Q1 Clearance Season: What Goes on Clearance January to March

Q1 clearance season runs from January through March, when big box stores clear out holiday leftovers, winter stock and returned items to make room for spring. The markdowns move in a rough order: holiday decor and gift sets in January, winter gear and Valentine's leftovers in February, then whatever gets pushed out by the spring reset in March. Here is what to look for each month, how to check a deal before you buy, and what to skip.

Why Is Q1 a Big Clearance Season?

Three things stack up at the start of every year.

• Holiday leftovers have to go. Seasonal aisles get reset for the next season, and anything left from December needs to leave the shelf.
• Returns pile up. As of October 2026, Walmart's return policy says most items bought from October 1 through December 31 can be returned until January 31, with some exceptions. That puts a lot of holiday returns through the stores in January.
• Spring stock is coming. Patio, garden and outdoor gear needs floor space. In 2026, Home Depot's Spring Starts sale ran March 19 to April 1, and the aisles had to be ready before it.

There is a demand side too. The IRS says most refunds arrive in under 21 days when you file electronically and choose direct deposit. By law, it holds refunds on returns that claim the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit until mid-February. For families who claim those credits, refunds tend to land from late February on. Whether that moves prices for what you sell is something your own sold listings will tell you.

What Goes on Clearance in January?

January is holiday cleanup.

• Christmas decor: lights, inflatables, ornaments, artificial trees and outdoor displays.
• Gift sets: boxed sets with holiday packaging, like fragrance sets, tool kits and kitchen gadget bundles.
• Toys and games that did not sell through the holidays.
• Wrapping paper, gift bags and holiday tableware.

The first markdown on holiday items is often too small to flip. Write down the price, check back, and buy when the numbers work. At Home Depot, learn the yellow tags and what the last digits can tell you, which our guide to Home Depot clearance price endings explains.

One catch with decor: most of it sells best the next fall. Buying in January means storing boxes for eight or nine months. Only buy what you have room for and what still makes sense after that wait.

What Goes on Clearance in February?

February is winter gear and the leftovers from mid-season holidays.

• Cold weather items: space heaters, coats, gloves, humidifiers and snow tools, depending on your region.
• Valentine's Day leftovers after February 14: plush, decor and gift items. Skip the candy.
• Game day party items after the Super Bowl.

Winter items can be tricky. They often sell slowly once the weather warms where your buyers live, so check how fast they sold last spring, not just the price. Some resellers sell winter gear right away to buyers in colder states, and some hold it for next fall. Both work if the math works.

What Goes on Clearance in March?

March is when stores reset aisles for spring and summer.

• Last winter leftovers at their lowest prices.
• Items being dropped in a reset: discontinued products, old packaging and last year's models sitting next to new ones.
• Easter leftovers in years when Easter falls early. In 2027, Easter is March 28, so its clearance lands right at the end of Q1.

Resets are a good time to look for clearance that never got a tag, because prices can change in the system before the shelf catches up. The hidden clearance guide explains how to confirm an untagged price.

Here is the quarter at a glance:

How to Check a Q1 Clearance Deal Before You Buy

A big markdown is only a deal if it sells for more than it costs you. Run these checks every time:

1. Confirm the price at your store. Scan it in the store's app with your store selected, use a price checker if there is one, and buy one before you buy more.
2. Check sold prices. Search eBay and turn on the Sold Items filter. Look at recent sales of the same item, new in the box.
3. Count the sales. A handful of sales near the same price in the last few weeks says more than one high sale.
4. Do the math. Subtract marketplace fees, shipping, supplies and sales tax from the sold price.
5. Think about time. A seasonal item that has to sit until next year ties up your cash and your space.
6. Read the return policy. Walmart's holiday window lists exceptions, including select seasonal goods, so check the current policy before you buy in bulk.

Here is a made up example. An inflatable marked down to $20 sells for about $55 in the fall. Fees of about 15% (look up yours) come to roughly $8, and shipping a bulky box can run $15 or more. That leaves about $12 before gas, storage and nine months of waiting. Sold locally with no shipping, the same item looks much better. For a weekly version of these checks, see the routine for spotting hot items.

What Should You Skip in Q1?

• Candy and food. It expires, and marketplaces have their own rules for food.
• Bulky, cheap decor that costs more to ship than it sells for.
• Anything with no sold history. If nobody bought it last year, a low price will not change that.
• Opened returns unless you can test them and describe them honestly.
• Recalled products. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says selling a recalled product is illegal, including for resellers. This matters most with kids' items, and our post on reselling baby items covers the checks.

Quick Answers

When does Q1 clearance start?

Right after the holidays. Holiday items usually get marked down in late December and January, and markdowns keep coming as stores reset for spring. Timing varies by store.

Is January the best month for clearance?

For holiday leftovers, often yes. For winter gear, later in the quarter can be better as spring stock pushes it out. Watch your own stores to learn their timing.

Do Walmart and Home Depot publish a clearance schedule?

No. Neither store publishes a markdown calendar for shoppers, and prices change store by store, so the stores you visit often are the best guide.

Should I buy holiday decor in January to resell?

Only if you have space and the price still leaves room after fees, shipping and months of storage. Most decor sells best the next fall.

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