Everyone loves a good clearance sale, but did you know that some of the best discounts aren’t always advertised? Many popular retailers have hidden clearance sections, unmarked markdowns, and deeply discounted merchandise that shoppers walk right past.
From Walmart and Target to Lowe’s, Home Depot, and Walgreens, there are plenty of opportunities to score bargains if you know where to look.
Some stores have clearance items tucked away on endcaps or back shelves, while others offer additional markdowns that don’t always appear on the price tag. You may even discover items that scan for significantly less than their advertised price!
Whether you’re shopping for household essentials, clothing, electronics, or merchandise to resell, learning how to find hidden clearance deals can help you stretch your budget.
Here are 15 stores with hidden clearance deals you might be missing, along with tips for finding the biggest discounts.
What Is Hidden Clearance?
Hidden clearance refers to discounted merchandise that isn’t always easy to identify while shopping.
Sometimes an item has been marked down in the store’s inventory system, but the shelf tag hasn’t been updated. Other times, clearance merchandise is mixed in with regular-priced items or placed in less noticeable areas.
Common examples include:
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Unmarked markdowns: Products that scan for less than the shelf price.
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Clearance endcaps: Discounted merchandise displayed at the ends of aisles.
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Seasonal markdowns: Holiday and seasonal products discounted after peak shopping periods.
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Discontinued products: Items being removed from the store’s regular inventory.
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Open-box merchandise: Returned or display items sold at reduced prices.
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Manager markdowns: Store-specific discounts on merchandise that needs to be cleared out.
Keep in mind that clearance prices can vary by store, and not every item will be discounted at every location.
15 Stores With Hidden Clearance Deals
1. Walmart
Walmart is one of the best places to hunt for hidden clearance deals.
Although Walmart has designated clearance sections, some of its biggest markdowns can be found mixed in with regular merchandise.
Items may scan for less than the displayed shelf price, especially when stores are clearing discontinued products or seasonal inventory.
Where to look:
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Clearance aisles and endcaps
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Seasonal departments after holidays
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Electronics accessories
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Toys and games
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Clothing racks
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Garden and outdoor merchandise
Hidden clearance tip: Use the Walmart app’s in-store barcode scanner to check prices at your selected location. The price shown online may differ from the price at the register.
2. Target
Target is known for its clearance stickers, but not every discounted item is located in an obvious clearance section.
Many clearance products remain in their original departments.
Look for clearance endcaps, especially near home decor, toys, clothing, and seasonal merchandise.
Target’s clearance discounts can increase as stores work to move older inventory, although there is no guaranteed markdown schedule.
Where to look:
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Back endcaps
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Clothing clearance racks
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Home decor aisles
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Seasonal merchandise
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Toys and electronics accessories
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Beauty products
Hidden clearance tip: Scan items using an in-store price checker when available. Don’t assume the price on the shelf is the final clearance price.
3. Lowe’s
Lowe’s can be a gold mine for discounted home improvement merchandise.
Stores frequently clear discontinued lighting fixtures, flooring, appliances, seasonal decorations, and garden products.
You may also find scratch-and-dent appliances and open-box merchandise at reduced prices.
Where to look:
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Clearance shelves near the back of the store
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Lighting displays
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Flooring departments
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Appliance sections
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Garden centers
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Seasonal aisles
Hidden clearance tip: Look for discontinued products and ask an employee whether additional clearance merchandise is available.
4. Home Depot
The Home Depot offers clearance deals on tools, hardware, lighting, flooring, appliances, and seasonal merchandise.
Some markdowns are store-specific, particularly when a location needs to make room for new inventory.
You may find discounted products in their original departments rather than in a dedicated clearance area.
Where to look:
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Endcaps in tool departments
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Lighting aisles
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Garden centers
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Flooring sections
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Appliance displays
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Seasonal merchandise
Hidden clearance tip: Look for yellow clearance tags and check the actual price before purchasing. Some shoppers watch for prices ending in unusual amounts, but these endings are not reliable proof of future markdowns.
5. Walgreens
Walgreens is a surprisingly good place to find deeply discounted merchandise.
In addition to regular weekly sales, Walgreens clears seasonal products, beauty merchandise, toys, and household items.
Clearance products are sometimes scattered throughout the store rather than grouped together.
Where to look:
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Seasonal aisles
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Beauty departments
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Toy sections
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Household products
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Endcaps
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Holiday merchandise
Hidden clearance tip: Check clearance tags and compare prices with any available myWalgreens offers. Coupon and reward restrictions may apply.
6. CVS
CVS Pharmacy offers clearance markdowns on beauty products, personal care items, household merchandise, and seasonal goods.
Some stores have dedicated clearance areas, while others leave discounted items on regular shelves.
