Holiday Return Windows by Store for 2026
Target and Microsoft Store have posted 2026 holiday return windows that run into January 2027; Amazon, Apple and Best Buy still show standard windows.
By Olivia HarperContributing writer. Policy checked .
On this page
Store policies change. This is a summary in our own words of each store's official returns page, read on October 26, 2026. Many stores post their holiday rules in November, so check the store's page again before you shop for gifts.
Who has posted a 2026 holiday window
On October 26, 2026, two of the stores we checked had published an extended return window for this holiday season:
| Store | Holiday purchases made | Return by |
|---|---|---|
| Target, electronics and entertainment (not Apple or Beats) | November 1 to December 24, 2026 | January 24, 2027 |
| Target, Apple and Beats, unlocked or prepaid phones | November 1 to December 24, 2026 | January 8, 2027 |
| Target, most Target Plus items (not seasonal decor) | November 1 to December 24, 2026 | January 24, 2027 |
| Microsoft Store online, eligible physical products | October 1 to December 2, 2026 | January 31, 2027 |
Target
Target's holiday page says the return clock for qualifying purchases starts on December 26, 2026, not on the day you buy. From that date, electronics get 30 days and Apple, Beats and phones get 14 days. For the extra time that Target Circle Card holders and Target Circle 360 members get, the holiday page points to Target's main return policy.
Microsoft Store
Microsoft says eligible physical products bought from Microsoft Store online or Microsoft Experience Centers between October 1 and December 2, 2026, can go back through January 31, 2027. The usual limit of 5 product returns per purchase still applies, and some devices, such as the ROG Xbox Ally models, Surface Hub and HoloLens, are excluded. Purchases outside that window follow the normal 60 days from delivery.
Stores still showing their standard window
These pages had no 2026 holiday window when we read them, so the regular rules are the ones in print today:
| Store | Standard window on its page |
|---|---|
| Amazon | Most items, 30 days from delivery |
| Apple Store | 14 days from the day you receive the product |
| Best Buy | Most products, 15 days; My Best Buy Plus and Total members, 60 days |
| Best Buy, activatable devices such as phones | 14 days |
Best Buy also says Halloween and Christmas decorations have a 15-day window for every customer, members included.
How holiday returns usually work
- Check the purchase dates. Extended windows only cover items bought inside the stated range. A gift bought the week before the range starts follows the regular clock.
- Look at the category. Electronics and phones often get less time than the rest of the store, even during the holidays.
- Keep the receipt or gift receipt. Ask for a gift receipt at checkout so the person who gets the gift can return it.
- Read the exclusions. Each holiday page lists items or devices it leaves out, as Microsoft does for several devices.
When do holiday returns end?
For the two stores with 2026 windows, the last day is January 8, 2027 for Target's Apple, Beats and phone category, January 24, 2027 for Target's electronics, and January 31, 2027 for Microsoft Store. For everyone else, count from the date of delivery under the standard window until the store posts its holiday rules.
Sources
Holiday extended returns, Target; Returns, Microsoft Store; Returns and refunds, Amazon; Sales and refunds, Apple; Return and exchange policy, Best Buy. Policy checked October 26, 2026.