Best Buy Return Policy: Return Window, Refunds, Fees & Exceptions
By Ethan Parker · Updated: September 29, 2026
The Best Buy return policy in the United States generally gives customers 15 days from the day they receive a product to return or exchange most eligible items. My Best Buy Plus and My Best Buy Total members receive 60 days for most Best Buy-sold products, while activatable devices generally have a shorter 14-day period. Verizon devices capable of activation have a 30-day return period for all customers.
The policy covers new, clearance, open-box, refurbished, and pre-owned products, but important exceptions apply. Some products have different return periods, some returns carry restocking fees, and certain products are non-returnable. The rules below cover Best Buy’s U.S. policy effective February 23, 2026.
Best Buy Return Policy at a Glance
| Policy Detail | Current Rule |
| Standard Return Window | 15 days for most products |
| My Best Buy Plus / Total | 60 days for most eligible Best Buy-sold products |
| Return Window Starts | Day you receive the product |
| Activatable Devices | 14 days |
| Verizon Activatable Devices | 30 days for all customers |
| Item Condition | Generally must be like-new |
| Best Buy Online Purchases | Eligible Best Buy-sold items can generally be returned to a Best Buy store |
| Mail Returns | Prepaid return label available for eligible products |
| Standard Refund Method | Generally the same way you paid |
| Mail Refund Processing | Processed within 7–10 business days after Best Buy receives the return |
| Exchanges | Same-item exchange available for qualifying Best Buy purchases |
| Marketplace Products | Generally follow the standard policy unless otherwise noted; 60-day Plus/Total extension does not apply |
| Major Exceptions | Non-returnable products, opened restricted products, category-specific periods, and restocking fees |
Understanding the Best Buy Return Policy
For most products, Best Buy provides a 15-day return and exchange period. The clock starts on the day you receive the product rather than using a universal purchase-date rule.
My Best Buy Plus and My Best Buy Total members receive a 60-day return and exchange period for most products purchased from Best Buy. That extended period does not apply to Marketplace Products sold or shipped by third-party Marketplace Sellers.
The standard policy applies to qualifying purchases shipped from and sold by Best Buy through Best Buy, Best Buy Outlet, Pacific Sales, Pacific Sales Outlet, Magnolia Design Center, Best Buy Education, and Best Buy Business.
The policy applies to new, clearance, open-box, refurbished, and pre-owned products. A purchase made directly from a vendor inside a store can instead be subject to that vendor’s return policy.
Return Windows by Product Category
Not every Best Buy product follows the standard 15-day period.
| Product Category | Return Window | Important Conditions |
| Most Products | 15 days | Standard customers |
| Most Eligible Products for Plus/Total Members | 60 days | Excludes Marketplace Products |
| Activatable Devices | 14 days | Applies to standard and Plus/Total customers |
| Verizon Activatable Devices | 30 days | Applies to all customers |
| Litter Boxes | 90 days | Applies to all customers |
| Pet Training Devices | 60 days | Applies to all customers |
| Hearing Aids | 60 days | Applies to all customers |
| Hearing Amplifiers | 15 days | Standard return period |
| Microsoft Office | 30 days | Full refund for qualifying returns |
| Halloween and Christmas Decorations | 15 days | Applies to all membership levels |
Activatable Devices
Cell phones, cellular tablets, mobile hotspots, and cellular wearables capable of activation generally have a 14-day return period, even for My Best Buy Plus and Total members.
Verizon devices capable of activation are an exception and have a 30-day return period for all customers.
Customers returning a phone or another device with a carrier contract remain responsible for canceling the service contract and handling applicable carrier charges.
Products With Extended Return Periods
Best Buy currently provides several category-specific extensions. Litter boxes have a 90-day period, while pet training devices and hearing aids have a 60-day period for all customers.
Hearing amplifiers are different from hearing aids for return-policy purposes and follow the standard 15-day period.
What Condition Must Returned Items Be In?
Best Buy generally requires returned merchandise to be in like-new condition.
A return may be denied if an item is damaged, unsanitary, dented, scratched, or missing major contents. Apparel must not have been worn or laundered, and its original tags must remain attached.