CVS ExtraCare members may also receive personalized coupons and rewards that can make eligible purchases even cheaper.
Where to look:
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Beauty aisles
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Seasonal sections
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Household products
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Vitamins and personal care
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Clearance endcaps
Hidden clearance tip: Use the CVS app or an in-store coupon center, where available, to check for ExtraCare savings. Always verify whether coupons apply to clearance merchandise.
7. Kohl’s
You can find discounted clothing, shoes, bedding, kitchen appliances, and home decor throughout the store.
Some merchandise receives additional markdowns as seasons change or inventory is discontinued.
Where to look:
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Clothing clearance racks
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Shoe departments
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Bedding and bath
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Small kitchen appliances
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Home decor
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Seasonal merchandise
Hidden clearance tip: Check for additional clearance promotions and eligible Kohl’s Cash or rewards before checkout. Not all discounts can be combined.
8. JCPenney
JCPenney offers clearance deals on clothing, shoes, jewelry, bedding, and home furnishings.
Many stores have clearance racks tucked into individual departments.
You may also find additional discounts during seasonal clearance events.
Where to look:
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Women’s and men’s clothing
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Children’s clothing
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Shoe departments
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Home goods
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Jewelry clearance
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Seasonal merchandise
Hidden clearance tip: Look beyond the main sale displays. Clearance merchandise is often located toward the back of individual departments.
9. Macy’s
Macy’s has clearance merchandise across clothing, shoes, handbags, home goods, and accessories.
Some locations have dedicated clearance areas, while others keep discounted items in their original departments.
Macy’s also operates Backstage locations and departments featuring off-price merchandise.
Where to look:
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Clearance clothing racks
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Shoe departments
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Handbags and accessories
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Bedding and home goods
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Macy’s Backstage
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Seasonal merchandise
Hidden clearance tip: Compare clearance prices with current promotions, but remember that many clearance and Last Act items are excluded from additional coupons.
10. Dollar General
Dollar General is popular among bargain hunters because of its clearance events and deeply discounted discontinued merchandise.
Some shoppers search for extremely low-priced items, sometimes called penny items.
However, penny-priced merchandise is generally intended to be removed from sale, and stores may decline to sell it.
Where to look:
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Clearance shelves
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Seasonal aisles
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Discontinued home decor
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Clothing
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Household merchandise
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Endcaps
Hidden clearance tip: Check the Dollar General app for current prices and digital coupons. Don’t assume an item will be sold simply because someone online reports finding it for a penny.
11. Family Dollar
Family Dollar offers clearance deals on seasonal decorations, clothing, toys, and household merchandise.
Discounted products may be placed on clearance racks or mixed with regular merchandise.
Where to look:
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Seasonal merchandise
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Household products
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Clothing racks
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Toys
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Home decor
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Clearance endcaps
Hidden clearance tip: Check for clearance events and digital coupon offers. Inventory and markdowns can vary significantly between locations.
12. Hobby Lobby
The retailer frequently discounts seasonal merchandise and discontinued products.
You can sometimes find clearance items tucked away in different craft departments rather than in one central location.
Where to look:
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Seasonal decorations
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Floral arrangements
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Wall decor
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Craft supplies
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Fabric departments
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Clearance aisles
Hidden clearance tip: Shop after major holidays when seasonal merchandise is being cleared out. Discounts and availability vary by store.
13. Michaels
Michaels offers clearance deals on craft supplies, seasonal decorations, art materials, and home decor.
Some locations also sell clearance or mystery boxes containing assorted merchandise, depending on current promotions.
Where to look:
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Clearance endcaps
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Seasonal aisles
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Craft supplies
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Art materials
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Home decor
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Floral departments
Hidden clearance tip: Check the Michaels app for eligible coupons and rewards, but verify exclusions because many offers do not apply to clearance items.
14. TJ Maxx
TJ Maxx already sells discounted merchandise, but shoppers can sometimes find even deeper markdowns in its clearance sections.
Unlike traditional department stores, TJ Maxx receives constantly changing inventory, making clearance shopping a treasure hunt.
Where to look:
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Red-tagged clearance racks
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Shoes
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Handbags
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Home decor
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Beauty products
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Seasonal merchandise
Hidden clearance tip: Look for red clearance stickers and yellow final-clearance tags where used. These can signal additional markdowns, although the color system and availability may vary.
15. Marshalls
Marshalls is another excellent place to hunt for clearance bargains.
Like TJ Maxx, Marshalls sells discounted brand-name merchandise and frequently marks down products that haven’t sold.
You can find deals on clothing, shoes, handbags, beauty products, and home accessories.
