December and January Clearance: The Best Categories to Shop for Huge Savings

Last updated: September 23, 2026

Here at Deal Drop Today, we look forward to the weeks after Christmas almost as much as the holiday itself. The reason is simple: december clearance sales roll right into January markdowns, and together they make one of the best stretches of the year to save real money. Maybe you have a gift card burning a hole in your pocket, or you have been waiting to replace a tired vacuum. Either way, this guide covers the 10 categories worth shopping, when to buy each one, and how to tell a real deal from a fake one.

Why December Clearance Sales Hit So Hard

The 2025 holiday season was enormous. According to Adobe Analytics, US shoppers spent $257.8 billion online between November 1 and December 31, up 6.8% from the year before and above Adobe’s own forecast. The National Retail Federation (NRF) expected total holiday sales to pass $1 trillion for the first time, with the average shopper planning to spend $890 on gifts, food, decorations, and seasonal items.

All that buying leaves retailers with a problem once December 25 passes: leftover stock. Seasonal goods lose value almost overnight, and stores need shelf and warehouse space for spring merchandise. That pressure is exactly why december clearance sales tend to be so aggressive. A store would rather sell a boxed ornament set at 60% off than pay to store it for eleven months.

Gift cards add fuel to the fire. The NRF projected $29 billion in holiday gift card spending for 2025, and 43% of shoppers planned to buy at least one. Gift cards ranked as the second most popular gift overall. Retailers know that money will get spent in late December and January, so they time their markdowns to capture it.

Shoppers clearly show up for it, too. An NRF holiday survey reported by Retail Dive found that 70% of consumers planned to shop the week right after Christmas to use gift cards, catch post-holiday sales, and return or exchange gifts. You will have company, so a little planning goes a long way.

How Deep Did Holiday Discounts Actually Go?

Before you chase any clearance tag during december clearance sales, it helps to know what a genuinely good price looks like. Adobe tracked the peak online discounts off list price during the 2025 holiday season. Here is how the major categories stacked up:

• Electronics: 30.9% off at peak
• Toys: about 30% off
• Apparel: 25.1% off
• TVs: 24.3% off
• Computers: 23.4% off
• Sporting goods: 20.3% off
• Appliances: 20.2% off
• Furniture: 18.8% off

Think of these numbers as your baseline. If a “clearance” TV in January is only 15% off list, you probably missed a better price back in November. On the other hand, when december clearance sales push holiday decor or toys well past these peaks, that is a signal you are looking at true end-of-season pricing rather than a routine promotion.

Keep in mind that these are online averages at the peak. Individual stores and individual products can go much deeper, especially for items that are seasonal, overstocked, or being discontinued.

Shop in Two Waves for the Best Results

One of the most useful pieces of advice we have seen comes from ConsumerAffairs’ after-Christmas sales playbook: split your shopping into two waves. Each wave has a different strength, and knowing which one to use for each purchase during december clearance sales can save you a surprising amount.

1. Wave one, December 26 to 28: This is when selection is best. After-Christmas sales usually start at 30% to 50% off toys, holiday decor, wrapping supplies, clothing, gift sets, and storage bins. If you want a specific item in a specific size or color, go early.
2. Wave two, early January: This is when prices usually bottom out. Retailers are clearing inventory before spring stock arrives, so whatever is left often gets marked down again. Selection is thinner, but the prices can be remarkable.

There is one important caveat. Consumer Reports warns that many of the deep November and December discounts disappear once the holiday rush ends. Year-round products, like popular headphones or laptops, can bounce right back to full price. The general rule: seasonal items keep getting cheaper, while everyday products may not.

Also mark your calendar for Martin Luther King Jr. weekend. Consumer Reports and U.S. News both point to it as January’s biggest sales event, and it is widely considered the best time of the month to replace large appliances.

December Clearance Sales: 6 Categories to Buy Right After Christmas

These are the categories where december clearance sales tend to deliver the biggest and fastest markdowns. Most of them are seasonal or gift-driven, which means retailers are highly motivated to move them before the calendar flips.

1. Holiday decor and Christmas trees. This is the classic after-Christmas bargain. ConsumerAffairs and AARP both note that decor and artificial trees can reach up to 75% off, and the best markdowns often begin the day after Christmas. Lights, ornaments, wreaths, and tabletop pieces are all fair game. Buy next year’s decorations now and pack them away with this year’s.

2. Wrapping paper, gift bags, and storage. Rolls of wrapping paper, ribbon, tissue, and gift bags drop fast once the holidays are over. Non-holiday prints work for birthdays and showers all year. Storage bins, ornament boxes, and wreath containers also go on sale right when you need them to pack up.

3. Toys and games. Adobe found toys hit roughly 30% off at their holiday peak, and after-Christmas sales often start in the 30% to 50% range. This is a smart time to stock a gift closet for upcoming birthday parties. Stick to classic brands and evergreen toys rather than this year’s trendiest item, which may not hold its appeal.

4. Small kitchen appliances and cookware. AARP highlights small kitchen appliances from brands like Cuisinart, Keurig, KitchenAid, and Ninja as strong December buys. Air fryers, coffee makers, stand mixers, and blenders were heavily promoted as gifts, so leftover inventory tends to get marked down. Cookware sets follow the same pattern.

5. Vacuums and major appliances. AARP also lists vacuums and major appliances among the better December clearance categories at big-box stores. If your fridge or washer is limping along, compare December prices against what you see during MLK weekend in January. Floor models and last year’s versions often carry the steepest cuts.

