Kohl Holiday Clearance Guide

Kohl Holiday Clearance Guide

I’ve been quietly studying Kohl’s holiday clearance patterns for years, tracking markdown cycles, testing stackable deals, and yes, doing the awkward math in the aisle to see if that 70% off plus Kohl’s Cash plus rewards is actually worth it.

This Kohl Holiday Clearance Guide is everything I’ve learned from my own receipts, the fine print, and way too many post-Christmas “quick stops” that turned into full-blown treasure hunts.

When Kohl’s Holiday Clearance REALLY Starts

I used to assume clearance started in January. Wrong. The real magic at Kohl’s kicks in way earlier.

The basic timeline (that I’ve seen over multiple years)

I recently discovered that Kohl’s quietly starts shifting some holiday inventory to markdowns before the big day, especially seasonal décor and novelty gift sets. It’s usually around 30–50% off on top of existing “sale” prices, but inventory is still full, so the urgency isn’t there yet.

In my experience, the serious clearance begins the day after Christmas. Holiday-specific items (ornaments, wrapping paper, kids’ holiday pajamas, themed home décor) typically jump to 50–60% off, sometimes labeled as “After Christmas Clearance.” I’ve watched this pattern repeat from about 2019 onward.

This is when you’ll see:

• Huge bins of gift wrap and bows near the front
• Holiday pajamas moved to clearance racks
• Seasonal kitchen items (mugs, towels, cookie tins) with big red clearance stickers

When I tested waiting until mid-January one year, I scored Christmas décor at 70–80% off, but the selection was hit-or-miss. If you’re picky about style or sizes, this is where the tradeoff begins:

• Better savings, but much worse selection
• More random “one left in this size” situations

This is the “if you see it, grab it” period. Some stores will go up to 80–90% off holiday-specific items just to clear the shelves. I once grabbed a $39.99 light-up wreath for $3.99 in late January… but that was literally the last one.

What Actually Goes on Holiday Clearance (and What Doesn’t)

A lot of shoppers assume everything slightly festive gets slashed, but Kohl’s is more surgical than that.

Almost always on clearance

In my experience, these categories consistently hit strong markdowns:

• Holiday décor: ornaments, wreaths, garlands, stockings, tree skirts, light-up décor
• Seasonal home items: Christmas-themed pillows, throws, table runners, dish towels
• Gift wrap + packaging: wrapping paper, gift bags, tissue, bows, labels, storage totes
• Holiday kitchen & baking: novelty mugs, cookie tins, holiday spatulas, baking sets
• Kids’ and family holiday pajamas: anything with reindeer, Santa, snowmen, or 202X printed on it
• Holiday-themed beauty/gift sets: bath sets, fragrance samplers, small beauty kits

Sometimes on clearance… sometimes not

When I tracked several seasons in-store and online, these were hit-or-miss:

• Toys: Often discounted, but not always part of “holiday clearance” specifically—just normal sales
• Electronics & small appliances: Air fryers, coffee makers, and smart gadgets are usually part of separate promos, not true holiday clearance
• General winter clothing: Coats and sweaters follow their own markdown cycle; they aren’t strictly “holiday” items

Rarely part of deep holiday markdowns

• High-demand brands like Nike, Under Armour, Adidas usually sit in their own promo world
• Premium beauty brands often have stricter pricing agreements
• Big-ticket electronics and tech accessories

The Stacking Game: How to Max Out Savings (Without Losing Your Mind)

I’ve learned the hard way that Kohl’s stacking rules can feel like a Sudoku puzzle. But once you crack the pattern, holiday clearance gets wild.

The basic stack formula I use

When I tested different combinations over a few seasons, this general order got me the best results:

1. Base clearance price (e.g., 70% off ornament set)
2. % off coupons (20% or 30% off when eligible)
3. Kohl’s Rewards earning (usually 5% back in rewards, per Kohl’s policy)
4. Redeem Kohl’s Cash (from earlier purchases or holiday promos)

Kohl’s states on its site that you typically can’t use % off coupons on certain brands or price types and some items are simply excluded. But for store brands and most seasonal items, those 20–30% coupons often do work on clearance.

A real example from my receipt

Last year, I grabbed a set of holiday throw pillows originally priced at $49.99:

• Marked down 70%: $15.00
• Extra 20% off home purchase coupon: $12.00
• Used $5 Kohl’s Cash: final out-of-pocket $7.00
• Earned 5% back in points: $0.35 in rewards

That’s roughly 86% off effective value.

