A simple way to tell exactly how good of a deal you're getting at Target, based on the price tag alone
If You See This Tag on Your Favorite Target Item, Stock Up Now
Updated on Jun. 22, 2025
So you’re at Target, you’ve found an item on sale—and you can’t help wondering how good a deal you’re getting. Is this the final clearance price? Or will the price drop even more tomorrow, or next week? While there are sneaky ways Target gets you to spend more money, there are also Target price codes that will help ensure you’re not spending any more than you have to. We spoke to former Target executive team leader Lynda Peralta, founder of The Pocket Palette, to find out all about target prices codes.
Keep reading to find out how you can make sure you’re getting the best deal at Target.
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What are target price codes, and how do they work?
Turns out, there’s a simple way to tell if you’re getting the best deal. At many stores, the price tag itself will tell you exactly what’s going on with that item’s price. Here’s how to read Target price tags, according to thekrazycouponlady.com:
- Items with prices ending in $0.09 are the regular price.
- Items with prices ending in $0.06 or $0.08 are discounted (for example, $4.38) and will be marked down again during the next markdown cycle, as long as there is inventory left in the store.
- Items with prices ending in $0.04 are the final clearance price.
Obviously, if you’ve found yourself an item that ends in $0.04, you know you’ve got yourself a major deal. Additionally, you can look at what percentage off an item is. The small number at the top right corner of the price tag will tell you.
“Most of the time, items will be 30, 50, 70, which means it is 30%, 50%, 70% clearance,” Peralta told Reader’s Digest about this Target money-saving secret. “You rarely see something go on clearance for 90%, and that is usually candy from a holiday.”
When does Target mark down clearance items?
Target doesn’t share in advance exactly when they are going to mark down clearance items. However, based on inventory and demand, they will mark down prices periodically. You can tell when a price has been marked down based on the Target price code. If the price tag ends in $.04 ($9.54, for example), it will not be marked down further.
Are Target price codes used in all stores?
Yes, Target price codes are used in all stores nationwide.
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Sources:
- The Krazy Coupon Lady: “How to Read Target Clearance Tags”
- Lynda Peralta, former Target executive team leader and founder of The Pocket Palette
