As a self-proclaimed shopping expert and bargain-hunting enthusiast, I‘ve spent countless hours studying the sales cycles and discount patterns of my favorite stores in the pursuit of unbeatable deals. When it comes to knowing the best time to shop to maximize your savings, Kohl‘s definitely requires some strategic planning.
With its ever-changing roster of sales events, promotions, and coupon offers, Kohl‘s can be a treasure trove of deep discounts for the savvy shopper – if you know when and how to find them. In this ultimate guide, I‘ll let you in on all my insider secrets for making the most of every trip to Kohl‘s.
Understanding Kohl‘s Sales Cycles
The first step to becoming a Kohl‘s shopping pro is getting a handle on the typical cadence of sales that run every week, month, and season. While Kohl‘s offers some type of discount or deal virtually every day, not all sales are created equal. Here‘s how it generally breaks down:
Weekly Sales
Kohl‘s operates on a Wednesday-Tuesday sale schedule, with new promotions launching every Wednesday. The first set of sales will usually run Wednesday through Sunday night, with a new round of "2-Day Deals" or "Bonus Buys" released on Friday that extend through Saturday only.
The Wednesday-Tuesday weekly format means there‘s almost always some kind of percent-off or dollar-off discount happening, so it‘s rare you‘ll ever have to pay full price at Kohl‘s (except maybe on brand new arrivals).
Monthly Events
In addition to the weekly sales, Kohl‘s also runs a few special monthly savings events. These include:
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Gold Star Clearance Event: Takes place the first weekend of every month (Friday-Sunday) and offers an extra 25% off clearance items that are already marked down 70% or more.
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Kohl‘s Charge Perks Events: Kohl‘s Charge cardholders can take advantage of storewide discount offers (usually 15%, 20% or 30% off) at least 12 times per year. These cardholder-exclusive events typically happen once a month and sometimes align with other seasonal promotions.
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Kohl‘s Cash Bonus Earning Periods: During the last week of every month, Kohl‘s usually offers the opportunity to earn $15 Kohl‘s Cash (instead of the standard $10) for every $50 you spend. This is on top of Yes2You Rewards points, which you can now redeem as Kohl‘s Cash on future purchases.
Seasonal & Holiday Sales
Of course, Kohl‘s also has major sales around every holiday and season change. According to Kohl‘s 2020 Annual Report, the "highest sales periods for stores are back-to-school and the holiday season in the third and fourth fiscal quarters" – so that‘s when you can expect to see the most inventory and the biggest discounts. Here‘s a quick rundown of Kohl‘s biggest sale events throughout the year:
| Sale Event | Typical Timeframe | Best Deals |
|---|---|---|
| After-Christmas Clearance | Late Dec – Early Jan | 50-80% off holiday decor, beauty gift sets, flannel bedding |
| White Sale | January | 30-60% off bedding, bath towels, rugs |
| Spring Style Event | Late Feb – Early April | 40-50% off spring fashion, Easter dresses, rain gear |
| Mother‘s Day Sale | Late April – Early May | $10-$20 off watches, handbags, perfume sets |
| Father‘s Day Sale | Early – Mid June | 30-60% off grills, tools, men‘s apparel |
| 4th of July Sale | Late June – Early July | 40-60% off summer fashion, patio furniture, beach gear |
| Back to School | Mid July – Mid Aug | 25-50% off backpacks, kid‘s clothing, dorm essentials |
| Labor Day Sale | Late Aug – Early Sept | 40-50% off jeans, athletic apparel, fall fashion |
| Veterans Day Sale | Early – Mid Nov | 15-30% off with Kohl‘s Charge + free shipping |
| Black Friday | Late November | Expect the biggest deals of the year – 60-80% off doorbusters, Kohl‘s Cash earning offers |
Sources: Kohls.com sales event calendar, BlackFriday.com Kohl‘s deal archives
As you can see, Kohl‘s sales are synced up with the seasonal consumer spending cycle. You‘ll find swimsuits and sandals discounted most in July and August, while cozy sweaters and winter coats hit rock bottom around January and February as stores make way for spring merchandise.
Kohl‘s Shopping Hacks & Insider Tips
Now that you have a general idea of when the sales happen at Kohl‘s, let‘s talk about some easy ways to maximize your savings every time you shop – online or in-store.
1. Friday is the "power" day
If you‘re looking for the absolute best day of the week to score deals at Kohl‘s, it‘s hard to beat Fridays. Not only are new weekend promos and 2-Day Deals launching, but most stores also host special Friday "Power Hours" from 3pm to close, offering a limited-time bonus discount (usually 10-20% off). Power Hours are often unadvertised and vary by location – so pay attention to in-store signage or ask an associate what time they start. Some stores run Saturday Power Hours too.
2. Combine ALL the coupons
One of the best "hacks" for saving big at Kohl‘s is stacking multiple coupons and promo codes together. Unlike many retailers, Kohl‘s allows you to combine dollar-off discounts, percent-off coupons, Kohl‘s Cash, and Kohl‘s Rewards (formerly Yes2You Rewards) for maximum savings. The only general exclusions are that you can‘t stack two of the same "type" – like two dollar-off OR two percent-off deals. Everything else is fair game!
3. Know your price adjustments
If an item you purchased at Kohl‘s gets marked down further within 14 days, you can bring your receipt back for a price adjustment. Some exclusions apply and your original coupons may be adjusted too – but it‘s always worth asking. Kohl‘s will also match competitors‘ in-store pricing on identical items at the time of purchase, so download apps like ShopSavvy to scan items and compare prices on the fly.
4. Don‘t sleep on rebates
Kohl‘s doesn‘t just offer instant discounts – they‘re also one of the few major retailers that still regularly offers mail-in rebates on things like small kitchen appliances, jewelry, and beauty products. While these require a bit more effort than a standard sale, you can save big if you remember to submit your rebate before the deadline (usually 30 days). Kohl‘s occasionally runs "rebate events" where you get Kohl‘s Cash to spend in the future when you purchase select rebate-eligible products.
If you really want to stay on top of the latest secret discount codes and limited-time flash sales, make sure to follow Kohl‘s on social media and sign up for email alerts. Kohl‘s Mobile Sale Alerts will text you a link to a new Mystery Offer every Friday (usually a unique promo code for 20%, 30%, or 40% off). The store‘s Facebook and Instagram feeds are also great places to be the first to know about special savings events.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, there‘s really no "bad" time to shop at Kohl‘s if you‘ve done your homework on how to find the best deals. Between the revolving sales schedule, exclusive cardholder and rewards offers, and plentiful coupon stacking opportunities, you can find great discounts on your favorite brands every day of the week and every month of the year.
But if you‘re a real Kohl‘s pro and want to hold out for the absolute rock-bottom prices, I recommend shopping on Friday afternoons (bonus points if it‘s the end of a month), the 2-Day sales events in the middle of major seasons, and of course – Black Friday.
No matter when you choose to shop, just remember to check for Kohl‘s Cash earning promos, mail-in rebates, competitor price matching options, and coupon code combos to make sure you‘re squeezing out every last cent of savings. Ready, set, save!