Best Buy also asks customers to return the original contents, accessories, and packaging. Missing accessories or packaging can result in either a denied return or a nonrefundable deduction from the refund.
For connected or Wi-Fi devices, remove personal data and disconnect the product from cloud accounts and other linked devices before returning it.
Items containing a rechargeable battery must include the original battery to qualify for return.
Can You Return Opened or Used Items?
Opening a product does not automatically make every Best Buy item non-returnable. Eligibility depends on the type of product and its condition.
A normally returnable product still needs to satisfy Best Buy’s like-new condition requirements. However, several categories become non-returnable once opened.
Opened physical copies of computer software, movies, music, video games, books, video game guides, and sheet music purchased directly from Best Buy are limited to an exchange for an identical item rather than a standard refund.
For the same types of opened entertainment products purchased from a Marketplace Seller, Best Buy lists them as non-returnable.
Exceptions and Non-Returnable Items
Some Best Buy and Marketplace Seller products are non-returnable once purchased. Current examples include:
- Custom and personalized orders
- Items marked Final Sale
- Non-subscription digital content, including digital gaming, except Microsoft Office
- Codes and prepaid cards, including third-party gift cards and prepaid phone cards
- Vehicle replacement key fobs
- Memberships
- Trading cards, including Pokémon cards
- Products with a capacity of 300 watt-hours or greater
- Golf carts
- Utility terrain vehicles
- Electric bikes
- Electric mopeds
- Plumbing items
Other products become non-returnable once opened. These include products that interact with bodily fluids, SIM kits, LEGO products, completed services, delivered home standby generators, delivered whole-home backup products, specified Marketplace Seller entertainment products, and consumables such as batteries, cleaning agents, oils, fuel, filters, cleaners, health supplements, health test kits, ink, and 3D printer filament.
Hazardous Materials
Fully regulated hazardous materials, including certain flammable liquids, flammable gases, and lithium batteries with a capacity of 300 watt-hours or more, cannot be returned through Best Buy’s return channels because of transportation restrictions.
How to Return an Item to Best Buy
The appropriate method depends on the product, seller, and how the item was delivered.
For a normal Best Buy-sold purchase:
- Gather the product, original contents, accessories, and packaging.
- Confirm that you are still within the applicable return period.
- Choose an eligible in-store or shipping return method.
- Bring proof of purchase when returning in store to help speed up processing.
- For an eligible mailed return, initiate the return through your Best Buy order and obtain the prepaid return label.
- Keep your shipping or drop-off confirmation until the return and refund are complete.
Returning an Item In Store
Best Buy allows qualifying items shipped from and sold by Best Buy on BestBuy.com to be returned at a Best Buy store.
For faster processing, bring your packing slip if you received one, or your receipt, along with the credit card used for the purchase.
Returning an Item by Mail
Eligible Best Buy purchases can be shipped back using Best Buy’s prepaid return label. Locate the order through your account, generate the label, attach it to the package, and take the parcel to the authorized drop-off location during the applicable return period.
Best Buy’s current main return policy describes shipping with its prepaid label as free for eligible Best Buy purchases.
Some products cannot use this shipping method, including:
- Major appliances
- TVs over 50 inches
- Kegerators
- SodaStream makers
Additional shipping restrictions apply to certain lithium batteries, specialty batteries, and products containing those batteries. Best Buy also does not accept returns shipped to it from outside the United States.
Major Appliances and Truck-Delivered Products
Inspect a major appliance before accepting delivery. If there is an issue at delivery, Best Buy states that you may refuse the delivery.
After accepting the delivery, or after bringing the appliance home yourself, Best Buy directs customers with damage, defects, or other issues to contact its support team immediately rather than contacting the store.
For return and pickup options involving Best Buy products delivered by truck, Best Buy directs customers to call 1-888-BEST BUY (1-888-237-8289).
Some heavy products may need to be returned directly to the manufacturer.
What Do You Need to Make a Return?
Best Buy recommends gathering the product along with its original contents and packaging.
For an in-store return, having the following can make processing easier:
- Receipt
- Packing slip, if provided
- Credit card used for the purchase
- Product accessories
- Original packaging
- Other original contents
For an online return, your Best Buy account and order information can be used to locate the purchase and initiate eligible return options.
