Carter's Return Policy

90 days

Yes (in-store)

Customer pays mail shipping

None

Not specifically extended

Final sale items, altered items, gift cards, opened personal care

Carter's gives you 90 days to make a return, which is a solid window for kids' clothing — especially useful when you're buying ahead for growth spurts. The 90-day clock starts from your purchase date. Items need to be unworn and have the original tags attached. Final sale items, altered clothing, gift cards, and opened personal care products are excluded entirely, so don't count on returning those. If you bought from carters.com or OshKosh B'gosh, the same 90-day rule applies across the entire family of brands.

Carter's does not publicly publish a detailed no-receipt return policy, so this one varies by store and situation. Your best bet is to bring whatever proof of purchase you have — an order confirmation email, a packing slip, or a credit card statement showing the transaction. In-store returns without any documentation may be declined or processed at the current selling price. Call your local Carter's ahead of time to confirm what they'll accept. Having the original tags on the item still attached gives you a much better chance of a smooth return either way.

No, Carter's does not charge a restocking fee on returns. Whether you're returning in-store or by mail, you won't get hit with a percentage-based deduction just for sending something back. The one cost to be aware of: if you're mailing a return, you pay the return shipping yourself — that's not covered. But the return itself doesn't carry any restocking penalty. In-store returns remain completely free with no hidden fees, making the physical store the most cost-effective way to return anything you bought online or in person.

Carter's won't accept returns on opened personal care products — things like lotions, shampoos, or similar items in that category. For clothing, the standard rule is that items must be unworn with tags still attached, meaning even lightly used clothing may be rejected. Altered items are also non-returnable no matter what. If you've washed something once and it fell apart at the seams, that's a defective item situation — different from a standard used-item return — and worth escalating separately. When in doubt, leave tags on anything you're not 100% sure about keeping.

Carter's does not have a specifically extended holiday return window based on currently available policy data. The standard 90-day return window applies year-round, including items purchased during the holiday season. If you're buying gifts in November or early December, run the math — a 90-day window from purchase date may expire before the recipient even tries the item on after the holidays. To stay safe, buy as close to the holiday as possible or ask the store directly about any seasonal exceptions they might make. Policies can shift during peak seasons without being officially published.

Yes, you can return Carter's online orders to a physical store, and this is the smartest move since in-store returns are free. Mailing a return back means you cover the shipping cost out of pocket. Bring your packing slip or order confirmation, make sure the items are unworn with tags on, and head to any Carter's location within 90 days. Bonus: since Carter's and OshKosh B'gosh are the same family, you can return Carter's items at OshKosh stores too, giving you more drop-off flexibility depending on which store is closer.

Carter's does not publicly publish a dedicated military discount program in their standard policy documentation. Some individual store locations may offer discounts through third-party verification programs like ID.me or GovX, but this isn't confirmed across all locations or channels. Your best approach is to check directly at checkout on carters.com for any verification-based discount options, or ask in-store before completing a purchase. Carter's does run frequent promotions — sometimes 40-50% off sitewide — that may outperform any standalone military discount even if one becomes available.

Carter's does not publicly publish a price-match or price-adjustment policy. If you bought something and it drops in price shortly after, there's no documented guarantee you'll get the difference back. Some retailers handle this informally at the customer service level, so it's worth calling or visiting a store and asking politely — bring your receipt and show the current lower price. Carter's runs sales frequently enough that timing your purchase around known promotional periods (like clearance events or sitewide percentage-off sales) is a more reliable strategy than counting on a post-purchase adjustment.

Returning a gift to Carter's without a gift receipt isn't explicitly covered in their published policy, so outcomes can vary. If the original purchaser used a loyalty account or credit card, the store may be able to look up the transaction. Showing up with the item unworn, tags attached, and within the 90-day window gives you the best possible starting position. Without any proof of purchase, some stores may offer store credit at the current selling price rather than a full refund. Call ahead and explain the situation — store managers often have discretion on gift returns handled in good faith.

If something from Carter's arrived damaged or falls apart after minimal wear, treat it as a defective item rather than a standard return — and escalate accordingly. Head to a store or contact customer service directly and explain the defect clearly. The standard 90-day return window still applies as a baseline, but defective product claims are often handled with more flexibility than a simple change-of-mind return. Bring your receipt or order confirmation if you have it. For online purchases, contacting Carter's customer service before mailing anything back is the right first step so they can guide you on the fastest resolution path.