Target Ends Price Matching Policy! What To Know This September

Who Does Target Price Match in 2025? New Policy Explained
For savvy Target shoppers, the Price Match Guarantee is more than just a store perk—it's a crucial tool for saving money. It's the ultimate safety net, ensuring you never feel that sting of buyer's remorse after finding an item for less somewhere else. But in 2025, Target completely rewrote the rulebook, and the policy that many shoppers knew and loved has changed significantly.
Navigating these new rules can feel like a part-time job. You want to know if you can still match competitors, how the 14-day price adjustment refund policy works, and whether you can stack savings on top of other Target promo codes. The good news is, we've done the homework for you. Here at DealNews, our whole mission is to make sure you get the best deal, every single time. Consider this your definitive guide to saving the most money possible with Target's updated Price Match Guarantee.
Top Target Deals
Target Top Deals
Up to 60% offFind the top discounts from Target in this sale, which features savings across categories like home, apparel, electronics, toys, and more.
Target Grocery Top Deals
Up to 50% off w/ select promotionsStock up on all your grocery favorites for less with this rotating selection of top grocery deals at Target. You can shop by categories like beverage, snack, coffee, pantry, frozen foods, and more to make sure you check everything off your weekly grocery list and prevent the need for a last-minute trip when you're at your busiest. Plus, you can opt for drive-up pickup in many cases to have the groceries brought right to your car.
Target Home Clearance Deals
Up to 43% offGive all parts of your home refresh for less with this selection of Target home clearance deals. You can shop by categories like furniture, bedding, kitchen, dining, and even holiday to get exactly what you need without spending hours searching. Plus, you'll earn free shipping on orders of $35 or more. (You can also opt for in-store pickup where it's available to get your items even sooner.)
Target Clothing Clearance Deals
Up to 60% offShop for deeply discounted clothing for the whole family in Target's clothing clearance deals. You can narrow your search by categories like Women's, Men's, Girls', Boys', and more so you can spend less time looking for a deal and add exactly what you need to your cart sooner. Plus, orders of $35 or more bag free shipping, or you can opt for in-store pickup where it's available to get your items even sooner.
Target Clearance Deals
Up to 45% offNo matter what you're looking to add to your Target cart, the best place to start is with the Clearance section. Then you can narrow your search by categories like beauty, personal care, holiday items, and even items under $10 or $20. Plus you can bag free shipping on orders of $35 or more, or opt for in-store pickup if available to get your items even sooner.
Target Weekly Ad Deals
Limited-time savingsBefore your next Target run, be sure to take a look at their Weekly Ad to note the best deals available right now. You'll find the latest and greatest grocery deals, seasonal items, clothing, home goods, household essentials, electronics, and more at some of their best prices. But don't wait too long - these deals are valid from Sunday to the following Saturday, so take advantage before the next ad releases!
Target Circle 360 for Circle Card Holders
50% off annual subscriptionIf you're a Target Circle Card holder, you can sign up for a Target Circle 360 membership and save 50%. That means getting a full year of perks for just $49. Even better is the fact this is an ongoing offer, which means you can take advantage any time as long as you keep your Circle Card open. Benefits include things like monthly freebies, access to early sales, same-day delivery from Target as well as other local stores, free shipping on hundreds of thousands of items, and more.
Target Circle 360 for Government Assistance Receivers
$4.99/mo.Those receiving government assistance can snag a Target Circle 360 membership for just $4.99 per month. That's a 50% savings over the typical monthly cost and offers benefits like early access to sales, monthly freebies, same-day delivery from Target and other local stores, and more. Note that you'll need to verify your status, but once you do you can start taking advantage of all the perks Target Circle 360 has to offer.
Target Circle 360 for College Students
$4.99/mo.College students can verify your status and snag a Target Circle 360 membership for just $4.99 per month. That's a 50% savings over the typical monthly cost and offers benefits such as early access to sales, monthly freebies, same-day delivery from Target and other local stores, and more.
Target Circle 360 for Teachers
50% off annual subscriptionTeachers can verify your status with Target and get a year of Target Circle 360 for just $49. Note that this offer is only available during select times of year, but if you're interested in signing up, it's worth checking to see if you can snag that 50% savings. Benefits include tons of discounts as well as same-day delivery from Target and other local stores on orders of $35 or more.
Does Target Price Match Now?
Let's get straight to the point. The biggest change to Target's policy is that they no longer price match external competitors like Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, GameStop, or any of the others they used to. This is a major shift from their old policy, and it's essential to know before you head to the checkout line.
So, who does Target price match in 2025? The short answer: itself.
The new policy focuses entirely on prices within Target's own ecosystem. This means Target will match the price of an item if you find it cheaper on Target.com or in the Target app while you're shopping in a physical store, or vice versa. You can also request a price adjustment if the price drops at Target within 14 days of your purchase.
Understanding What Qualifies for a Price Match
Now, even with the simplified "Target vs. Target" policy, there are some non-negotiable rules about what qualifies for a price match. It's not enough for an item to be similar; it has to be absolutely identical. Think of it as a perfect twin, matching the brand name, model number, size, weight, color, and even the quantity down to the last detail. So, if you find a six-pack of your favorite sparkling water on sale on Target.com, you can't match that price to the twelve-pack in your physical cart. There's no wiggle room here, as the systems are set up to match exact product codes.
Beyond being identical, the item must also be in stock at the lower price at the very moment you request the match. This is a key detail because Target won't honor a price for an item that is sold out or unavailable online. The price has to be live and verifiable by the Target employee assisting you. This is precisely why they need to see the product page on your phone's browser or in the Target app, not just a screenshot, so they can confirm both the price and its availability for purchase.
