rules. Category matters as much as the store name. Start with the store's returns page and the gift receipt.
Match the item category to any exception list before traveling to the store. Bring chargers, remotes, manuals, and original packaging for electronics.
- Check the purchase-date range for the holiday extension
- Check electronics, Apple, carrier-phone, and premium-item exceptions
- Check whether the item must be unopened and include parts or accessories
- Check the refund method for gifts without a receipt