Can You Return an Item Without a Receipt?
A Best Buy return without proof of purchase may still be considered, but the outcome is more restrictive.
Best Buy states that reimbursements on returns lacking proof of purchase may require an email address, may be issued as store credit, and may be denied or limited. State sales taxes and fees are not reimbursed on these returns.
Because a receiptless return is not guaranteed, locating your receipt, packing slip, account order history, or other available purchase information before visiting the store can make the process clearer.
Online vs. In-Store Returns
Many purchases made directly from Best Buy online can be returned at a Best Buy store. Eligible products can also be returned using Best Buy’s prepaid shipping process.
However, shipping restrictions apply to large products and certain battery-containing merchandise.
Some location-specific restrictions also exist. Purchases from a Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home store or Pacific Sales Outlet can only be returned to those stores. Magnolia/Premium Design Center products can only be returned to Best Buy locations containing a Magnolia/Premium Design Center.
Marketplace and Third-Party Seller Returns
Best Buy Marketplace Products require extra attention because they are sold or shipped by third-party Marketplace Sellers.
Unless otherwise noted, Marketplace Products generally receive the same standard return policy as products sold by Best Buy. However, the 60-day extended return period offered to My Best Buy Plus and My Best Buy Total members does not apply to Marketplace purchases.
Many non-delivery-truck Marketplace products shipped to customers can be returned at a Best Buy store. Product size and other limitations may prevent some store returns, and this in-store option excludes Best Buy stores in Puerto Rico and Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home locations.
Marketplace returns can also be shipped to the seller using Best Buy’s prepaid return process.
For a Marketplace major appliance or another truck-delivered product, customers should locate the order in their Best Buy account, contact the Marketplace Seller within the return period, and arrange pickup with that seller.
If you purchase from a Best Buy Marketplace storefront on another website, such as Amazon or eBay, the return policy displayed by that third-party website applies instead.
Return Shipping Fees and Restocking Charges
Most ordinary returns do not carry a restocking fee, but several specific product categories do.
| Product | Restocking Fee |
| Activatable Devices, Except Prepaid Phones | $45 |
| Drones | 15% of purchase price |
| Digital Cameras | 15% |
| Camera Lenses | 15% |
| Camcorders, Including Action Cameras | 15% |
| Golf Launch Monitors | 15% |
| Premium and Super Scooters | 15% |
| Mobility Scooters | 15% |
| Electric Wheelchairs | 15% |
| Leg and Body Recovery Systems | 15% |
| Projectors and Projector Screens | 15% |
| Premium Cold Tubs | 15% |
| Premium Saunas | 15% |
| Special-Order Products | 15% |
Best Buy does not charge the listed restocking fee when the product is unopened. It also does not apply the fee to purchases made in Alabama, Colorado, Hawaii, Iowa, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, or South Carolina, or where a restocking fee is otherwise prohibited by law.
The fee is taxed in select states.
Refund Methods and Processing Times
Best Buy and Marketplace Sellers generally reimburse an approved return using the same payment method originally used for the purchase, subject to specified exceptions.
For a mailed return, Best Buy processes the return within 7–10 business days after receiving it. Depending on the customer’s bank, it may then take up to another 10 days for the credit to appear on the account.
| Refund Situation | Current Rule |
| Normal Eligible Return | Generally refunded using original payment method |
| Mailed Return | Processed within 7–10 business days after receipt |
| Bank Posting | May take up to another 10 days after processing |
| More Than $800 Paid in Cash | Refund by check within 10 business days |
| More Than $250 Paid by Check | Refund by check within 10 business days |
| More Than $250 Paid by Debit Card Without Major Credit Card Logo | Refund by check within 10 business days |
| Best Buy Gift Card Payment | Returned on a new Best Buy Gift Card or e-Gift Card |
| Eligible No-Proof Return | May be store credit and may be denied or limited |
If only part of the purchase was paid with a Best Buy Gift Card, the gift-card-funded portion is returned in the form of a new Best Buy Gift Card or e-Gift Card.
Does Best Buy Offer Exchanges?
Yes. For purchases made directly from Best Buy, an eligible customer can generally choose an exchange for the same item instead of reimbursement.
