Store Credit Return Policies at 14 Major Retailers

Many big US retailers take returns without a receipt, but they usually pay you in store credit, often at the item’s lowest recent price. Target gives a merchandise return card, Nordstrom a gift card, and Kohl’s, Macy’s and Home Depot issue credit at a reduced price when they can’t find your purchase. Zappos and Wayfair let you choose store credit instead of a refund, and Ulta gives merchandise credit for returns made 31 to 60 days after purchase. Below are the return windows and store credit rules at 14 major retailers, with a link to each store’s policy page.

How store credit returns work

A return with a receipt inside the return window normally goes back to the card or account you paid with. You get store credit instead when the store can’t find a record of the purchase, when the return falls in a credit-only window (Ulta’s 31 to 60 days), or when you pick credit because it posts faster. Credit for a return without proof of purchase is usually based on the lowest price the item sold for recently, and many stores ask for a government-issued photo ID. Credit is worth the same as a refund at best, so take it when a refund isn’t on offer or when you will spend the money at that store anyway.

1. Target

Return policy: Target returns

Target takes back most new, unopened items within 90 days and Target Owned Brands for up to a year with a receipt. Electronics and entertainment have 30 days, and Apple, Beats and mobile phones have 14. Target Circle Card holders and Target Circle 360 members get an extra 30 days on nearly all items. Refunds go back to the original payment, and purchases made with a Target GiftCard come back as a Target eGiftCard.

Policy Highlights:

• Return window: 90 days for most items, 30 days for electronics, 1 year for Target Owned Brands with a receipt.
• Store credit: If Target can’t find your purchase, you get a merchandise return card. You need a government-issued ID.
• Good to know: The card’s funds don’t expire, but it can’t be used on Target.com and only one card can be used per transaction.

Tip: Check out our Target Coupons & Special Offers.

2. Best Buy

Return policy: Best Buy return and exchange policy

Best Buy gives most shoppers 15 days from the day they receive an item. Paid My Best Buy Plus and My Best Buy Total members get 60 days on most products, and activatable devices such as phones have 14 days for everyone. Refunds go to the original payment method.

Policy Highlights:

• Return window: 15 days, 60 days for My Best Buy Plus and Total members, 14 days for activatable devices.
• Store credit: Not a standard option. Without proof of purchase a return may be denied or limited, but members can find past purchases in their account.
• Good to know: A 15% restocking fee applies to some items, including drones, cameras and projectors.

Tip: Check out our Best Buy coupons & Special Offers.

3. Kohl's

Return policy: Kohl’s return policy

Most Kohl’s items can be returned within 90 days of purchase, or 120 days if you paid with a Kohl’s Card. Premium electronics and watches have 30 days. Kohl’s accepts most returns with or without a receipt and can look up your purchase by order number, Kohl’s Rewards account, the card you paid with or the return barcode in the Kohl’s app.

Policy Highlights:

• Return window: 90 days, 120 days with a Kohl’s Card, 30 days for premium electronics and watches.
• Store credit: If Kohl’s can’t find the purchase, you get merchandise credit at the lowest price the item sold for in the last 13 weeks.
• Good to know: A valid photo ID may be required for a return without a receipt.

Tip: Check for more Kohl’s Promo Codes & Coupons

4. Nordstrom

Return policy: Nordstrom return policy

Nordstrom has no time limit on returns or exchanges. It decides each return case by case and can refuse one. Returns with a receipt are refunded to the original payment, and Marketplace items follow each seller’s return date.

Policy Highlights:

• Return window: No set limit for most items. Marketplace items follow the seller’s date.
• Store credit: A return without a record of sale, if accepted, is refunded at the current price on a Nordstrom gift card. Nordstrom asks for personal identification.
• Good to know: Gift cards can’t be returned, and gift card refunds can’t be turned into cash unless the law requires it.

Tip: Check for more Nordstrom Coupons & Special Offers

5. Sephora

Return policy: Sephora returns and exchanges

Sephora shortened its policy for purchases made on or after April 24, 2025. New or gently used products can be returned within 30 days of purchase or shipping for a refund to the original payment. The old option of store credit for returns made 31 to 60 days after purchase is gone.

Policy Highlights:

• Return window: 30 days from the purchase or ship date.
• Store credit: Not guaranteed after 30 days. Some stores may offer it at their discretion.
• Good to know: Beauty Insider members can have a purchase looked up by phone number or email if the receipt is lost.

Tip: Check for more Sephora Promo Codes & Coupons

6. REI

Return policy: REI returns and exchanges

REI Co-op members get one year to return most new items, and non-members get 90 days. Outdoor electronics such as GPS watches and cameras have 90 days for everyone. Most refunds go back to the original payment method, and REI may accept a member’s return without a receipt because the purchase is recorded on the membership.

