Walmart’s Return Policy: Can You Return Items Without a Receipt?

Walmart customers like the wide variety of products and convenience, whether one is shopping at a Walmart store, website, or app. However, what if you need to return something? 

Is Walmart's return policy customer-friendly? What is Walmart's exchange policy? This article discusses Walmart’s refund and return policies in detail. We also highlight common issues that customers encounter when returning items to Walmart.

Key Insights

• Walmart is the world’s largest retailer, with over 10,400 stores in 24 countries.
• According to PissedConsumer data on January 2025, 13.5% of Walmart’s complaints are related to refunds.
• Although their return policy is generally favorable, Walmart reviews indicate complaints regarding returns, refunds, and exchanges.

What Is Walmart’s Return Policy?

Walmart offers a 90-day return policy for most items upon receipt or purchase. 

This Standard Walmart return policy applies to items bought in Walmart U.S. stores, Walmart.com, Walmart Business, or from Marketplace sellers on Walmart.com. 

Source: walmart.com

Further terms and conditions are provided in the corporate return policy for items bought at Walmart U.S. stores, Walmart.com, and Walmart Business and the Marketplace return policy for items bought from third-party marketplace sellers.

There are no specified Walmart return hours. However, you can check the operating hours for a Walmart store near you.

What Are Exceptions to Walmart’s Return Policy?

There are exceptions to Walmart's return policy. Certain items have a shorter return period, while others are non-returnable.

The return window exceptions include:

• Major appliances – 2 days
• Most wireless phones – 14 days
• Marketplace luxury items – 14 days
• Marketplace collectible items – 14 days
• Consumer electronics – 30 days
• Electric bicycles -30 days
• PC components – 30 days
• Most marketplace sellers – 30 days
• Walmart protection plans – 30 days
• Vacuums and floor care – 30 days
• Hearing aids – 60 days
• Prescription glasses and contact lenses – 60 days
• Perennials, shrubs, trees – 365 days

Note that, as per Walmart's refund policy, the above product categories can be returned for a full refund if they are new and unopened. Funeral products, such as caskets or coffins, can be exchanged within 90 days if they are damaged or defective and unused.

Source: walmart.com

Items sold and shipped by a Marketplace seller have a 30-day return policy.

Walmart has an extended holiday returns policy. Most Items bought between October 1 and December 31 are returnable by January 31st of the following year except for:

• Wireless phones

• Protection plans
• Major appliances
• Dyson products
• Select seasonal and luxury goods

The Walmart exchange policy indicates that some products, if opened or used, can only be exchanged for an exact or similar item within the stipulated period. These include:

• Unlocked opened wireless phones – 14 days
• Drones and projectors – 30 days
• Airbeds and air mattresses – 90 days
• Durable medical equipment such as crutches, walkers, slings, mobility scooters, and pulse oximeters – 90 days

Despite the seemingly straightforward return policy, some customers have difficulty returning items to Walmart. For example, in review #6303891, the customer received the wrong item and had difficulty returning it. They were first sent to UPS, then the post office and Walmart, but it led nowhere.

Then sent to FedEx where I finally was able to send the wrong idem that was sent to me. Walmart mistake, yet I had to make four trips to different places.

How to Return Items at Walmart? 

Walmart offers three methods to return an item: at a store, from home, by mail, or online. 

Source: walmart.com

The Walmart online return policy applies to all methods. This is because you must initiate all returns, exchanges, and refunds online, regardless of your preferred return method. 

The return method eligibility varies by item and whether you are a Walmart+ member. 

Below is an overview of Walmart’s various return procedures. We also address a common customer question: What is Walmart's return policy without a receipt?

In-store returns

For Walmart in-store returns, you can opt for curbside drop-off or in-store drop-off.

Most items are eligible for in-store returns within the returnable period, except the following product categories:

• Freight, oversized, or heavy items
• Major appliances
• Some marketplace items, such as hazmat items, luxury goods, and perishable goods.

Large items such as oversized furniture, major appliances, outdoor play, treadmills, etc., whether bought at a Walmart store or online should be returned within 90 days by freight shipping. 

Items that require assembly, such as grills, bicycles, and indoor furniture, must be fully disassembled and repackaged before returning to a Walmart store or FedEx location.

