Amazon said it's offering customers an extended return window for the 2025 holiday season to make their shopping experience "as seamless and worry-free as possible."

Orders placed for "most items" purchased between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31 are returnable until Jan. 31, 2026, for a refund, as long as they are in original or unused condition, according to Amazon's website.

"We understand that there may be times when a purchase may not meet your expectations or your needs might change," Amazon said on its help and customer service page. "When that happens, we make completing a return simple and convenient."

The e-commerce giant, however, noted that exclusions apply and advised customers to check the product detail page before placing their order for information on an item's return eligibility. For example, Apple-branded products purchased between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31 can be returned through Jan. 15, 2026

Refunds will be provided if Amazon or the third-party seller receives the item and determines if it is eligible. The refunds can take up to 30 days to process.

Can all purchases be returned on Amazon?

According to Amazon, some products are non-returnable unless they arrive damaged, defective or materially different. If this is the case, customers can contact customer service. Non-returnable products include:

  • Perishables
  • Products that may pose potential health and safety risks once sold
  • Products with shipping restrictions
  • Customized products
  • Redeemable products
  • Amazon Pharmacy products
  • Pet medication products
  • Automobiles
  • Products listed as "Final Sale"

How to return products on Amazon

To initiate a return for an item purchased on Amazon, visit Your Orders and click on the "Return Items" button next to the product.

Extended holiday returns at major retail stores

Amazon is not the only retailer offering customers extended return windows. Best Buy, H&M, Macy's, Target and Walmart, among others, are also giving buyers longer return windows. Here is what their return policies look like:

  • Best Buy: Purchases made between Oct. 31 and Dec. 31 are returnable until Jan. 15, 2026, barring items purchased with a third-party contract. For example, activatable devices (cell phones, cellular tablets, mobile hotspots, and cellular wearables). See Best Buy's full return policy here.
  • Macy's: Most purchases made in-store or online between Oct. 6 and Dec. 31 can be returned until Jan. 31, 2026. However, exclusions apply.
  • Target: For qualifying purchases made between Nov. 1 and Dec. 24, the return window begins Dec. 26.
  • Walmart: Most items purchased in-store or online between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31 are returnable until Jan. 31, 2026, except for some marketplace products.

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter @saman_shafiq7.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Amazon offering extended returns for the holidays. See new policy.

Reporting by Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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