Walmart Year End Clearance Guide

Walmart Year End Clearance Guide

I’m mildly obsessed with year-end clearance hunting, and Walmart is one of those stores where, if you know what you’re doing, you can stack timing, markdown patterns, and a little tech to pay 70–90% less than everyone else. When I tested some of these tactics last year, I bought over $300 worth of stuff (toys, small appliances, and holiday decor) for about $78. And I still get texts from friends asking, “Wait, how did you find that air fryer for $25?”

This is the playbook I actually use.

When Walmart Year-End Clearance Really Starts

The phrase “year-end” is a little misleading. Walmart doesn’t wait until January 1 to start slashing prices. The waves start earlier.

From watching it in-store and tracking deals for a few years, here’s the typical pattern I’ve seen:

• Dec 20–24:
• Early markdowns on Christmas decor, gift sets, and seasonal candy (often 30–50% off before the holidays even end).
• I recently discovered a full aisle of pre-Christmas clearance at 50% off on December 23 — wrapping paper, ribbons, and “ugly” sweaters already marked down.

• Dec 26–30:
• Big jump: Most holiday items go to 50–75% off.
• This is when I stock up on wrapping paper for the next year. In my experience, the sweet spot is December 27–28: enough discount, but shelves aren’t totally wrecked yet.

• Early January (roughly Jan 2–15):
• Deep clearance on leftover holiday, toys, winter apparel, and select electronics.
• You’ll see random “hidden clearance” items in regular aisles — not always tagged on the shelf.

Walmart doesn’t publish an official clearance calendar (I’ve looked, multiple times), but both my experience and deal communities like BrickSeek users and r/walmart on Reddit echo the same trend: the day after major holidays is when the markdown engine revs up.

The Secret Sauce: Understanding Walmart’s Markdown System

Walmart’s clearance looks chaotic, but it follows patterns.

When I tested scanning random items with the Walmart app over several trips, I started noticing:

• Yellow clearance tags in-store don’t always show the lowest price.
• The Walmart app price can be lower than the shelf tag, especially on year-end clearance.
• Some items aren’t marked as clearance at all, but ring up as “secret” or hidden clearance.

How markdowns usually move

In my experience, non-seasonal items (like small appliances or toys) go through markdown stages roughly like this:

1. Full price → promo/rollback
2. 15–30% off
3. 50% off
4. 70–75% off (if they really need space)

Seasonal items (holiday decor, gift sets, etc.) can move even faster, especially right after Christmas and New Year’s.

Retail analysts have talked about Walmart’s aggressive inventory cleanup strategy the last few years. For example, Walmart’s 2022 earnings calls cited excess inventory as a reason for heavy markdowns in categories like apparel and home goods (Forbes and CNBC both covered this). That pattern hasn’t entirely gone away, and it often shows up as massive clearance at the end of the year.

Use the Walmart App Like a Clearance Radar

If you only do one thing from this guide, make it this: use the Walmart app in-store.

When I tested this side-by-side, I found multiple items where:

• Shelf tag: $19.98
• Walmart app in that same store: $9
• Final register price: $9

How I scan like a maniac (and why you should too)

1. Install the Walmart app and sign in.
2. When you’re physically in the store, open the app and tap the barcode scanner icon.
3. Scan anything that looks like it might be on clearance — toys, random end caps, holiday leftovers, appliances, clothes.

In my experience, clearance end caps sometimes miss updated signs, but the system price is already lower. I once scanned a giant LEGO set after Christmas that had a $59 tag but rang up at $25 in the app. That was my kid’s birthday present sorted months in advance.

Note: Online prices and in-store prices can be different. The app will usually show you “This store” pricing when you’re physically there.

What to Target During Year-End Clearance

Here’s what I’ve personally scored well on, and what’s usually worth hunting.

1. Holiday & Seasonal Stuff

• Wrapping paper, bows, bags, cards
• Artificial trees, lights, ornaments
• Holiday baking items and candy (check expiry dates!)

When I tested buying ahead last year, I spent about $18 on wrapping paper, bags, and cards that would’ve been around $70 pre-Christmas. Having a stash at home feels ridiculously good the next year.

Pros: Huge discounts, predictable timing. Cons: You’re storing this stuff for a year. Space matters.

2. Toys

Toy clearance is my favorite year-end hack.

Right after Christmas, Walmart tends to clear out overstock and older lines to make room for new product cycles. I’ve found name-brand toys (Hot Wheels, Barbie, LEGO, Nerf) at 50–75% off.