Where to look:
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Clearance clothing racks
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Shoe departments
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Handbags
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Home goods
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Beauty products
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Seasonal merchandise
Hidden clearance tip: Check clearance racks frequently because inventory changes quickly. Items with final-clearance markings may offer additional savings.
How to Find Hidden Clearance Deals at Any Store
Finding hidden clearance is part strategy and part timing. Here are some ways to improve your chances of discovering the best deals.
1. Use Store Apps to Scan Prices
Many retailers offer barcode scanning through their mobile apps.
This can help you check prices when shelf tags appear outdated or when you’re unsure whether an item has been marked down.
Keep in mind that app prices and in-store register prices don’t always match.
2. Check Endcaps and Back Aisles
Clearance merchandise is frequently placed at the ends of aisles or toward the back of departments.
Don’t limit yourself to the main clearance section. Some of the best deals may be hiding in plain sight.
3. Shop After Major Holidays
Seasonal merchandise often receives significant markdowns after holidays such as Christmas, Easter, Halloween, and Valentine’s Day.
Look for decorations, candy, gift sets, wrapping supplies, and seasonal household products.
4. Learn Your Local Store’s Markdown Patterns
Clearance schedules vary by retailer and location.
If you shop at the same store regularly, pay attention to when new clearance tags appear.
Employees may be able to tell you when seasonal markdowns typically occur, although specific schedules aren’t always available.
5. Look for Discontinued Merchandise
Products being removed from a retailer’s assortment are often discounted to make room for new inventory.
Packaging changes, discontinued colors, and older models can all create clearance opportunities.
6. Compare Prices Before Buying
A clearance sticker doesn’t automatically mean you’re getting the best deal.
Compare prices online and at competing retailers, especially for electronics, appliances, and higher-priced merchandise.
7. Check Clearance Return Policies
Some stores have different return policies for clearance, final-sale, and open-box merchandise.
Always check the policy before purchasing, particularly if you’re buying an expensive item or something you can’t test in the store.
Best Times of Year to Find Hidden Clearance
Although clearance can happen anytime, certain seasons are especially promising.
| Time of year | Products to look for |
|---|---|
| January | Christmas decorations, winter clothing, gift sets |
| February–March | Winter apparel, heaters, seasonal home goods |
| April–May | Easter merchandise, spring seasonal items |
| July–August | Summer clothing, patio furniture, gardening supplies |
| September–October | Back-to-school products, summer clearance |
| November | Halloween decorations, fall merchandise |
| December | Fall decor, seasonal transitions, holiday promotions |
These are general shopping patterns rather than guaranteed markdown schedules.
Can You Make Money Reselling Hidden Clearance Items?
Absolutely! Some resellers use a strategy called retail arbitrage, which involves buying discounted merchandise from retail stores and reselling it for a profit.
For example, imagine finding a discontinued small appliance on clearance for $15 that regularly sells for $50 online.
If you can resell it for $40, you might make a profit after accounting for marketplace fees, shipping, and other expenses.
However, not every clearance item is worth reselling.
Before buying inventory, consider:
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Actual sold prices rather than asking prices
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Shipping costs
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Marketplace selling fees
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Product condition
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Brand restrictions
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Demand and competition
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Storage space
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Potential returns
Clearance merchandise can be profitable, but the biggest discounts don’t always translate into the biggest profits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Walmart, Target, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Walgreens, CVS, and Dollar General are popular stores for finding unmarked markdowns, discontinued merchandise, and seasonal clearance.
Check clearance aisles, endcaps, and seasonal departments. Use the Walmart app’s in-store scanner to verify prices at your selected store.
Yes. Some Target clearance items remain in their regular departments, and shelf tags may not always reflect the latest markdown. Prices and availability vary by location.
What does a penny item mean at Dollar General?
A penny item is merchandise that has been marked down to $0.01 in the inventory system, often because it is supposed to be removed from sale. Stores may refuse to sell these products.
Are clearance prices the same at every store?
No. Many retailers use location-specific markdowns based on inventory, demand, and store needs.
Can you use coupons on clearance items?
Sometimes. Coupon eligibility depends on the retailer, product, promotion, and exclusions. Always check the terms before combining discounts.
More Ways to Save Money Shopping
If you love finding clearance deals, check out these related SavingK articles:
Final Thoughts
Hidden clearance deals are everywhere if you know where to look.
From Walmart’s unmarked markdowns to Target’s clearance endcaps and Lowe’s discontinued home improvement products, there are plenty of ways to save money beyond traditional sales.
The secret is to stay observant, check prices, and shop strategically.
You don’t need to spend hours searching every aisle, either. Even checking a few clearance sections during your regular shopping trips can lead to surprising savings.
And remember, the best deal isn’t necessarily the biggest discount. It’s buying something you actually need at a price you’re happy to pay.