6. Beauty, fragrance, and skincare gift sets. Holiday packaging is the whole problem for retailers here. Once December 25 passes, a festive box of perfume or a skincare trio looks dated, even though the product inside is identical. That makes these sets some of the easiest wins during december clearance sales, and they make great future gifts or self-care stock-ups.

January Clearance: 4 Categories That Get Better After New Year’s

Not every bargain shows up during december clearance sales. Some of the best deals do not appear until the calendar turns, thanks to new-year inventory shifts, fresh model releases, and retailers making room for spring.

7. Winter apparel. Consumer Reports lists winter clothing as a top January buy. Coats, boots, sweaters, scarves, and gloves get marked down as stores prepare for spring lines, even though plenty of cold weather is still ahead. Apparel peaked at 25.1% off during the holidays, and January clearance racks can go much further.

8. TVs. New models are typically announced early in the year, which pushes retailers to clear out current inventory. Consumer Reports and Yahoo Shopping both point to January as a good month for TVs. Use Adobe’s 24.3% holiday peak as your benchmark, and do not assume a January price is automatically lower than a November one.

9. Bedding and bath. January has long been known for “white sales,” and the tradition holds up. Sheets, pillows, duvet covers, comforters, and towels all tend to see solid markdowns, according to Consumer Reports and NerdWallet. If your linen closet is looking tired, this is an easy, practical upgrade.

10. Fitness gear. New Year’s resolutions drive demand for treadmills, fitness trackers, smartwatches, and home workout equipment, and retailers respond with promotions to win that business. Adobe had sporting goods at 20.3% off during the holidays, so look for January offers that beat that mark before you commit to a big purchase.

How to Spot Fake Discounts During December Clearance Sales

Not every big red tag is telling the truth. A consumer study reported by KOMO News found that most retailers display crossed-out “regular” prices that customers rarely actually pay. In other words, that “was $199, now $79” label may be comparing today’s price to one that barely existed.

Under the FTC’s Guides Against Deceptive Pricing, a comparison price is only legitimate if the product was genuinely offered at that price for a reasonably substantial period of time. Enforcement is uneven, though, so it pays to protect yourself. Here are some quick checks we recommend at Deal Drop Today:

• Use a price tracker. Check the item’s price history before trusting a “70% off” claim. If it has sat at the “sale” price for months, it is not really a sale.
• Compare across stores. Look up the same model number at two or three retailers. Clearance pricing should hold up against the competition.
• Watch for exclusive model numbers. Some retailers sell slightly different versions of products, which makes direct price comparisons harder.
• Measure against real benchmarks. Use the Adobe discount figures above to judge whether a deal is truly exceptional.

Reviews deserve a skeptical eye, too. In December 2025, the Federal Trade Commission sent warning letters to 10 companies over possible violations of its new Consumer Review Rule, which bans fake reviews and testimonials. If a clearance product has hundreds of glowing, vague, five-star reviews posted in a short window, read the detailed and critical ones before buying.

Read the Return Policy Before You Check Out

Returns are a massive part of the post-holiday season. The NRF and Happy Returns, a UPS company, estimated that shoppers would return $849.9 billion in merchandise in 2025, or 15.8% of annual retail sales. For online purchases, the return rate climbed to 19.3%.

Retailers are responding by tightening the rules. The NRF estimated that 9% of returns are fraudulent, and 85% of retailers now use AI to detect return fraud. Appriss Retail and Deloitte put 2024 return fraud and abuse at $103 billion. The result for honest shoppers is stricter return windows, more restocking fees, and more items labeled final sale.

That matters a lot during december clearance sales, because clearance merchandise is often the first to lose return privileges. Before you buy, take a minute to:

• Check whether the item is marked final sale or “as is.”
• Confirm the return window, which may be shorter for clearance goods.
• Look for restocking fees, especially on electronics and large appliances.
• Keep every receipt, digital or paper, until you are sure you are keeping the item.
• Inspect open-box and floor-model items carefully before paying.

Your Game Plan for December Clearance Sales

Putting it all together, here is a simple plan that turns the post-holiday chaos into real savings. You do not need to follow every step, but the more you prepare, the less likely you are to overspend on something you did not need.

1. Make a list before December 26. Write down what you actually need, from replacement bedding to next year’s wrapping paper. A list keeps impulse buys in check.
2. Tally your gift cards. Note the balances and any expiration dates or fees. Pair gift cards with december clearance sales to stretch every dollar further.
3. Hit wave one for must-haves. Shop December 26 to 28 for items where size, color, or model matters most.
4. Wait for wave two on flexible buys. Leave decor, toys, and seasonal extras for early January, when prices are often lowest.
5. Save big appliances for MLK weekend. Compare December offers against the mid-January sales before committing.
6. Verify every “deal.” Check price history, compare stores, and read the return policy before checking out.

Timing is the biggest lever you have. The day after Christmas is best for selection, but early January is usually better for price, according to both ConsumerAffairs and dealnews. Knowing that tradeoff lets you decide, item by item, whether availability or savings matters more.

Making the Most of December Clearance Sales This Year

The weeks between Christmas and mid-January are packed with opportunity, but the smartest shoppers treat december clearance sales as a strategy rather than a free-for-all. Focus on seasonal categories that retailers need to clear, use gift card money wisely, and save big-ticket purchases for the moments when discounts peak.

Just as important, stay skeptical. Inflated “was” prices, fake reviews, and strict final-sale policies can quietly erase your savings. A few minutes of checking price history and return terms is the difference between a great buy and a regret.

We will keep tracking the best post-holiday markdowns as they drop, so check back with Deal Drop Today throughout the season. With a clear list, smart timing, and a healthy dose of skepticism, december clearance sales and January markdowns can help you start the new year with more money in your pocket.

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