Policy Highlights:

• Return window: 1 year for Co-op members, 90 days for non-members, 90 days for outdoor electronics.
• Store credit: Not the default. Store purchases returned by mail are refunded by check.
• Good to know: REI has stopped accepting returns from a small group of members it found abusing the policy.

Tip: Check for more REI Coupons & Special Offers

7. Amazon

Return policy: Amazon returns and refunds

Most items sold on Amazon can be returned within 30 days of delivery, though third-party sellers and some categories set their own windows. When you start a return, you can take the refund on your original payment method or as Amazon gift card balance.

Policy Highlights:

• Return window: 30 days from delivery for most items.
• Store credit: A refund to your Amazon gift card balance usually posts within 2 to 3 hours, compared with up to 5 business days for a credit card.
• Good to know: Items bought from November 1 to December 31 can typically be returned until January 31.

8. Macy's

Return policy: Macy’s return policy

Macy’s gives you 30 days from purchase or delivery for most items and 14 days for Apple products. Most purchases made from October 5 to December 31, 2026 can be returned until January 31, 2027. Refunds go to the original payment, and cash refunds are only for cash purchases.

Policy Highlights:

• Return window: 30 days, 14 days for Apple products.
• Store credit: Without proof of purchase, Macy’s issues store credit based on the item’s lowest selling price. It first tries to find the purchase by your card, Macy’s account or order number.
• Good to know: Final sale items, personalized items and gift cards can’t be returned, and furniture and mattresses may carry a pickup or restocking fee.

Tip: Check for more Macy's Promo Codes & Coupons

9. Walmart

Return policy: Walmart return policy

Walmart gives you 90 days after purchase or delivery for most items. Consumer electronics have 30 days and most wireless phones 14. Walmart can look up store purchases made with a debit or credit card, and online orders by phone number or email.

Policy Highlights:

• Return window: 90 days, 30 days for consumer electronics, 14 days for most wireless phones.
• Store credit: A verified return without a receipt is paid on a Walmart gift card that works in stores and on Walmart.com. You need a valid government-issued photo ID.
• Good to know: Walmart limits how many returns without a receipt you can make and how often.

Tip: Check for more Walmart Coupons & Special Offers

10. Costco

Return policy: Costco return policy

Costco refunds the purchase price on most merchandise, with a short list of exceptions. Televisions, computers, cameras and major appliances must come back within 90 days of when you received them. Costco will also cancel and refund your membership fee at any time if you are dissatisfied.

Policy Highlights:

• Return window: No deadline listed for most items, 90 days for TVs, computers, cameras and major appliances.
• Store credit: Costco’s return policy page doesn’t describe a store credit option.
• Good to know: Cell phone returns depend on the carrier’s service contract.

Tip: Check for more Costco Coupons & Special Offers

11. Home Depot

Return policy: Home Depot return policy

Most Home Depot merchandise can be returned within 90 days with proof of purchase, or 365 days if you paid with a Home Depot Consumer Credit Card, Pro Xtra Credit Card or Commercial Account. Furniture, consumer electronics and some outdoor power equipment have 30 days, and problems with major appliances must be reported within 48 hours of delivery.

Policy Highlights:

• Return window: 90 days, 365 days with a Home Depot credit card or Commercial Account, 30 days for furniture and electronics.
• Store credit: A return without valid proof of purchase may be refunded as store credit at the lowest advertised price. You need a driver’s license or government-issued photo ID.
• Good to know: Perennials, trees, roses and shrubs carry a one-year guarantee for store credit.

Tip: Check for more Home Depot Promo Codes & Coupons

12. Ulta Beauty

Return policy: Ulta Beauty guest services

Ulta takes back most new or gently used products within 30 days of purchase for a refund to the original payment, and from 31 to 60 days for merchandise credit. Purchases made from November 1 to December 31, 2026 can be returned through January 31, 2027.

Policy Highlights:

• Return window: 30 days for a refund, 60 days for merchandise credit.
• Store credit: Merchandise credit for returns made 31 to 60 days after purchase.
• Good to know: Ulta needs proof of purchase unless it can find the sale in its system, plus a government-issued physical ID and a phone number or email for every return.

Tip: Check for more Ulta Beauty Promo Codes & Coupons

13. Zappos

Return policy: Zappos shipping and returns

Zappos accepts returns of items in new condition within 60 days, started from Order History in your account. You can choose a refund to your original payment or Zappos store credit. Guest checkouts can only be refunded to the original payment.

Policy Highlights:

• Return window: 60 days.
• Store credit: Your choice at return time. Allow up to 24 hours for it to appear.
• Good to know: Standard shipping is free for US customers, and Zappos VIP members get free expedited shipping.

