Shopping guide

Best Buy's return policy: 15 days, 60 for Plus and Total members, and the fees to know

How long you have to return something to Best Buy, who gets 60 days, which items carry a $45 or 15% restocking fee, and how refunds are paid, from Best Buy's own pages.

Updated October 21, 2026 · Everything below is taken from Best Buy's Returns and Exchanges page (effective date February 23, 2026) and its Holiday FAQs page, both read on that date. The links are at the bottom. Best Buy can change its policy, so check the page before you rely on a return.

The short answer

Best Buy says the clock starts the day you receive your product, and the standard window for most products is 15 days. Members of My Best Buy Plus and My Best Buy Total get 60 days on most products, but not on Marketplace purchases. (Best Buy) The same windows apply to new, clearance, open-box, refurbished and pre-owned products. (Best Buy)

The windows, by product

Restocking fees

Best Buy lists two fees. (Best Buy)

There is no restocking fee if the product is unopened, or if the purchase is made in Alabama, Colorado, Hawaii, Iowa, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma or South Carolina, or where the fee is prohibited by law. (Best Buy)

What can't be returned

Best Buy lists items that are nonreturnable once purchased: custom and personalized orders, items marked Final Sale, non-subscription digital content (including digital games, but excluding 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 300 watt-hours of capacity or more, golf carts, utility terrain vehicles, electric bikes, electric mopeds and plumbing items. (Best Buy)

Other items are nonreturnable once opened, including products that interact with bodily fluids, SIM kits, LEGO products, consumables such as batteries, filters, cleaners, health supplements, health test kits, ink and 3D printer filament, and entertainment products sold by Marketplace sellers (opened physical software, movies, music, video games and books). Opened entertainment products bought from Best Buy itself can only be exchanged for an identical item. (Best Buy)

Condition and what you need to bring

How to return

How you get your money back

With a few exceptions, Best Buy refunds you the same way you paid. For returns by mail, Best Buy says it processes the return within 7 to 10 business days of receiving it, and it can take up to 10 more days to show on your account, depending on your bank. If you paid more than $800 in cash, or more than $250 by check or by a debit card without a major credit card logo, you get a check within 10 business days. Gift card money comes back as a new Best Buy gift card or e-gift card. (Best Buy)

A gift bought from Best Buy and returned in a store is credited as store credit for the purchase price. (Best Buy)

Holiday returns: check the page before you buy

Best Buy's Holiday FAQs page has offered an extended return window in past years. When we opened it on October 21, 2026, it still listed last year's dates: purchases made October 31 through December 31, 2025 could be returned through January 15, 2026, excluding activatable devices, AppleCare+ plans and holiday products. (Best Buy Holiday FAQs) We did not see 2026 dates posted yet, so don't assume the same window applies this year. Check that page before you buy gifts.

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Check the price before it's in your cart

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Common questions

What is Best Buy's return policy?

Best Buy says most products can be returned within 15 days of the day you receive them, and My Best Buy Plus and Total members get 60 days on most products (not Marketplace purchases). Activatable devices such as phones are 14 days.

Does Best Buy charge a restocking fee?

Best Buy lists a $45 fee on activatable devices (prepaid phones excluded) and a 15% fee on items such as drones, digital cameras, lenses, camcorders, projectors and special-order products. There is no fee if the product is unopened or in the states Best Buy lists, or where the fee is prohibited by law.

How long do Best Buy refunds take?

For returns by mail, Best Buy says it processes the return within 7 to 10 business days of receiving it, and it can then take up to 10 days to appear on your account, depending on your bank.

Sources

Policies change. Check Best Buy's page before you rely on a return. Price AI isn't affiliated with Best Buy.

Related: Best Buy's price match, Apple's return policy, Lowe's return policy, Home Depot's online return policy, Costco's return policy, holiday return policies at big stores, and which stores price match.

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