Wayfair Return Policy: Everything You Need To Know in 2025

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Bought something from Wayfair and it didn’t work out? You’re not alone. Whether your furniture didn’t fit the space or the color wasn’t quite right, understanding the Wayfair return policy can help you avoid stress and get the return process right the first time.

Below, you’ll find a quick snapshot of how returns work, then a deeper breakdown of timeframes, fees, furniture rules, Open Box restrictions and what happens after 30 days.

Wayfair Returns at a Glance

How The Wayfair Return Policy Works

At a high level, the Wayfair return policy is built around a simple 30-day window plus a few big exceptions for holiday shopping, mattresses and large appliances.

According to Wayfair’s help center, “most items” can be returned within 30 days of delivery if they’re in their original, undamaged condition and, if applicable, disassembled and repacked.

Wayfair is part of a bigger trend: retailers expect roughly 15.8% of all sales — about $850 billion — to be returned in 2025. Clear policies help keep that process from turning into a headache for both shoppers and stores.

Standard 30-Day Return Window

For most everyday purchases:

• You have 30 days from the delivery date to start a return
• Items must be:
  • In original, undamaged condition
  • Unassembled if they arrived that way
  • Packed in original packaging or something similar if the original is unusable

If you’re even slightly unsure about an item, it’s smart to keep the box and padding until you know you’re keeping it.

Holiday Return Policy

During the holidays, Wayfair usually extends its return window.

Recent guidance indicates that items bought between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31 can typically be returned until Jan. 31 of the following year, giving gift shoppers extra time.

Holiday rules can change each year, so always confirm the exact dates and exclusions in your order details.

What You Can — And Can’t — Return To Wayfair

Wayfair lets you return a wide range of items, but some categories are strictly final sale.

Items You Can Usually Return

As long as they’re in like-new condition and within 30 days, you can typically return:

• Unassembled furniture
• Décor and home accents
• Rugs and bedding
• Lighting and lamps
• Kitchen and dining items

Again, original or comparable packaging is key. Many retailers are getting stricter: nearly 17% of ecommerce orders were returned in 2024, and packaging issues are a common reason returns get rejected or hit with fees.

Items You Cannot Return

Wayfair’s non-returnable list is longer than many shoppers realize. Common examples include:

• Clearance or final sale items
• Open Box deals
• Personalized or made-to-order products
• Gift cards
• Live plants and swatches
• Items marked “Non-Returnable” on the product page
• Bundled deals bought at a discount if you don’t return the full bundle

For large appliances, rules are even tighter. Some policies give you only a short window — sometimes as little as 48 hours if the item is unused, uninstalled and in original packaging, and a restocking fee may apply.

Wayfair Return Policy After 30 Days

What if you miss the 30-day cutoff?

• In most cases, Wayfair will not accept standard returns after 30 days
• Your best options at that point are:
  • Contact customer service if the item is clearly defective or arrived damaged
  • Check whether a manufacturer’s warranty still covers your item

Retailers are already absorbing heavy return volumes — an estimated 19.3% of online sales are expected to be returned in 2025, with younger shoppers leading the way. Because of that, exceptions are more limited than they used to be.

How Refunds And Fees Work With Wayfair

Once you start a return online and ship the item back, Wayfair will inspect it and process your refund.

Refund Methods

You typically can choose between:

• Refund to the original payment method
• Refund as Wayfair store credit

Store credit sometimes reduces or eliminates return shipping charges on select items, which can save money on bulky pieces.

Return Shipping Costs And Restocking Fees

In most cases:

• Return shipping is deducted from your refund unless the item is damaged, defective or Wayfair sent the wrong product
• Refunds may take about 5 to 14 days to fully hit your account after the item arrives at the warehouse
• Large, freight-shipped or appliance returns may involve:
  • Restocking fees
  • Higher return shipping costs
  • Stricter condition requirements

Always review the estimated refund breakdown before you confirm your return label.

Special Rules For Furniture, Mattresses And Big Items

Big-ticket Wayfair purchases come with extra fine print.

Furniture Returns

Most furniture follows standard rules:

• Must be unassembled if it arrived that way
• Must be in resaleable condition
• Often must be boxed or wrapped securely, even for freight pickup

If a piece arrives damaged or with missing parts, take photos and start a return or replacement request right away from your Wayfair account.

Mattress Trial Policy

Most Wayfair mattresses include a 100-night trial, which works differently from a standard 30-day return:

• You usually need to keep the mattress for at least 30 nights before requesting a return
• Returns during the trial can often be:
  • Refunded to store credit at no extra cost, or
  • Refunded to your original payment method with a fee
• Toppers, crib mattresses, air mattresses and Open Box mattresses are usually excluded

If you’re buying a mattress specifically for the trial, check the exact language on the product page.

Large Appliance Returns

For large appliances, Wayfair’s policy is much stricter:

• Often only returnable in a very short window if:
  • They are unused
  • They are not installed
  • They are in original packaging
• Restocking fees or pick-up charges may apply

If you’re ordering a pricey appliance, read the “Returns” section before you click buy.

Step-By-Step: How To Start A Wayfair Return

Here’s how to return a Wayfair item without calling support:

1. Log in to your Wayfair account
2. Go to My Orders
3. Click “Return Item” next to the product
4. Choose a reason for the return
5. Select your refund method (store credit or original payment)
6. Review any estimated return shipping or fees
7. Print the prepaid label Wayfair provides
8. Pack your item securely and drop it off or schedule pick-up, depending on the carrier

If your item is oversized, Wayfair will typically schedule a freight pick-up instead of asking you to drop it off.

Final Take to GO: Make The Wayfair Return Policy Work For You

When you strip away the fine print, the Wayfair return policy is built around a simple idea:30 days to send back most items in new condition, plus a longer window for many holiday purchases and special rules for mattresses and appliances.

If you keep boxes until you’re sure, start returns from your account instead of guessing, and watch for non-returnable labels, you can shop Wayfair with far less risk — even in a world where nearly 1 in 6 retail dollars is expected to be returned in 2025.

If you’re planning a big furniture or mattress purchase next, read the product-level return terms closely and consider how the policy fits with your budget and timeline before you click buy.

Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article.

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