Target Return Policy: 5 Things To Know

If you’ve recently purchased an item from Target that you want to return, there are a few things you need to know first about the store’s policy.

Is the item opened? Have you had it longer than 90 days? Is it damaged? These are all important questions you need to know before you return the merchandise.

In this article, I’ll go over the ins and outs of Target’s return policy so that you’re informed before you take an item back to the store.

Returning an Item to Target? Read This

You get 90 days to return most items to Target, but some items are returnable up to one year.

If you’re unsure if an item you’ve bought from Target is eligible for a return, here’s an easy way to tell: At the top of the receipt, you may find a return policy date.

Below is a photo of an electronics item I bought from Target. You can see the return policy date listed right underneath the item.

But this is not on all Target receipts. On a more recent purchase, the only reference to a return policy is a statement that says, “When you return any item, your return credit will not include any promotional discount or coupon that applied to the original order.”

Let’s go over five things you need to know about Target’s return policy:

1. What Is Target’s Return Policy?

Target’s standard return policy allows you to take back a new and unopened item for a full refund or exchange within 90 days of the purchase date.

In most cases, you’ll get your refund in the same form of payment your used to make the original purchase.

If the item is opened or damaged, in some cases you may have to settle for an exchange.

When it comes to things purchased through third-party companies called Target Plus Partners, the merchandise may be subject to “modified” return policies, according to Target’s website, but the website doesn’t indicate how that differs from its standard policy.

You can return Target.com purchases by mail using the store’s online return center. To get the process started, here are the steps.

What Is Target’s Holiday Return Policy?

Target’s holiday return policy allows free returns on most new, unopened items up to 90 days after purchase. For the end-of-year holidays in 2023, the retailer is extending its holiday return window for electronics and entertainment to Jan. 24, 2024, according to its website.

2. Can I Return an Item to Target Without a Receipt?

If you want to return an item to Target without a receipt, you should know that there are some conditions.

Target allows returns without a receipt if the item meets these three criteria:

• It was purchased online, and you have its barcode or shipping confirmation email.
• It item is within the eligible return date window.
• It was purchased with a credit card, debit card, RedCard or Target gift card (bring the gift card).

For these kinds of returns, you’ll likely get your refund in the form of a Merchandise Return Card instead of your original form of payment.

3. Does Target Have a One-Year Return Guarantee?

For Target Owned Brands, which it calls items sold under its 48 private labels, the store adheres to a one-year return guarantee. All you need is your receipt to get a full refund within one year of the item’s purchase date.

I called two Target stores near me to confirm that the one-year guarantee was still in effect as of this writing and it is.

The one-year guarantee also extends to the store’s gift, baby and wedding registries. Unsure if your item meets the criteria? See a list of Target Owned Brands here.

4. Can I Return My Item to Any Target Store?

It doesn’t matter whether you bought the item in-store or on Target.com: You can return it to any Target location.

If you purchased the item online, you can use either your receipt, the barcode found inside the Target app or the shipping confirmation email to make your return.

5. Does Target’s 90-Day Return Policy Apply to All Its Items?

There are some items you can buy at Target that have return policies of less than 90 days and others that extend beyond that time.

As I mentioned earlier, returns on Target Owned Brands items goes up to one year.

If you buy an item at Target or Target.com with your RedCard, you get an extra 30 days to return it, the store says on its website.

But for some items, especially electronics, your return window is much smaller. Here are some popular items sold at Target and their return and exchange dates.

• 30 Days: Electronics
• 30 Days: Entertainment
• 15 Days: Apple Products
• 14 Days: Mobile Phones*

[* Subject to a $35 restocking fee unless unopened.]

There are also some items that you can’t return at all but can only exchange, according to Target’s website. They include:

• Trading cards and their accessories
• Personalized items and digital downloads like video games and software
• Specialty gift cards, pre-paid gift cards or Target gift cards
• Open or defective collectibles like Barbie dolls, action figures and die-cast cars

See the full list of return exceptions at Target.com.

Final Thoughts

Before you purchase something from Target or Target.com, refer to the item description to see its specific return conditions. It may influence whether you choose to buy the item or not.

Want to know how to save at Target and other retailers? It may be worth your while to have a Target RedCard credit card. Read our review of the Target RedCard.