Exchange eligibility remains subject to the applicable return period, product condition requirements, and category restrictions.
Opened physical entertainment products purchased directly from Best Buy—including qualifying software, movies, music, video games, books, video game guides, and sheet music—are specifically limited to exchange for an identical item.
Damaged, Defective, or Incorrect Items
If a product purchased from Best Buy arrives damaged in shipping, is defective, or is different from what you ordered, Best Buy directs you to return it during the applicable return and exchange period so a replacement can be arranged.
For a mail return involving one of these problems, Best Buy directs customers to call 1-888-BEST BUY (1-888-237-8289) for special instructions.
For a Marketplace Product, locate the order in your Best Buy account and notify the Marketplace Seller. Best Buy instructs customers to print the prepaid shipping label and send the affected product back to the Marketplace Seller within the applicable return period.
Major appliances should be inspected before delivery is accepted. If a problem is visible at delivery, you may refuse delivery.
Gift Returns and Gift Card Purchases
For a gift originally purchased directly from Best Buy, an in-store gift return is refunded to the recipient as store credit for the purchase price.
If the gift is returned by mail, Best Buy credits the original gift purchaser and notifies that purchaser by email.
For a gift purchased from a Marketplace Seller, the gift purchaser is credited and notified by email.
When a purchase was paid partly or entirely with a Best Buy Gift Card, that portion of an approved refund is issued as a new Best Buy Gift Card or e-Gift Card.
Clearance, Open-Box, Refurbished, and Pre-Owned Returns
Clearance, open-box, refurbished, and pre-owned status does not automatically remove a product from Best Buy’s return policy.
Best Buy states that its return and exchange periods apply to these products as well. The item’s applicable category, condition, seller, membership status, and any specific exclusions still determine whether the return qualifies.
An item specifically marked Final Sale, however, is non-returnable.
My Best Buy Plus and Total Return Benefits
My Best Buy Plus and My Best Buy Total members receive a 60-day return and exchange period on most qualifying products purchased from Best Buy.
That does not mean every purchase receives 60 days. Important exclusions remain.
For example:
- Activatable devices generally remain at 14 days.
- Verizon activatable devices have a 30-day period for all customers.
- Marketplace Products do not receive the Plus/Total 60-day extension.
- Product-specific restrictions and non-returnable categories still apply.
The membership extension therefore changes the return window for most qualifying Best Buy-sold products without overriding the rest of the Return and Exchange Promise.
Holiday Return Policy
Best Buy’s most recently published extended holiday return period covered purchases made from October 31, 2025, through December 31, 2025, with eligible returns extended through January 15, 2026.
That period has already ended. Best Buy has not yet published a 2026 holiday extension in the current policy information reviewed for this guide, so customers should not assume the 2025 dates will repeat for the 2026 holiday season.
The previous extension excluded certain purchases involving third-party contracts, including activatable devices and AppleCare+ plans, as well as holiday products, and normal non-returnable-item and restocking-fee rules continued to apply.
What Happens If the Return Window Has Passed?
Best Buy’s standard return promise does not establish a general right to receive a refund after the applicable return period expires.
If a defective product is already outside its return window, check whether a manufacturer warranty, Best Buy Protection plan, AppleCare+, Geek Squad Protection, or another applicable service or protection agreement covers the problem.
These programs are separate from the standard Best Buy return policy and have their own terms and eligibility requirements.
Common Reasons a Return May Be Denied
A Best Buy return can be denied when it fails to meet the applicable policy requirements. Examples supported by Best Buy’s current rules include:
- The product is outside its applicable return period.
- The product is in a non-returnable category.
- A restricted product was opened.
- The item is damaged, unsanitary, dented, or scratched.
- Major contents are missing.
- Required accessories or packaging are missing.
- Apparel has been worn or laundered or lacks its original tags.
- A rechargeable product is missing its original battery.
- A receiptless return is denied or limited.
- The item is subject to a different seller or vendor policy.
Missing packaging or accessories does not always guarantee denial; Best Buy may instead accept the return with a nonrefundable deduction for the missing contents.