What I do:

• Buy classic toys on clearance in late December/January.
• Keep a “gift bin” at home for kids’ birthdays throughout the year.

It’s not just anecdotal; NPD Group (a big market research firm) has reported for years that retailers front-load toy inventory before the holidays, then discount unsold stock heavily once demand cools.

3. Small Appliances & Home Goods

Air fryers, coffee makers, vacuums, bedding, small storage items — these often sneak into clearance around year-end.

In my experience, these don’t always sit in the dedicated clearance aisle. I’ve found them:

• On random end caps
• On top-shelf overstock areas
• Mixed into regular aisles with only a small yellow sticker

One year I grabbed a name-brand air fryer for around 65% off because I scanned it “just in case.” Shelf tag showed a minor rollback; the system price was way lower.

4. Clothing & Seasonal Apparel

Winter apparel and holiday-themed clothing go on aggressive markdown as soon as the calendar flips.

You’ll see:

• Pajama sets
• Sweaters and hoodies
• Coats and boots
• Holiday socks, tees, pajamas

The upside is obvious: super cheap. The downside is sizing — popular sizes vanish fast. If you’re comfortable buying for “future you” (or kids a size up), this can be a goldmine.

The Best Days & Times to Go

I’ve tested different times out of curiosity — yes, I’m that person.

What’s worked best for me:

• Morning on Dec 26–27: Fresh markdowns, shelves not yet destroyed.
• Weekday mornings in early January: Less competition, better chance to find hidden clearance.

Some employees I’ve spoken to casually (especially in toys and home) have mentioned that markdowns are often entered early in the day or overnight, then tags catch up later. That matches what I’ve seen: scanning early yields surprises.

I don’t treat this as an exact science — Walmart policies can vary by store, and managers have some flexibility. But going early and on weekdays has consistently worked better than peak evenings or weekends.

Pros and Cons of Walmart Year-End Clearance

I love the hunt, but it’s not all wins.

What’s awesome:

• Huge savings, especially on seasonal and toys (50–90% off isn’t rare).
• Great for stocking up for next year and building a gift stash.
• The app lets you find deals others miss.

What’s not so great:

• Selection can be wildly inconsistent between stores.
• You might need to visit more than one location to find big wins.
• It’s easy to buy stuff you don’t actually need because it’s “such a deal.”

I’ve had trips where I walked out with insane bargains, and others where I left with one half-off candle and some candy. The unpredictability is part of the game.

How to Avoid Overspending on “Deals”

This is the part that doesn’t get talked about much in the hype.

When I first got into clearance hunting, I brought home way too many “future gifts” and “backup wrapping paper” and “this might be useful someday” items. Some of it sat in a closet for a year.

Now I use a simple filter for myself:

• Would I buy this at full price if I truly needed it? If no, I pause.
• Is there an actual use or person in mind? Random maybes usually become clutter.
• Do I have space to store it for months? Especially for seasonal.

Also, check return policies. Walmart’s return window can vary by category and season. Their official policy page outlines timing and exceptions, and some holiday items have more limited windows.

Putting It All Together: A Simple Game Plan

If you want a quick blueprint based on what’s actually worked for me:

1. Dec 26–30: Hit your nearest Walmart once, morning if possible.

• Focus on holiday, toys, and a quick sweep of appliances and home.
• Scan anything that looks promising with the app.

1. First or second week of January: Go again on a weekday morning.

• Look for deeper markdowns, especially on toys, clothes, and leftover seasonal.

1. Set a budget before you go.

• I literally set a number on my phone notes and stick to it.

1. Create a “gift bin” at home.

• Label it by age range or occasion. That way deals actually get used.

When I followed this plan last year, I ended up saving a few hundred dollars across the year on gifts and household stuff — without feeling like I turned my home into a clearance warehouse.

Sources

• Walmart Corporate – Return & Refund Policy - Official details on Walmart’s return timelines and exceptions.
• CNBC – Walmart warns of aggressive markdowns to clear excess inventory (July 2022) - Coverage of Walmart’s inventory and markdown strategy.
• Forbes – What Walmart’s Inventory Glut Reveals About Retail - Analysis of Walmart’s approach to clearing excess stock.
• Harvard Business School – Retail Inventory Management - Background on how large retailers manage inventory and markdowns.
• NPD Group (now Circana) – Holiday Toy Sales Trends - Market research insights on toy inventory and post-holiday patterns.