The Ultimate Guide to Shopping Kohl's Clearance Sales

If you love finding a great bargain, navigating a department store clearance section is a thrilling experience. Kohl’s is famous for its generous coupon policies and rewards program, but the real magic happens when you combine those perks with their clearance markdowns. This guide will teach you exactly how to maximize your savings and uncover the best deals hidden on those clearance racks.

Decoding the Digital Price Tags

Kohl’s uses electronic price tags on their shelves, which makes it easy for them to update prices quickly. However, these digital displays also hold secret codes that tell you exactly what kind of deal you are getting. Look closely at the upper right corner of the digital tag. If you see a small square, that item is at its lowest price of the season. If you see a star, the item is a permanent markdown. Knowing these symbols helps you decide whether to buy now or wait for a further price drop.

The Magic of Gold Star Clearance

While regular clearance is great, Kohl’s Gold Star Clearance events are where you find the most massive discounts. During these specific events, Kohl’s takes an extra percentage off already reduced clearance items. You will often see racks marked at 70 percent to 80 percent off original prices. These events typically happen at the end of major seasons, like late January for winter apparel and late August for summer gear. Brands like Nike, Under Armour, and Sonoma Goods for Life frequently end up on these heavily discounted racks.

Stacking Coupons on Clearance Items

One of the biggest advantages of shopping at Kohl’s is their coupon policy. Unlike many other retailers, Kohl’s allows you to use most of their percentage-off coupons on clearance merchandise. If you find a sweater marked down by 60 percent on the clearance rack and you have a 20 percent off coupon from their email newsletter or mailer, you can stack that coupon on top of the clearance price. Just be aware that some premium brands, like Columbia or Levi’s, are excluded from promotional coupons, even when they are on clearance. Always check the fine print on your coupon.

Maximizing Kohl's Cash

Kohl’s Cash is a cornerstone of the store’s loyalty program, and it works beautifully with clearance shopping. You earn ten dollars in Kohl’s Cash for every fifty dollars you spend during specific promotional periods. The best part is that buying clearance items counts toward that fifty dollar threshold. Furthermore, when the redemption period begins, you can spend your earned Kohl’s Cash on anything in the store, including clearance items. This means you can potentially score clearance items for absolutely free if you have enough Kohl’s Cash saved up.

In-Store Versus Online Clearance

While shopping online at Kohls.com offers convenience, the in-store clearance experience often yields better hidden gems. Physical stores need to clear out inventory to make room for new seasonal displays, leading to localized markdowns that you might not find on the website. Store associates often group clearance items by department, so be sure to check the back corners of the shoe department, the home goods section, and the men’s and women’s apparel areas. Online clearance is excellent for finding specific sizes, but in-store shopping is best for unexpected, rock-bottom prices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I return Kohl’s clearance items? Yes, Kohl’s has a very generous return policy. You can return most clearance items within 180 days of purchase, just like regular-priced merchandise. Having your receipt or the card you used to make the purchase makes the process much faster.

What days does Kohl’s mark down clearance? Kohl’s typically does their major store markdowns on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. Shopping on Sunday morning or Monday is usually the best time to find freshly reduced clearance items before the racks get picked over.