Return Basics
How Returns and Refunds Work, From Return Window to Refund
By the Returns & Refunds team · How we research
Summary
- Return windows are set by each store: usually 30 to 90 days, but often 14 to 30 days for electronics and 48 hours for major appliances.
- In store, the clock starts on the purchase date; online, usually on the delivery date.
- A receipt helps, but you often don't need it: most big stores can find purchases by card, phone number, or account.
- The refund clock starts when the store issues the refund, not when you drop off the item. Card refunds then take about 3–10 business days.
On this page (8 sections)
Returning something should be simple, but each store has its own window, exceptions, receipt rules, and refund timing. Here is the whole process in six steps, with a link to the detailed guide for each.
Step 1: Check the return window
The return window is how long the store will take the item back. It’s set by each retailer and often varies by product.
- Typical windows: 90 days at many big-box stores, 30 days at department and apparel stores, 14–30 days for electronics and phones, and as little as 48 hours for major appliances at Home Depot and Lowe’s.
- When it starts: in store, on the purchase date. Online, usually on the delivery date (a few retailers count from shipment or order date).
- Longer windows: store credit cards and memberships often add time, for example a Target Circle Card, Kohl’s Card, Home Depot credit card, or My Best Buy Plus membership.
- Gifts: the window starts when the giver bought it, not when you received it. A gift receipt shows the date.
Look up any store in our store return policies table, or get an exact date from the return deadline calculator.
Step 2: Find your proof of purchase
The store needs to confirm you bought the item from them, when, and for how much.
- Best: the itemized receipt, order confirmation email, or the purchase in the store’s app or account.
- Next best: the card you paid with (staff at many stores can look up card transactions), or the phone number on your rewards account.
- Supporting: a bank or card statement showing the date and amount.
No receipt? Read how to return something without a receipt and how to get a copy of a lost receipt before you go.
Step 3: Check condition, exclusions, and fees
Plenty of returns are refused for reasons that have nothing to do with the deadline.
Condition. Most stores want items new or unused, with tags, original packaging, and all accessories, manuals, and cables. Some accept used items: Sephora and Ulta take gently used beauty products, and Nike Members can return worn items within 60 days.
Exclusions. Commonly non-returnable or exchange-only: gift cards, personalized or custom items, digital downloads, opened software, music, movies, and video games, trading cards, and some health and personal-care items. Final-sale and clearance items may be excluded too.
Fees. Some stores charge restocking fees on opened electronics. Best Buy, for example, charges $45 on opened phones and other activatable devices and 15% on some camera and drone categories. Some online sellers also deduct return shipping.
Step 4: Start the return
In store
- Bring the item with its packaging and accessories, your receipt or the card you paid with, and a photo ID.
- Many online orders can also be returned in store, which is usually the fastest way to get a refund.
- For electronics, back up and erase the device and sign out of your accounts first.
By mail
- Start the return in your account or the store’s app to get a label or QR code.
- Pack the item securely, with everything that came in the box.
- Keep the drop-off receipt and tracking number until the refund has posted. It’s your proof the store received the item.
Step 5: Track the refund
The refund is issued after the store processes the return: immediately at a store counter, or after the item arrives and is inspected for mail returns.
| Refund method | Typical time after the store issues it |
|---|---|
| Cash | Immediately |
| Store credit or gift card | Same day |
| Credit card | 3–5 business days (may show on your next statement) |
| Debit card | Up to 10 business days |
| PayPal | Quick to your balance; card or bank timing if refunded there |
If it hasn’t arrived after that, see refund taking too long?, which also covers disputing a missing refund with your card issuer.
Step 6: Keep proof for the warranty
Once the return window closes, the manufacturer’s warranty becomes your protection against defects, usually for a year or more.
- Keep the receipt or order email for the full warranty period. A photo or PDF is fine.
- Note the model and serial number.
- Registering the product can speed up claims, though many brands don’t require it.
If something breaks, follow the warranty claim checklist, and use the warranty expiry calculator to check whether you’re still covered.
Mistakes that cost people refunds
- Throwing away the packaging too soon. Keep it until the return window has passed, especially for electronics.
- Waiting until the last day. Mail returns need transit time, and a delayed drop-off can miss the window.
- Mailing a return without tracking. Without a tracking number, you can’t prove the store received it.
- Ignoring category exceptions. A 90-day store can have a 14-day window for phones.
- Losing the receipt before the warranty ends. Photograph it the day you buy.
- Assuming no receipt means no return. Most big stores can find the purchase, so ask before giving up.
Are stores required to accept returns?
Generally not. In the US, a store’s return policy is its own choice, and stores can refuse returns outside it. Some states, including California and New York, require stores to post their refund policy and give you 30 days to return unused items if they don’t. Defective products are a separate matter, covered by written warranties and by implied warranties under state law. See does the law require a store to take returns?
Common questions
How long do I have to return something?
It depends on the store and the item. 90 days is common at big-box stores (Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Lowe's, Kohl's), 30 days at many department and apparel stores, and 14–30 days for electronics. Our store return policy table compares 35 retailers.
Do I need a receipt to return something?
Not always. Most large stores can look up the purchase from the card you paid with, your phone number, or your store account. Without any record, you'll usually get store credit at the lowest recent price and need to show ID.
Can a store refuse a return?
Yes. Return policies are voluntary in the US, so a store can refuse items outside its window, excluded items, items not in the required condition, or returns flagged by a return-verification system. Some states require stores to post their policy, and defective products are covered by warranties.
How long does a refund take?
Once the store issues it, credit card refunds usually post in 3–5 business days and debit card refunds can take up to 10. For mailed returns, add shipping and inspection time (often one to two weeks) before the refund is issued.
What if a product breaks after the return window?
Use the manufacturer's warranty, which typically lasts a year or more. You'll need dated proof of purchase and the serial number. Some credit cards also extend manufacturer warranties if you paid with them.
Related guides
We have no business relationship with the stores or brands on this page. Policies change without much notice, so check the store's own policy page before you count on a deadline. If something here is out of date, let us know.