How Target Clearance Markdowns Work
Target publishes no clearance schedule; shopping guides report markdowns in steps of about 30, 50 and 70 percent, with 90 percent mostly after holidays.
By Olivia HarperContributing writer. Policy checked .
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Store practices change. Target does not publish how or when it marks down clearance; its Help pages only say how clearance fits with price matching and rain checks. Those parts below come from Target's Price Match Guarantee page, read on October 27, 2026. The markdown pattern comes from two shopping guides, The Krazy Coupon Lady (updated February 2025) and MoneyLion (June 2026). It is reported, not official, so confirm prices at your store.
What Target itself says
Target's Help pages state a few firm rules about clearance:
| Rule | What Target says |
|---|---|
| Store vs. online | Online clearance prices are separate from in-store clearance prices |
| Finding store clearance | In-store clearance prices are not shown online; those items can only be found and bought in a store |
| Price match | Clearance, closeout and liquidation items are excluded |
| Rain checks | Clearance items cannot be rain-checked |
So a clearance tag you see on a shelf will not show up in the app, and a lower clearance price at another store or online is not something Target will match.
The markdown steps, as reported
Both guides describe clearance as a series of steps rather than one price cut:
| Step | Reported discount |
|---|---|
| First markdown | About 30 percent (MoneyLion also reports 15 percent as a first step) |
| Middle | 50 percent |
| Later | 70 percent |
| Final, mostly seasonal and holiday items | Up to 90 percent |
The Krazy Coupon Lady says regular clearance rarely goes past 70 percent, and that 90 percent is mainly for holiday goods such as Christmas, Halloween and Easter items. It adds that household essentials often sell out before they reach 70 percent.
How to read the tag
Both guides point to the small number in the upper right corner of the clearance sticker: it shows the percent off the original price, and so how far along the item is. A 30 or 50 there means the item may drop again if it does not sell; a 70 or 90 suggests it is near the end. The Krazy Coupon Lady also says the bottom of the tag shows the date the markdown began.
Is there a weekly schedule?
Not one Target confirms. Lists that assign departments to weekdays circulate online, but The Krazy Coupon Lady says there is no universal schedule, and MoneyLion calls the day-by-day pattern rumored and says local stores may set their own. Both say markdowns vary by store.
Online clearance is shallower
Both guides report that online clearance discounts usually top out around 50 percent, while store clearance can go deeper. Since Target confirms the two are priced separately, check the shelf before assuming the website shows the lowest price.
Tips for shoppers
- Watch the corner number. Lots of stock at 30 percent may drop later; scarce items may not last.
- Do not count on a match. Target excludes clearance from price matching and rain checks.
- Shop after holidays if you want the deepest seasonal markdowns, as both guides report.
- Ask your store. Staff know their own markdown routine better than any online list.
Sources
Price Match Guarantee, Target, read October 27, 2026. Your complete guide to Target clearance, The Krazy Coupon Lady; Target summer clearance secrets, MoneyLion. The markdown pattern is as reported by these guides; confirm with Target.