Source: walmart.com

Adhere to the following to ensure a smooth in-store return process:

• Take the item(s) you would like to return to the desk at a Walmart store near you.
• Bring along all original packaging and accessories alongside the return confirmation email.
• Mark out any original shipping labels on the packaging to avoid shipping errors or refund delays.
• Bring any receipts for the items you are returning, if available.

Return from home

Source: walmart.com

The Walmart return-from-home option is exclusively available for Walmart+ members. Follow the process above to initiate a return on the Walmart app or website. Then, from the return options, select “Walmart+ return from home”.

Proceed to choose either “Walmart+ InHome pickup” or the “FedEx pickup” option. If you opt for “Walmart+ InHome pickup”, a trusted inHome associate will be sent to pick up your return, whether you are home or not. This option is so convenient as you do not need to leave your home, print return labels, or repackage items. 

On the other hand, for the FedEx pickup option, schedule a pickup, repackage, and label your return. A FedEx driver will pick it up from your home.

Unfortunately, several Walmart reviews indicate that returns from home do not always go smoothly. For example, in one review, the customer explains that it took the phone for over 5 hours, being passed from one supervisor to another to get a FedEx pickup confirmation for a deep freezer that arrived with a dent.

Return by mail

Follow the aforementioned steps for online returns, but choose “return by mail”. You will receive a return label in your email. You can also access it on your Walmart app or account under “Purchase history”.

Repackage and label your item(s), then print the return label and attach it to the package. You may drop it off at an eligible FedEx location near you or at your local post office. 

To return items sold and shipped by a third-party marketplace seller, contact the seller within 30 days to arrange for freight shipping.

Returns without receipt

Walmart recommends that you produce a receipt when returning items for faster processing. 

Refunds for returns without a receipt take longer, up to 10 business days for refunds to a credit or debit card. Therefore, it is recommended that you scan your receipts into the Walmart app for easy access for future reference. 

If you do not have your receipt with you, search for it on the Walmart receipt lookup page. If you can’t find it, go to a Walmart help desk near you. A customer representative will attempt to look up your store purchases using your debit or credit card or your online orders using your phone number or email. 

If you still can’t find your receipt, you will be required to provide a valid government-issued photo ID. If your refund verification process goes through, you will be issued with a Walmart gift card.

What is Walmart’s Refunds and Replacements Process?

Walmart's refund and replacement process varies for different items. They also have explicit refund and replacement policies for certain items. For example, Walmart offers a “Recall Guarantee” whereby customers are issued a cash refund for recalled items regardless of the purchase condition.

Walmart also has a “Fresh guarantee” that allows you to receive a refund on fresh produce, fresh flowers, meat, bakery, deli, and some dairy and frozen items. To get a refund, initiate a return either via Walmart.com or the Walmart App. 

Items on a gift receipt can be exchanged, refunded to an e-gift card, or credited to the sender’s original payment method within the returnable period.

The Walmart refund policy indicates that the refund period for returned items depends on the payment method used to make the purchase and the refund method. 

Source: walmart.com

Typically, the preferred refund method is the payment method used to make the purchase. In this case, the stipulated Walmart refund period is as follows:

• Cash refunds for payments done with cash or check are immediate. 
• Credit card refunds take up to 10 business days. 
• Debit card refunds take up to 7 business days. 
• Refund credits, Walmart gift cards, Walmart cash balance, and EBT card refunds take only 3 hours. 

If Walmart is unable to refund you to the original debit or credit card, store purchases are issued a store credit or Walmart gift card. On the other hand, online purchase refunds are sent back to the issuing bank.

Is Walmart’s Return Policy Favorable?

The Walmart policy is generally quite generous. Aside from a few non-returnable items, you can return most items within a reasonable stipulated period, either for a refund or exchange. 

The most common consumer issues when returning items to Walmart include delays with at-home returns pick-up and delays with refunds or exchanges. To ensure a smooth process, keep a proof of purchase, as a Walmart return without a receipt can be quite cumbersome, and your refund may be denied. 

If you have any questions regarding returns, refunds, and exchanges, you can always contact Walmart customer service for further assistance. 

What has been your experience with the Walmart return policy? Write a review on PissedConsumer.com