How to Get Target Discounts: 5 Proven Ways

Target offers numerous avenues to help shoppers save money on everyday purchases. Understanding the various discount programs and strategies available can significantly reduce overall spending, from loyalty programs to strategic shopping habits.

Maximizing Savings with Target RedCard

The Target RedCard comes in several forms, including a debit card that links directly to an existing bank account, a credit card, and a Mastercard version that can be used beyond Target stores. The primary benefit across all RedCard types is a 5% discount on most eligible purchases made in-store and online. This discount applies to a wide array of items, including clearance merchandise and even purchases at Starbucks locations inside Target stores.

Beyond the immediate 5% savings, RedCard holders receive additional perks that enhance the shopping experience. These benefits include free standard shipping on most Target.com orders, with many items qualifying for free two-day shipping. An extended return window is also a valuable feature, granting an extra 30 days beyond the standard policy, providing up to 120 days for most returns.

Unlocking Discounts with Target Circle

This program is free to join and accessible through a Target.com account, requiring only a valid name and email address for enrollment. Members who do not use a RedCard can earn 1% back on eligible purchases, which can be redeemed for future Target purchases.

Target Circle members gain access to a variety of personalized offers and deals, often providing discounts of up to 50% on selected items and brands. These offers are frequently tailored to individual shopping habits, appearing as bonus rewards such as “spend $X, get $Y back.” A notable benefit for members is a special birthday discount, offering 5% off a single purchase, valid for 30 days from the member’s birthday, provided the birth date is added to the account. Furthermore, the program allows members to earn votes with each qualifying transaction, which can be used to help direct Target’s community giving initiatives. To effectively utilize these benefits, shoppers must use the Target app to save and activate offers before checkout, either by scanning their personalized barcode or entering their phone number at the register.

Finding Deals Through Sales and Clearance

Target publishes a new weekly ad every Sunday, available both in physical circulars and digitally, detailing current promotions, including buy-one-get-one offers and discounts across various product categories. These weekly ads are a fundamental resource for planning shopping trips around current deals.

Throughout the year, Target hosts various seasonal sales that align with holidays and key shopping periods. Examples include post-holiday clearance events in January, spring sales around March and April, and major promotional events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday in November and December. Target Circle Week, a recurring store-wide sale, also offers significant discounts across numerous departments several times a year.

For deeper discounts, the clearance sections in stores are valuable resources. These items are often found on end-caps, in dedicated clearance aisles, or sometimes mixed in with regular merchandise on shelves. While markdown schedules can vary by location, clearance items typically begin at 30% off and may be reduced further to 50% or 70% over several weeks. The Target app can also be used to scan items and check for unmarked clearance prices.

Strategic Use of Coupons and Price Matching

The store accepts several types of coupons: manufacturer coupons (both physical and digital), Target store coupons (physical and digital), and Target Circle offers. Shoppers can combine one manufacturer coupon, one Target coupon, and one Target Circle offer on a single item, provided no coupon specifically prohibits such stacking. There is typically a limit of four identical manufacturer coupons per household per day. All coupons must be presented at checkout and feature a scannable barcode to be applied.

Both manufacturer and Target coupons can be utilized for online purchases, including orders placed for in-store pickup or drive-up services. Target’s policy allows for price matching against its own prices. If an identical item is found for a lower price on Target.com or in another Target store within 14 days of purchase, the price difference can be refunded.

To request an adjustment for in-store purchases, customers should visit Guest Services with proof of the lower price. For online orders, contacting Guest Services via phone or chat is the appropriate method. As of July 28, 2025, Target’s price match policy no longer extends to external competitors such as Walmart or Amazon.