Target Restocking Schedule Demystified – Tips and Tricks for Target Shopping

If you're a frequent Target shopper, then you know the frustration of discovering that an item you need is out of stock. If you're someone who buys and resells items from Target, you know that being first in line is profitable. So, we've gathered all the details about Target's restocking schedule and summarized them here for you.

Note: Target is hindered by the same supply chain limitations as the rest of the world. Although they have shown that they are certainly at the top of the line when it comes to restocking popular items, there is no guarantee. Many of the points in this article are subject to change and based on user submitted content from websites like Reddit.

General Target Restocking Rules of Thumb

Most Target locations restock their inventory between 12 am and 6 am when the stores are closed. If an item is not in stock during the day, it's most likely that you'll have to wait until the next day, at least for a restock.

They do a great job of restocking most items before they are sold out entirely.

If an item is not publicly displayed, you should always ask an associate to check their inventory for you, as items are very often in the location but not yet stocked on shelves or displays.

Not only can a target employee check their backend inventory, they can also check on upcoming shipments that are in transit and can often give you an idea of when the item is expected to be back in stock (source).

Target consistently stocks perishable grocery items to meet high demand and guarantee quality and freshness. These perishable goods include bread, meat, dairy products, fruits, vegetables and hot foods. If you're looking to save some money, keep an eye out for discounted items near their expiration dates.

Clothing and Home Goods Restocking Schedule

Target restocks clothing daily, with new arrivals arriving Mondays and Thursdays.

Home goods items are restocked every other Wednesday. If you're searching for something specific, be sure to check the Target website for store hours or ask an employee for more details.

What Time Does Target Restock Products?

Most Target locations are open from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM and most restocking happens outside of these hours. Restocking is best done overnight when there are no customers to slow down the process or distract the employees who are restocking.

Best Time to Shop at Target

Since Target does most of their restocking at night, this means that the best time of day to shop at Target if you're looking for a specific item is right when they open at or around 8:00 AM.

Target's shelves are usually fully stocked in the mornings, especially for daily restock items like perishable groceries. If you need something specific, ask an employee when it's due for restocking.

Target Clearance Markdown Schedule

Each weekday, Target runs markdowns on a specific section of the store (source). Although this isn't related necessarily to Target's restocking, it's an important part of the Target inventory chain worth knowing about if you want to snag the best possible deals.

If you want the best deals, it's essential to know when your favorite category will be back in stock. Here's a breakdown of the restock schedule:

Monday Target Clearance Schedule:

• Accessories
• Baby
• Books
• Electronics
• Kids Clothing
• Stationery

Tuesday Target Clearance Schedule:

• Domestics
• Market (food items)
• Pets
• Women's Clothing

Wednesday Target Clearance Schedule:

• Diapers
• Furniture
• Health & Beauty
• Lawn & Garden Items
• Men's Clothing

Thursday Target Clearance Schedule:

• Decor & Luggage
• Housewares
• Lingerie
• Shoes
• Sporting Goods
• Toys

Friday Target Clearance Schedule:

• Auto
• Cosmetics
• Hardware
• Jewelry

There is no clearance schedule for Saturday or Sunday at Target.

If you're a fan of clearance items (who isn't) check out this blog post I wrote about Wal-Mart's hidden clearance offers. 

When Does Target Restock the Hottest Items (PS5, Pokemon and Squish mallows)

Many of you likely landed on this article because you're looking for the restocking schedule for something extremely specific.

Items that people seem to be the most interested in tracking at Target are...

• PlayStation 5
• Squishmallows
• Pokemon cards

Target does their best to restock the most popular items as quickly as possible, but items like the PS5 are totally subject to supply from Sony. There is not a good set date for when these restock, although their inventory on PS5s is becoming more consistent.

It seems that Target restocks Pokemon cards on Thursday and Friday nights (source).

Squishmallows, like the PS5, are limited by the supply chain and their restocking varies. Several Reddit users reported that it takes about 10 days between shipments.

How to Assess Target Inventory with BrickSeek

BrickSeek is a secret weapon for savvy shoppers looking for hard to get items. It's an app that is available both online (brickseek.com) and as a mobile app that allows you to search local retailers like Target to find out if an item is in stock.

BrickSeek has a Target specific tool (find that here) that allows you to search for in stock items.

To use it, simply enter the UPC of the item you're looking for, or if you don't have the UPC, click the DPCI option and type the name of the item and it will give you suggestions on what it thinks you're looking for.

Once you select the item, you'll enter your area code and it will check the inventory in your local area.

It will also give you online options with pricing.

You can get a lot of use out of the free BrickSeek plan, but if you're a serious shopper or reseller who wants to never miss a deal, they offer premium plans at $9.99/month and $29.99/month.

The big difference between the paid and free BrickSeek plans is...

• Deal alert limits. Free plans are limited to one local alert and 2 online alerts at a time while paid plans offer more.
• First access to alerts. Paid members will get notifications before free members.
• Search radius. Paid plans let you expand and see the inventory levels of stores that are further away from you than the free plan offers.
• Deal update time. Premium plans are updated daily while free plans are updated 2x per week.

BrickSeek also offers a great forum area that has a lot of great conversations and information about inventory and restocking at not just Target, but other retailers like Wal-Mart, Lowes and more.

Target App Pricing Conspiracy Theory

Several people have reported that the Target app shows different prices to depending on whether you're inside the store or outside the store. 

The theory is that Target shows a lower price to people who aren't in the store yet to draw them in to snag the great deal. Once they're in, they realize that the price is higher than listed online. 

It was reported that updating the app made this stop (source) but some customers still report that they have seen discrepancies. 

If you're paranoid that this is still happening, you can turn off tracking from the mobile app and, allegedly, it won't be able to tell if you are inside or outside of a store. 

Targeting Restocking Alerts

Target provides customers with the option to receive email notifications of incoming orders. You'll be informed if Target restocks its online or in store inventory, and you can click on the notification icon within either app or website.

In order to subscribe for Target's email list, you must log into your Target.com account first; when items are added back into stock, you will be notified via email when they become available again.

Those using the App will also receive a notification on their device.