Major US retailers have released their shipping and return policies for the 2026 holiday shopping season, with several companies extending return windows past the new year and offering delivery options tied to membership programs and minimum purchase amounts. The policies cover purchases made in the final months of the year and apply to both members and non-members at many of the retailers.
Amazon is offering extended holiday returns, with most items purchased between November 1st and December 31st eligible for return until January 31st, 2027, while Apple products must be returned by January 15th, 2027. Same-day delivery is unavailable on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s, and is limited on Black Friday. Prime members receive free same-day delivery on qualifying orders in qualifying ZIP codes if they meet a minimum qualifying dollar threshold that varies by location, and one-day and two-day delivery with no minimum purchase is also available to Prime members for qualifying products.
Apple is offering an extended return period for online orders received between November 6th and December 25th, allowing returns until January 8th, 2027. Purchases made after December 25th generally fall under standard terms and must be returned within 14 calendar days of the initial purchase date. The company has not yet provided details on its holiday shipping policy, though it offers free next-day or two-hour delivery from local stores in most metro areas for an additional fee.
Target provides free two-day shipping on many orders of $35 or more or for shoppers using a Target Circle Card. Same-day delivery costs $9.99 per order but is included with a Target Circle 360 membership at $10.99 a month or $99 a year. Electronics and entertainment items purchased between November 1st and December 24th can be returned until January 24th, 2027, while mobile phones and Apple products, including Beats products, bought in that window must be returned by January 8th, 2027.
Best Buy offers free next-day and two-day shipping on qualifying orders for My Best Buy Plus and My Best Buy Total members, while non-members can get free next-day shipping on qualifying orders of $35 or more. Most products purchased between October 30th and December 31st can be returned until January 15th, 2027, though activatable devices such as smartphones and wearables remain subject to a 14-day limit and holiday decorations are limited to 15 days regardless of purchase date. B&H Photo allows returns within 30 days of delivery for items in new condition and original packaging, and most items purchased between November 1st and January 1st can be returned until February 1st, 2027.
Costco maintains a generally open return policy, except for electronics such as TVs and computers, which carry a 90-day return window. GameStop offers free shipping only to GameStop Pro members on orders of $54 or more and has not yet listed its holiday return policy; standard returns are accepted within 15 days for unopened products with a receipt, and Pro members get 30 days. Dell’s extended policy allows purchases made between November 1st and December 29th to be returned until January 15th, 2027, and orders placed by December 23rd with qualifying express delivery windows are expected to arrive before December 25th.
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