Free tool
Return Deadline Calculator
Return Deadline Calculator
Enter your start date and return window to find the last day you can return the item.
Your return deadline
Save this date in the Return & Refund Tracker app and get a reminder before it closes.
How the deadline is worked out
The last day to return something is your start date plus the number of days in the store’s return window. If you bought a lamp on May 1 from a store with a 30-day window, the calculator shows May 31.
Two things decide the start date:
- In-store purchases start on the purchase date printed on the receipt.
- Online orders usually start on the delivery date. A few stores count from the shipment or order date instead, so check the policy if you’re near the end.
Gifts are the easy one to get wrong. The window started when the giver bought the item, not when you opened it, and a gift bought in early November may only have days left by the time it’s unwrapped. A gift receipt shows the purchase date.
Return windows at big stores
| Window | Typical examples |
|---|---|
| 14–15 days | Apple; Best Buy (standard); phones at Walmart, Target, and Best Buy |
| 30 days | Amazon; most electronics at Walmart and Target; Macy’s; TJ Maxx; Ross |
| 60 days | JCPenney; Dick’s Sporting Goods; Michaels; CVS |
| 90 days | Walmart; Target; Home Depot; Lowe’s; Kohl’s; Hobby Lobby |
| No set limit | Costco and Sam’s Club, for most items |
Windows often differ within one store: a 90-day store can give you 30 days on a TV and 48 hours on a refrigerator. Our store return policy table lists the exceptions for 35 retailers.
Why people miss return deadlines
- The item has a shorter window than the store’s headline policy. Electronics, phones, and major appliances are the usual culprits.
- The gift was bought weeks earlier than it was given.
- The window counted from the order date, not the delivery date.
- Nobody wrote the date down. Note it on the receipt, in your calendar, or in an app the day you buy.
- Holiday extensions are assumed for purchases that don’t qualify. Most only cover items bought within specific dates.
If the deadline has passed and the item is faulty, the manufacturer’s warranty may still cover it. See the warranty claim checklist.
Common questions
Does the purchase day count as day one?
This calculator adds the number of days to your start date, so a 30-day window from May 1 ends on May 31. Some stores count the purchase day itself as day one, which makes the last day May 30. If your deadline is close, return a day early or check the wording of the store's policy.
What if I don't know the exact purchase date?
Look for the order confirmation email, the purchase in the store's app or account, or the transaction on your card statement. Many stores can also find an in-store purchase from the card you paid with.
What if the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday?
Return windows are counted in calendar days, so a weekend or holiday doesn't move the deadline. Go to the store the day before, or start an online return before the deadline.
Does a mail return have to arrive before the deadline?
It depends on the store. Most count the return as started when you request it or drop it off, but some want the item back within the window. If you're close, drop it off early and keep the tracking receipt.