Was it a little nerdy to calculate this on my phone calculator in the aisle? Absolutely. Did it feel amazing? Also yes.

The fine print that trips people up

From my own trials and triple-checking receipts:

• Coupons: Not all % off coupons apply to “Clearance + Doorbusters.” Sometimes you’ll get a “does not apply to clearance” note in the app. Always tap into the offer details.
• Kohl’s Cash: You can usually use it on clearance, but you won’t earn more Kohl’s Cash using it—only on the actual cash portion of what you pay.
• Price adjustments: Kohl’s historically hasn’t allowed price adjustments on items bought with Kohl’s Cash or certain promos. If you’re buying early in the markdown cycle, I mentally accept that prices might drop further and I’m trading savings for selection.

For official rules, I keep an eye on Kohl’s published policies, because they do tweak them occasionally.

Best Days and Times to Shop Holiday Clearance

When I asked a store associate in late December about when new markdowns go live, she laughed and said, “You didn’t hear it from me, but come early.” After casually chatting with staff over a few seasons, I picked up a rough rhythm.

Morning > Evening

When I’ve gone right after open (especially on weekends following major holidays):

• Racks were tidier and easier to scan
• Markdowns had just been labeled
• Fewer people were hovering around the clearance walls

By the evening, the clearance areas looked like a small storm had rolled through.

Watch the weekly ad cycle

Kohl’s typically runs new promos starting Thursday or Friday, so I’ve had good luck checking clearance sections right after any ad change. Sometimes holiday markdowns jump another level to sync with the new promo.

Online vs. in-store

When I tested online clearance vs. in-store:

• Online: Better for specific SKUs and sizes, easier to filter; occasionally better coupon stacking
• In-store: Wild-card finds that never show up online, plus local price markdowns

I’ve even seen certain items marked 80% off in-store while still showing full price online. If you’re serious about scoring, it’s worth checking both.

Smart Strategy vs. “It’s 90% Off, I Must Buy It” Brain

There’s a danger zone with clearance shopping: it’s very easy to buy junk just because the discount is huge.

Questions I force myself to ask in the aisle

These are the little mental brakes I’ve had to install for myself:

• “Would I have wanted this at 50% off, or only at 80%?” If it’s only attractive at the absolute lowest price, it’s probably clutter.
• “Will I definitely use this next season?” Especially relevant for wrapping paper, ornaments, or themed bakeware.
• “Do I already have something similar?” I once came home with three holiday throw blankets in one season. Not proud of that.

Pros of Kohl’s holiday clearance

From all my post-holiday experiments:

• Extremely deep discounts on truly seasonal stuff
• Ability to stack clearance with coupons and Kohl’s Cash (when eligible)
• Good quality on many home and décor items, especially Kohl’s own brands
• Rewards system that keeps paying you back on top of the deals

Cons and limitations

To stay honest:

• Selection thins out fast in popular sizes and neutral styles
• Some deals look better than they really are if the “original price” was inflated
• Not all coupons stack the way you’d assume—they’re full of exclusions
• It’s easy to overspend because everything feels cheap

My Personal Playbook for Kohl’s Holiday Clearance

If I had to condense years of receipt-analyzing and cart-pushing into one simple game plan, here’s how I approach it now:

1. Shop once right after Christmas (Dec 26–30) for:

• Next year’s gift wrap and gift bags
• A few décor pieces I really want while selection is solid

1. Check again in mid-January (if I’m nearby) for:

• Deeply discounted items that I don’t care as much about style-wise (extra lights, storage bins, backup wrapping paper)

1. Use the app religiously to:

• Track which coupons actually apply to clearance
• Store my Kohl’s Cash and Rewards so I’m not fumbling at checkout

1. Set a firm budget before going near the clearance aisles. If I don’t, that $7 wreath becomes a $120 “how did this happen” moment.

When I started treating Kohl’s holiday clearance like a strategy instead of a free-for-all, my savings went up—and my post-shopping regret plummeted.

If you plan it right, Kohl’s holiday clearance isn’t just a random bargain bin. It’s a predictable season you can work around, stack deals on, and quietly stock your future holidays for a fraction of the full price.

Sources

• Kohl’s Official Coupons & Promotions - Current coupon and stacking policy details
• Kohl’s Rewards Program Overview - How Kohl’s Rewards and Kohl’s Cash work
• Forbes: How Retailers Use Markdown Strategies - Industry insight on clearance and markdown cycles
• CNN Business: Post-Holiday Sales Trends - Context on after-Christmas retail patterns
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Consumer Spending Data - Reference for broader consumer spending and seasonal trends