The rules for getting a price adjustment after you've already made your purchase are just as specific. You have a 14-day window from the original purchase date to claim a refund for the price difference. To do this, having your original receipt or the packing slip from your online order is essential. This is your proof of purchase, and it's what allows the Guest Services team to look up your transaction and process the refund accurately back to your original form of payment.
So, What Doesn't Qualify for Target's Price Match Policy?
The Price Match Guarantee is meant to apply to standard, everyday pricing. Therefore, it doesn't cover items on clearance, closeout, liquidation, or any other final-sale situation. This also extends to products that aren't brand new, such as refurbished or open-box items. This common-sense rule also protects Target from having to honor obvious typographical errors—so don't expect to get that $500 TV for $50 because of a website glitch.
Beyond those main categories, there are a few final, straightforward rules to keep in mind. These mostly have to do with where the price is coming from:
- No Third-Party Sellers: The item must be sold directly by Target. This means items sold by Target Plus Partners or other marketplace sellers on Target.com are excluded.
- No Store-to-Store Matching: You can't match a lower price you saw at a different Target location across town. The match must be between your current physical store and Target.com.
- Location Exclusions: Target stores in Alaska and Hawaii are exempt from price matching online prices.
Knowing the rules of the road is crucial to a successful price match, and this is where the fine print really matters. One of the biggest areas of confusion for shoppers involves stacking discounts. Target's policy is designed to give you the single best price, but not to let you combine multiple offers on one item.
For example, if you have a Target Circle category offer, like "20% off all home goods," you cannot apply that on top of a price match. Instead, the cashier will apply whichever of the two provides a bigger discount. Similarly, you can't get a price match on an item that is part of a promotional gift card deal, like "Buy two qualifying detergents, get a $5 Target GiftCard."
Knowing these exceptions ahead of time makes it so much easier to spot a deal that you know will qualify for a match.
How to Request Your Price Match Refund
Okay, so you've found an identical item for less on Target.com while browsing the aisles, or you noticed the price dropped on that kettle you just bought last week. What's next? Getting your money back is actually a pretty painless process, but the steps are slightly different depending on whether you're standing in a store or shopping from your couch. Knowing the right moves will make getting your discount or refund for the price difference quick and easy.
Option 1: In a Target Store
For instant gratification, nothing beats getting your price match right in the store. The best part is that you don't need to make a special trip to Guest Services; you can request a price match at any checkout lane. When it's your turn, simply pull up the product page on Target.com or in the Target app on your phone and show it to the cashier. They need to see the live page to verify the current price, which is why screenshots or photos of the price won't be accepted.
If you've already made the purchase and are seeking a price adjustment within the 14-day window, that's when you'll want to head over to the Guest Services desk. Just bring your original receipt and be ready to show the current lower price, and they'll process your refund right there.
Option 2: For a Target.com Purchase
If you're more of a "shop from your pajamas" person, you can still easily get a price match. If you buy something on Target.com and later find it for less in a local Target ad or on Target.com itself, you have 14 days to request an adjustment. Your best bet is to either use the live chat function on Target's "Contact Us" page or call Guest Services directly at 1-800-591-3869.
To make the process as smooth as possible, have your order number handy before you connect. The representative will need it to pull up your purchase details and verify the price difference before issuing a refund to your original form of payment.
See? Getting your price match is pretty simple once you know the ropes. But the real key to mastering Target's policy lies in understanding the exceptions and special rules, especially when it comes to the holidays.
What About Target's Holiday Price Match Guarantee?
While the day-to-day policy is strict, Target rolls out a special, more generous policy during the holiday season to give shoppers extra peace of mind. If you buy an item at Target (in-store or online) between early October and December 24th, and the price drops at Target on or before Christmas Eve, you can request a price adjustment.
This is a fantastic perk that lets you shop early for gifts without worrying that you'll miss out on a better deal later in the season. Just hold onto your receipts!
Are Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals Included?
Yes, this is a crucial detail to remember. The standard Target Price Match Guarantee explicitly excludes prices from major promotional events. You cannot ask Target to match a "doorbuster" or "Lightning Deal" from a competitor, nor can you price match special prices offered during the week of Thanksgiving through Cyber Week. The holiday price adjustment policy mentioned above only applies to price drops at Target itself, not to competitors' Black Friday deals.
Understanding these rules can save you a lot of time and potential frustration during the busiest shopping season of the year.
Pro-Tip: Stack Discounts for Maximum Savings
So, can you stack a price match with other discounts? Here's the scoop. As mentioned, you can't combine a price match with Target Circle category offers.
However, the ultimate saving strategy is still in play: you can use your Target Circle Card for an additional 5% discount on top of a price-matched item. This is the best way to ensure you're getting the absolute lowest price possible. You get Target's best price, plus you save an extra 5%. It's a win-win for any dedicated Target fan.
Why Trust DealNews?
Mastering store policies like the price match guarantee or Target's return and refund policy is a fantastic way to save, but let's be honest—it takes a lot of work. That's where we come in. For more than 25 years, the entire mission of DealNews has been to do that heavy lifting for you. Our team of deal experts spends every single day scouring the internet and vetting thousands of offers on everything from tech gadgets to your weekly Target essentials. We only publish the absolute best deals, ensuring you're seeing the lowest price we can find.
Want to put that expertise to work for you? The DealNews Select newsletter delivers our handpicked top deals straight to your inbox every weekday. Plus, if you're waiting for a specific item to drop in price, you can set a deal alert and we'll notify you the moment it goes on sale, so you never miss out.
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