No, Target no longer matches most competitor prices, such as Amazon or Walmart, as of July 28, 2025. It still matches its own prices: Target.com, the in-store price at your store, the Target app and eligible Target Circle deals. You can ask within 14 days of buying, with the live price and your original receipt in hand.
TL;DR:
- A qualifying match requires an identical item by brand, size, weight, color, quantity, and model number; prices at other Target locations do not count.
- Clearance, marketplace listings, gift card promotions, stacked coupons or bundles, refurbished items, preorders, and pharmacy or service purchases are excluded.
- A team member must verify the live price on a Target device; screenshots and photos are rejected, even when they show a lower price.
- For competitor matching, Best Buy allows 15 days, or 30 for members, while Home Depot and Lowe’s typically allow 30 days; verify current rules.
Table of Contents
- What does Target's current price match policy cover?
- Which items and situations get denied?
- How do you request a price match or adjustment?
- What happens after you ask?
- Which U.S. retailers still match competitor prices?
- A better routine after the policy change
- Skip the price match and track the price yourself
- FAQ
- Sources
What does Target's current price match policy cover?
Think of the policy as a closed loop. Target compares Target to Target, and Axios reported that the update dropped external comparisons while keeping matches between Target.com and Target stores. Here is what falls inside the loop:
- Target.com versus your store: if the website price is lower than the shelf price, you can ask for the lower one.
- Target app pricing: the live price for your store location counts as proof.
- Target Circle deals: eligible offers that apply automatically are part of what Target honors.
- Drive Up and Order Pickup: Target can adjust these orders if you find a lower Target price.
Prices at other Target stores do not count, and Target Plus partner items follow different rules. You can ask at checkout or after the fact. Target's help page says the item must be identical in brand, size, weight, color, quantity and model number, and original receipts are required for adjustments within 14 days.
Which items and situations get denied?
Most denials come from a handful of repeat mistakes. Shoppers still arrive expecting an Amazon or Walmart match, and consumer coverage notes that many people have not heard about the change, which leads to confusion at Guest Services.
- Competitor retailers, since the July 2025 change
- Clearance items
- Marketplace and third-party seller listings
- Gift-card promotions and stacked coupon or bundle deals
- Refurbished and open-box items
- Preorders
- Pharmacy, clinic and service items
Pay attention to the "sold by" line on any marketplace listing. A product shown on a page is not the same as a product sold by that retailer, and you can see the same split in how we break down Amazon's "was" prices. Screenshots are also rejected. Team members are trained to refuse photos to prevent fraud, so the price has to load live on your device. Online exceptions apply in places such as Alaska and Hawaii.
The rule that trips people up: The New York Times reported that Target ended its long-standing external price-matching policy, so a competitor's lower price no longer gets you anything.
How do you request a price match or adjustment?
Whether you are in the aisle or at home, the process is short. Target's help guidance covers both paths.
- Open Target.com or the Target app on your phone and confirm the lower price loads live for your store.
- Gather your original receipt (paper or digital) or your online packing slip.
- In store, ask at checkout or Guest Services. A team member checks the price on a Target device.
- For online orders, use Target chat or call Guest Services with your order number and the live price.
- If you already bought, make the request within 14 days of purchase.
- Confirm how the difference will be returned before you leave or end the chat.
Pro Tip: Sign in to Target Circle before you check prices, since eligible deals only show for signed-in accounts, and keep a live internet connection so the price loads when the team member asks.
What happens after you ask?
Timing and proof are where requests succeed or fail. The 14-day window starts at purchase, and an original receipt or packing slip is required for adjustments.
- Verification happens on a Target device, and screenshots are not accepted.
- The item does not have to be in stock, but Target does not offer rain checks.
- In-store adjustments are usually settled on the spot.
- Online adjustments are refunded through order processing.
- Common denial reasons: the price cannot be verified live, or the item type is excluded.
A denied request is rarely final. If the price did not load, try again with a stronger connection or ask a manager to look it up. If the item is excluded, the denial stands.
Which U.S. retailers still match competitor prices?
If an outside match matters, shop where the policy still exists. A 2026 retailer roundup says Best Buy matches roughly 20 qualified competitors, while Home Depot and Lowe's continue to match identical in-stock items. Another 2026 summary lists Staples among the retailers with broader programs and notes that Amazon offers no price-matching program. Verify each policy before you rely on it.
- Best Buy: adjustment window of 15 days, or 30 days for members, according to that same roundup
- Home Depot and Lowe's: typically advertise 30-day windows
- Common rules: identical item, sold and shipped by the retailer, in stock, no marketplace listings
- Before you buy: read the "sold by" field and the qualifying window
Guides written before mid-2025 may be wrong, since policies shifted between 2025 and early 2026.
A better routine after the policy change
Here is my take: stop treating Target's program as a bargaining chip and start treating it as a safety net. Experts describe it as post-purchase price protection against Target's own price swings. So check Target.com at checkout, set a reminder for day 10 or 12, and keep the receipt or packing slip where you can find it. The change was widely reported in July 2025, and Target's help pages carry the proof rules.
— Cleaning
Skip the price match and track the price yourself
We built BasketPrice so you do not have to argue about a price after the fact. Our own recorded price history, not merchant claims, shows what an item usually costs, so you can see whether today's price is a real drop. That is our stated approach, and here is what it gives you:
- Live offers and tracking for the items you care about
- Price-drop alerts so you buy when the price is right
- A history check before you buy, using our guide on whether to buy now or wait
Start with our price tracker and alerts, or browse typical ranges in electronics. Set your first alert at Basketprice and let the price come to you.
FAQ
Does Target still price match?
Yes, but only within its own channels. Target matches Target.com, the applicable store price and eligible Target Circle deals, and summaries of 2026 guidance say competitors like Amazon and Walmart are excluded.
How long do you have to ask for a Target price adjustment?
You have 14 days from purchase. You need your original receipt or packing slip and the live price on your phone.
Does Target accept screenshots as proof?
No. The price must load live on Target.com or the Target app. Screenshots and photos are rejected.
Can I still get a competitor price match anywhere else?
Yes, at some retailers. Best Buy, Home Depot and Lowe's still advertise competitor matching, but check each current policy first.
Sources
- Target Ends Price-Matching Policy After More Than a Decade
- Target price match policy change ends Amazon, Walmart comparison shopping
- Price Match Guarantee : Help : Target