What to Do If Your Return Is Denied
First, determine the specific reason the return was refused. Check the item’s return period, seller, product category, condition, and proof of purchase.
If the product came from a Marketplace Seller, verify whether Marketplace-specific procedures apply. If proof of purchase is the problem, look for your receipt, packing slip, Best Buy account order record, or other available purchase information.
For an item that is defective but outside the return period, check any applicable manufacturer warranty or protection plan rather than assuming it can still be returned.
For unresolved Best Buy return questions, use Best Buy’s official customer-support channels.
How to Contact Best Buy About a Return
Best Buy’s official customer-service number for return-related assistance is 1-888-BEST BUY (1-888-237-8289).
Best Buy specifically directs customers to this number for issues such as major-appliance defects, damage, truck-delivered product return or pickup options, and special mail-return instructions for damaged, defective, or incorrect Best Buy-sold items.
For mobile-device return-by-mail instructions, Best Buy lists 1-877-702-2211, with service from 6 a.m. to midnight Central Time.
Tips for a Smoother Best Buy Return
Before returning a product, confirm the deadline for the exact category rather than assuming every purchase receives 15 or 60 days. Keep the receipt or packing slip available, and return all original accessories, components, batteries, and packaging.
For connected electronics, remove personal information and disconnect cloud accounts before handing over the device. If mailing a return, keep the carrier or drop-off confirmation until the refund has posted.
Check whether an online order was sold directly by Best Buy or by a Marketplace Seller, because membership extensions and some procedures differ. For large appliances, inspect the product before accepting delivery whenever possible.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Days Do I Have to Return Something to Best Buy?
Most products have a 15-day return period starting on the day you receive the product. My Best Buy Plus and Total members receive 60 days on most qualifying Best Buy-sold products. Activatable devices and several other categories have different periods.
Can I Return Something to Best Buy After 15 Days?
Possibly, depending on the product and your membership status. My Best Buy Plus and Total members receive 60 days for most qualifying Best Buy-sold products. Some categories also have their own extended periods. Otherwise, the standard period for most products is 15 days.
Can I Return a Best Buy Item Without a Receipt?
Best Buy may consider returns without proof of purchase, but they can be limited or denied. An email address may be required, and an accepted reimbursement may be issued as store credit. State sales taxes and fees are not reimbursed on returns lacking proof of purchase.
Can I Return a BestBuy.com Order to a Store?
Yes. Qualifying items shipped from and sold by Best Buy on BestBuy.com can be returned to a Best Buy store. Many Marketplace products can also be returned in store, although size, product, and location restrictions apply.
Can I Return an Opened Item to Best Buy?
Some opened products remain returnable if they satisfy the applicable condition and category rules, but others become non-returnable once opened. Opened physical software, movies, music, video games, books, video game guides, and sheet music bought directly from Best Buy can only be exchanged for an identical item.
Does Best Buy Charge a Restocking Fee?
Only certain categories carry a restocking fee. Activatable devices other than prepaid phones carry a $45 fee, while specified categories such as drones, cameras, camera lenses, projectors, premium scooters, and special-order products carry a 15% fee. The listed fee does not apply when the product is unopened and is also waived in certain states or where prohibited by law.
How Long Does a Best Buy Refund Take?
For mailed returns, Best Buy processes the return within 7–10 business days after receiving it. Your bank may then take up to another 10 days to reflect the refund in your account.
Does Best Buy Have a 60-Day Return Policy?
Yes, but not for everyone or every product. My Best Buy Plus and My Best Buy Total members receive a 60-day return and exchange period for most qualifying Best Buy-sold products. The extension excludes Marketplace Products, and category-specific rules such as the 14-day period for most activatable devices still apply.
Conclusion
The Best Buy return policy gives standard customers 15 days from receipt for most products, while My Best Buy Plus and Total members receive 60 days on most qualifying Best Buy-sold purchases. Activatable devices, Marketplace products, holiday decorations, hearing aids, and several other categories follow different rules.
Before making a return, check the exact product category, seller, deadline, condition requirements, and any applicable restocking fee. Bring or locate your proof of purchase, include the original accessories and packaging, and keep shipping or drop-off confirmation for mailed returns. Checking these details before the deadline can prevent many common return problems.
