Your Ultimate Guide to Lowe's Seasonal Clearance Sales

Shopping for home improvement projects can get expensive, but savvy shoppers know that timing is everything. If you’re looking for the best deals at Lowe’s, understanding their seasonal clearance schedule is the key. This guide breaks down exactly when and what to look for to score major discounts throughout the year.

How Lowe's Clearance Works: The Basics

Before we dive into the seasons, it’s helpful to understand the general clearance process at Lowe’s. When an item is marked for clearance, it’s typically because it’s an end-of-season product, a discontinued model, or simply overstocked.

You can almost always identify these deals by the yellow price tag. While regular-priced items have white tags, the bright yellow tags are your signal for a discount. These discounts often happen in stages. An item might start at 25% off, then drop to 50%, and if it still doesn’t sell, it could go as low as 75% off or more. The trick is deciding whether to buy it now or risk it being gone later for a steeper discount.

Clearance items can be found in a few different places in the store:

  • Dedicated Clearance Aisles: Many stores have specific aisles in the back where they consolidate clearance merchandise.
  • Endcaps: Always check the shelves at the end of the aisles. This is prime real estate for moving discounted products.
  • In Their Regular Aisle: Sometimes, a clearance item will be left right where it always was, just with a new yellow tag. This is common for larger items like appliances or patio furniture.

The Lowe's Seasonal Clearance Calendar: A Year of Savings

Timing your purchases around the end of a season is the most effective way to save. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect throughout the year.

Winter Clearance: January and February

Once the holidays are over, the savings begin. This is arguably one of the best clearance events of the year.

  • What’s on Sale: The biggest markdowns are on holiday decor. Think artificial Christmas trees, string lights, inflatable yard decorations, ornaments, and wreaths. You will also find major discounts on winter-specific tools like snow blowers, shovels, and ice melt.
  • Discount Levels: Holiday items often start at 50% off right after Christmas and can quickly drop to 75% off within a few weeks. If you have the storage space, it’s the perfect time to stock up for next year.
  • Pro Tip: This is also a good time to look for deals on indoor project supplies. With cold weather keeping people inside, you can sometimes find discounts on flooring, paint, and lighting as Lowe’s prepares for the spring rush.

Spring Clearance: Late May, June, and July

As spring winds down and summer heats up, the first wave of outdoor and gardening deals appears. This is the prime time to upgrade your outdoor living space for less.

  • What’s on Sale: This is the season for all things garden and patio. Look for deep discounts on lawn mowers (especially last year’s models), patio furniture sets, umbrellas, and planters. Live goods like perennial plants, shrubs, and trees that have been sitting for a while will also be marked down. Bags of mulch and soil often go on sale after the initial spring planting rush.
  • Specific Brands to Watch: Keep an eye out for deals on popular grill brands like Weber and Char-Broil. You can also find great prices on Scotts lawn care products and Kobalt or EGO outdoor power equipment.
  • Pro Tip: Memorial Day is a huge sale event that kicks off this period. While not purely “clearance,” it’s when Lowe’s offers major promotions on appliances, grills, and patio furniture. The true clearance deals on these items will follow in the weeks after.

Summer Clearance: August and September

As summer comes to an end, Lowe’s needs to clear out the remaining warm-weather inventory to make room for fall and holiday items.

  • What’s on Sale: This is your last, best chance for the deepest discounts on summer goods. Any remaining patio sets, grills, outdoor cushions, and pool supplies will be heavily marked down. It’s also a great time to find deals on insect repellents, citronella candles, and gardening tools.
  • Discount Levels: Prices on high-ticket items like premium grills and large patio sets can be slashed by 50% or more. Floor models are especially good buys during this time if you don’t mind a minor scuff or two.
  • Pro Tip: Don’t forget about paint. Many people tackle exterior painting projects in the summer, so as the season ends, you can often find deals on exterior paints and stains.

Fall Clearance: October and November

The focus shifts from the lawn to the holidays. This is the time to find deals on autumn-specific decor and tools before the big winter holiday push.

  • What’s on Sale: Look for markdowns on Halloween and Thanksgiving decor, such as inflatable figures, decorative lights, and harvest-themed items. Outdoor equipment like leaf blowers, lawn bags, and end-of-season lawn care products will also be on clearance.
  • What to Look Forward To: While this clearance period is happening, get ready for Black Friday. This is Lowe’s biggest event for deals on power tools, toolsets, and smart home devices. Brands like DeWalt, Craftsman, and Bosch are heavily featured.
  • Pro Tip: This is an excellent time to buy major appliances. The period from October through December is when manufacturers release new models, so retailers like Lowe’s offer big discounts to clear out the previous year’s inventory.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I return a clearance item at Lowe’s? Yes, in most cases. Lowe’s standard return policy generally applies to clearance items, which is typically 90 days with a valid receipt. However, it’s always a good idea to check the receipt or ask an associate, as some items sold “as-is” might have a different policy.

Is it better to shop for clearance online or in-store? Both have their advantages. The in-store experience allows you to find unadvertised deals and inspect the condition of items, which is crucial for floor models. The online “Savings” section on the Lowe’s website is great for seeing a wide range of deals at once and checking inventory at nearby stores. For the best results, do both.

When is the best time of year to buy paint at Lowe’s? Major holiday weekends are almost always the best time. Look for paint rebates and “buy one, get one” deals around Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day. These sales often beat standard clearance prices.