Exact Dates to Return Unwanted Christmas Gifts in 2025 — UK Guide

With Christmas now behind us, many of us in Salisbury and across the UK are opening, enjoying — or sometimes regretting — presents we received.

If you’ve been left with unwanted gifts, now’s the time to check the returns deadlines before the extended Christmas return windows close.

Why Return Deadlines Matter

Many major retailers offer extended returns periods over the festive season so that gifts bought for Christmas can be returned well into January 2026. These extended windows give gift recipients more flexibility to decide what to keep, exchange or refund — without the stress of tight return rules in the new year.

Key Return Dates for 2025 Christmas Gifts

Here’s what several leading UK retailers are offering for the Christmas 2025 season:

• Amazon – Items bought between 1 Nov and 31 Dec 2025 can be returned until 31 January 2026. 

• Apple – Products received between 12 Nov and 25 Dec 2025 must be returned by 8 January 2026. 

• Argos – Purchases from 26 Sept to 25 Dec 2025 can be returned by 31 January 2026. 

• ASOS – Orders placed between 17 Nov and 19 Dec 2025 have until 15 January 2026 to return. 

• Boots – Exclusive extended Christmas returns until 31 January 2026 on items bought from 1 Oct to 31 Jan. 

• Currys – Gifts bought 29 Oct to 24 Dec 2025 can be returned until 23 January 2026. 

• Dunelm & B&M – Extended dates to 31 January 2026 with proof of purchase. 

• H&M – Returns accepted up until 31 January 2026 on qualifying purchases. 

• John Lewis – Extended returns for purchases made between 1 Oct and 24 Dec 2025 until 23 January 2026.

• M&S – Anything bought on or after 9 Oct 2025 can be returned until 25 January 2026 (exclusions apply).

• NEXT – Items ordered between 24 Oct and 25 Dec 2025 can be returned until 4 January 2026. 

• Primark – Purchases from 14 Oct 2025 onward can be returned until 30 January 2026. 

📌 Tip: Always keep receipts and original packaging to make returns easier, and check individual store policies before visiting the store. 

Your Rights and Tips for Returning Gifts

• If you don’t have a receipt, some shops may only offer store credit or an exchange instead of a full cash refund. Getting the original receipt (or a gift receipt) increases your return options.

• Online purchases often have extra protections — under UK consumer law, buyers have a right to cancel an order within a set period after delivery. 

• Retailers have no legal obligation to accept returns for non-faulty items bought in-store outside of their stated policies, so always check the return deadline and criteria with the shop or website first. 

  
  

  
  

  
  

What If You Miss the Deadline?

If the return period has expired — or you don’t have proof of purchase — you still have other options:

• Exchange for a different item offered by some stores. 

• Donate or sell unwanted gifts through charity shops, online marketplaces or local community groups.