Clothing coupon codes and deals

How clothing sales and codes usually work

Clothing is one of the most discounted categories online, which is good news and bad news. Good, because there's almost always some kind of offer running. Bad, because so many prices are marked down that it's hard to tell a real deal from the everyday price.

Most clothing offers fall into a few familiar shapes: a percentage off everything or off one category, a dollar amount off once you spend over a threshold, free shipping, or a sale section with reduced prices that don't need a code at all. Retailers in the same family, like Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic and Athleta, each run their own promotions, so a sale at one doesn't mean a sale at the others.

The deals grid above shows only codes and sales that each brand has published through its affiliate program, with the end date the brand set. When a brand isn't running anything, we leave it out rather than fill the gap with old codes.

Reading the fine print on a clothing code

Clothing codes have more conditions than most. A few minutes with the terms saves the frustration of a code that won't apply at checkout.

• Exclusions. New collections, collaborations, clearance and some brands are often left out. If a code won't apply, this is the usual reason.
• Minimum spend. Dollar-off codes usually need a minimum order, measured before tax and shipping.
• Online or in store. Some codes work only online and some only in store. Check which before you plan a trip.
• One per order. Most retailers allow one promo code per order, although a code can often be used on top of items already on sale.
• Member-only offers. Some prices need you to sign in to a free account or rewards program.
• Final sale. Deeply discounted items are sometimes final sale, which means no returns or exchanges.

Fit, returns and the true cost of a deal

The biggest hidden cost in buying clothes online isn't the price, it's the return. If you have to pay return shipping, or the item turns out to be final sale, a discount can disappear fast.

Before you order, check the brand's size guide against a piece you already own and like the fit of, rather than guessing from your usual size. Read the return window and whether returns are free by mail, free in store, or come out of your refund. If you're between sizes on something you really want, ordering from a store with easy in-store returns can be the safer bet.

Reviews that mention fit (runs small, runs large, true to size) are often more useful than star ratings for clothing.

Rewards programs, emails and store cards

Most clothing retailers have some combination of a free email list, a points or rewards program, and a store credit card. Each is designed to bring you back, and each can be worth having if you already shop there.

Email lists and free rewards programs are low-risk: sign up, take the welcome offer if there is one, and unsubscribe later if the emails get to be too much. Store credit cards are a bigger decision. They can come with extra discounts, but they're still credit cards, so only consider one if you'd pay the balance in full and it fits your wider finances.

If you shop at several brands in the same retail family, check whether their rewards programs are shared. Points earned at one can sometimes be used at the others.

Kids' clothes and activewear

Two corners of clothing work a little differently, so they have their own pages. Kids grow out of things quickly, which makes the timing of sales matter more than the size of the discount. Our kids' clothes deals page covers The Children's Place, Old Navy and Gap.

Activewear has its own pricing quirks too, including brands that sell through a membership. Our activewear deals page covers Athleta and Fabletics.

How to tell if a sale is really a deal

Because clothing is marked down so often, the original price on a tag isn't always the price most people pay. A few quick checks help.

• Watch the item for a week or two if you're not in a hurry. Prices in this category move a lot.
• Compare against a basic you know. If you know what a plain tee or pair of jeans usually costs at a store, you'll spot inflated originals quickly.
• Cost per wear beats price. A well-made piece you'll wear for years can be a better deal than a cheap one that won't last a season.
• Don't buy to hit a threshold you didn't need. Spending more to unlock free shipping only pays if you'd have bought the extra item anyway.

Accessories and gifts

Bags, hats, socks and other accessories are often included in sitewide codes, and they make easy add-ons to reach a free-shipping threshold. They're also popular gifts, so check whether the store offers gift receipts or extended holiday returns if you're shopping ahead. Brands like Life is Good sell plenty of giftable pieces alongside their clothing.

When to buy

These are patterns across the category, not promises from any one store. The end date on each offer is the one to trust.