There’s nothing like the thrill of finding an amazing clearance deal — especially when it’s for a household item you need to buy anyway. CVS routinely has some of the best clearance deals on various products, from laundry detergent to holiday decor. But there's a trick to knowing when to hunt for the CVS clearance deals.
While there’s no set schedule for CVS clearance sales (unlike CVS Black Friday), our team at The Krazy Coupon Lady has narrowed it down to the best times to shop to get the best deals. Plus, we’ve gathered all the best advice from CVS employees, couponers, and loyal customers to bring you everything you need to know about getting the lowest prices — including how to stack CVS coupons on top of clearance prices!
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How CVS Clearance Works
CVS employees say that there are two main reasons an item gets marked down to clearance pricing:
They could have too many of an item (as in, it didn’t sell enough, and they need to get rid of their stock), or
It’s going out of season and needs to be sold quickly to make room for new seasonal items.
This is generally how CVS clearance works across all CVS stores. But because each location will have different inventory and markdown schedules, no two stores will ever have identical clearance sections. With CVS clearance, it's all about the thrill of the hunt!
To give you a peek at the savings, here are a few of the best clearance deals we’ve found lately:
50% off Squishmallows (April 2024)
75% off Lysol and Swiffer products (March 2024)
75% off Juicy Couture gift sets (March 2024)
70% off Tide and Snuggle laundry products (February 2024)
CVS Clearance Schedule
There's no set-in-stone schedule for CVS clearance sales. You’ll find small sales when a store has too much inventory or items are discontinued.
But the big clearance events happen at the end of each season and after every major holiday. When seasonal merchandise needs to be moved, you’ll find deals up to 90% off! Here are our predictions for some of the best seasonal savings.
Easter Clearance at CVS
Take advantage of Easter clearance sales to stock up on chocolates, kids’ toys, and spring decor. In 2024, Easter food and candy items were marked 33% off starting the day after the holiday, and everything else was 50% off.
When it starts: 1 day after Easter
What to look for: On clearance, you’ll find candy, Easter baskets, stuffed animals, toys, and plenty of spring seasonal decor.
Summer Clearance at CVS
Summer clearance sales typically begin when the stores make room for back-to-school essentials. Several employees have posted on Reddit that summer clearance items rarely get marked down beyond 75% off because they usually don’t have a ton of inventory left, meaning the items go quickly. We’ve seen 75% off sales start the last week of August, with 90% markdowns happening shortly after Labor Day weekend.
When it starts: Mid- to late August
What to look for: You’ll find summer essentials like beach towels, freezer pops, and sometimes even sunscreen and aloe products on clearance.
KCL TIP: Keep in mind that sun care products usually expire before the next season, so check the expiration dates before stocking up.
Back-to-School Clearance at CVS
Back-to-school clearance usually doesn’t overlap with summer clearance, so you’ll have to head back to the store for more seasonal steals. In 2022, CVS employees reported that back-to-school merch was marked down to 90% off on Oct. 2.
When it starts: Early to mid-September
What to look for: You can save on office supplies, binders, lunch boxes, and other classic school staples.
Christmas Clearance at CVS
Yes, CVS is open on Christmas, but markdowns don’t begin until the next day. If you missed out on CVS Black Friday deals, the after-Christmas clearance sale is almost just as good.
When it starts: Dec. 26
What to look for: Stock up on seasonal staples like wrapping paper, gift bags, bows, and tape so you don’t have to buy them at full price next season. You can also find holiday food items, candy, decor, ornaments, and small gifts.
Tips for Shopping CVS Clearance
1. Ask your store manager what day markdowns happen.
According to employee posts on Reddit, each store does markdowns on a different day and at a different time. Call your local store to find out their schedule, and plan to hit the aisles around that time each week to find the best deals.
2. Watch Instagram hashtags and TikTok accounts for clearance deals.
Plenty of Instagram accounts and hashtags are dedicated to sharing clearance sales and coupons — The Krazy Coupon Lady being one of them! Some accounts are CVS-specific, while others are more general, but it’s a great place to see some deal options before heading to the store.
To find the latest posts on Instagram, search the hashtag #cvsclearance, or type "CVS Clearance" into the TikTok search bar to see videos of what other shoppers have found that week.
3. Remember that not all stores have the same products or prices.
Be aware that clearance inventory and pricing will often vary by store and depend on how much product is in stock and how quickly the store needs to get rid of it. That means if you see someone else post about a great clearance deal at a specific CVS location, your store might not have the same product or price. But it also means you might score a great deal on something that’s not usually discounted!
4. Know that you can sometimes use coupons on clearance items.
We couldn’t get a clear answer on the store’s official policy, but both employees and customers have said this practice varies from store to store. Some locations won’t let you use coupons on clearance items, while others will apply the coupon value to the lowest sticker price.
5. Scan items with the red price checker to see if they've been discounted more.
Sometimes, an item is discounted in the store’s system before a clearance sticker has been applied. If you're hoping for a better deal on a product already on sale, scan it at one of the red price-checking machines in the store to see if it’s been discounted further.
6. Return and re-purchase items that have gotten bigger markdowns.
Technically, the CVS return policy states that all clearance items are final sale. But many shoppers have shared on Reddit that this policy also varies by store.
If you buy something on clearance for 50% off and see it marked down to 75% off a few days later, you can ask to return the original item and re-purchase it at the lower price. (Just be prepared for the employee to say no!)