Tip: Check for more Zappos Coupons & Special Offers

14. Wayfair

Return policy: Wayfair return policy

Most Wayfair items can be returned within 30 days of delivery in original, undamaged condition. You can choose a refund to your original payment or Wayfair store credit. Return shipping is usually taken out of the refund unless the item arrived damaged or defective or Wayfair sent the wrong product.

Policy Highlights:

• Return window: 30 days from delivery.
• Store credit: Your choice at return time. On some items it reduces or removes the return shipping charge.
• Good to know: Refunds can take 5 to 14 days to post after the item reaches the warehouse.

Tip: Check for more Wayfair Coupons & Special Offers

How to get more back from a store credit return

What you get back depends mostly on whether the store can find your purchase.

1. Let the store look up your purchase

Target, Kohl’s, Macy’s and Walmart can find purchases by the card you paid with, your store account or your order number. A purchase they can find gets a normal refund instead of credit at a reduced price, so bring the card you used and sign in to the store’s app before you go.

2. Expect the lowest recent price without proof

Without a receipt or record, Kohl’s pays the lowest price in the last 13 weeks, Macy’s the lowest selling price, Home Depot the lowest advertised price and Nordstrom the current price. An item bought at full price and later discounted comes back at the discount.

3. Bring a photo ID

Target, Walmart and Home Depot require a government-issued photo ID for returns without a receipt, Ulta asks for one on every return, and Nordstrom asks for identification before refunding a return without a record of sale. Walmart also limits how many receipt-free returns you can make.

4. Use holiday return windows

Several stores give holiday purchases more time. Macy’s accepts most items bought October 5 to December 31, 2026 until January 31, 2027, and Ulta accepts purchases made November 1 to December 31, 2026 through January 31, 2027. Target extends returns on electronics and entertainment, including Apple and Beats, bought November 1 to December 24, 2026.

Return policies at a glance

Store	Return window	Exceptions	Store credit
Target	90 days for most items	30 days for electronics, 1 year for Target Owned Brands, +30 days with Circle Card or Circle 360	Merchandise return card if no proof of purchase is found, ID required
Best Buy	15 days	60 days for My Best Buy Plus and Total, 14 days for activatable devices	Not a standard option
Kohl's	90 days	120 days with a Kohl’s Card, 30 days for premium electronics and watches	Merchandise credit at the lowest price in the last 13 weeks
Nordstrom	No set limit	Marketplace items follow the seller’s date	Gift card at the current price without a record of sale
Sephora	30 days	Holiday windows vary by year	Not guaranteed after 30 days
REI	1 year for members, 90 days for others	90 days for outdoor electronics	Not the default
Amazon	30 days from delivery	Third-party sellers set their own windows	Refund to gift card balance, usually within hours
Macy's	30 days	14 days for Apple products	Store credit at the lowest selling price without proof of purchase
Walmart	90 days	30 days for consumer electronics, 14 days for most wireless phones	Walmart gift card for verified returns without a receipt, ID required
Costco	No deadline listed for most items	90 days for TVs, computers, cameras and major appliances	Not described in the policy
Home Depot	90 days	365 days with a Home Depot credit card, 30 days for furniture and electronics	Store credit at the lowest advertised price without proof, ID required
Ulta Beauty	30 days for a refund	Holiday purchases through January 31, 2027	Merchandise credit for returns 31 to 60 days after purchase
Zappos	60 days	Guest checkouts refunded to original payment only	Optional, posts within 24 hours
Wayfair	30 days from delivery	Return shipping usually deducted from the refund	Optional

Conclusion

Nordstrom has the most open policy, with no time limit and a gift card for returns without a record of sale. Ulta gives merchandise credit for returns made 31 to 60 days after purchase, after its refund window closes. Zappos and Wayfair let you choose credit outright, and Amazon’s gift card balance refund usually posts within hours. If you keep receipts or shop with a store card, Target, Kohl’s, Walmart and Home Depot give you 90 days or more.

FAQ

Is store credit the same as a gift card?

Often it is one. Nordstrom refunds returns without a record of sale on a Nordstrom gift card, Walmart issues a Walmart gift card, and Target issues a merchandise return card. Kohl’s, Macy’s, Home Depot and Ulta call it merchandise credit or store credit.

Can I use store credit online?

It depends on the store. A Walmart gift card from a return works in stores and on Walmart.com, but Target’s merchandise return card can’t be used on Target.com, and only one can be used per transaction. Zappos store credit and Amazon gift card balance go to your online account.

Does store credit expire?

Check the terms printed on the card or receipt. Target says the funds on its merchandise return card don’t expire.

Can I get a refund instead of store credit?

Usually, if you return within the refund window and the store can find the purchase. You get credit instead only when there is no record of the purchase, at Ulta for returns made 31 to 60 days after purchase, or when you choose it at Zappos, Wayfair or Amazon.