William LipovskyTable of Contents
Short Answer
Walmart has a layaway program, but it is not available year-round. Walmart only offers layaway during the holiday shopping season, typically from September to December. You’ll get to set your own payment plan, but you’ll have to finish your payments by the end of the season in December. Below, we have more details about Walmart’s holiday layaway, including which items are eligible.
How Does Layaway Work at Walmart?
Walmart layaway allows you to reserve purchases worth at least $50 by making a down payment and agreeing to periodic installments. To put an item on layaway at Walmart, simply bring it to the store’s designated layaway counter. Once paid in full, you’ll be able to take your purchase home.
Walmart Layaway Dates
Walmart’s layaway is available only during the holiday season. This “holiday season” starts in September and ends in early December. Specific start and end dates can change year to year, and they can also vary by store. If you want to put something on layaway near the start or end date, check with your local store to find its exact layaway period.
Walmart’s holiday layaway for 2020 may begin anywhere from August 30 through early September at your local store. It will end around December 9, depending on your location. We called several Walmart locations in Connecticut, Michigan, Oregon, Tennessee, and Texas to confirm these date ranges. Most stores said that the 2020 holiday layaway begins at the end of August, though one store in Oregon and another in Connecticut told us their layaway would most likely start in the first week of September.
Also, note that certain store locations may offer layaway year-round for jewelry purchases.
Walmart Layaway Rules and Restrictions
Walmart places certain restrictions on layaway purchases, including a minimum purchase amount and a cancellation fee. Walmart’s typical layaway rules are as follows:
- Minimums: Individual items must be $10 more and the total purchase must be at least $50 to qualify for layaway.
- Down payment: $10 or 10% of the total purchase, whichever is greater
- Returns: The standard Walmart return policy applies to all layaway purchases.
- Terms: You must make the final payment and pick up your item(s) before the end of the annual layaway period. You must pick up the items at the same store where you initiated layaway — otherwise, the order will be canceled. If this occurs, the items will be returned to inventory, and the down payment and payments made will be refunded to you, less a $10 cancellation fee. (The cancellation fee does not apply in Ohio, Maryland, Rhode Island, or District of Columbia.)
- Pickup & Pay: You must initiate layaway at the Pickup Desk, but you can then make payments at any store register. You cannot make layaway payments online. When you make the final payment, you may be asked to pick up the layaway purchase from some other department within the store, depending on the item.
Walmart Layaway Benefits
- Walmart’s layaway program allows you to shop for the holiday season even if you can’t initially afford the entire cost. Also, if you can’t or don’t want to pay the full price of an in-demand item upfront, you can reserve the item before it goes out of stock.
- Walmart’s standard policies for returns and price matching also apply to layaway purchases, meaning you can pursue refunds, exchanges, or price reductions.
- There is no opening fee — only a 10% or $10 down payment, which will apply directly to the overall cost of the item.
- Walmart accepts coupons for layaway items.
Walmart Layaway Disadvantages
- Only select items are available for layaway.
- If you decide to cancel a layaway purchase, you’ll be reimbursed for previous payments, but you will pay a $10 fee. If you have more than one item in a layaway account and only cancel one item, this fee may or may not apply, depending on individual store policies.
- You must make your final payment and pick up the item(s) by the December end date.
- Layaway is only available for the holiday season, which lasts from mid-September to mid-December.
- Layaway is not available on the biggest shopping day of the year: Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving.
- In some cases, items must be stored off-site. In these cases, Walmart will give you a longer grace period for pick-up.
- Layaway is only available for in-store purchases — Walmart does not offer layaway for online purchases.
- You have to be 21 or older to take advantage of Walmart’s layaway program.
Items Available for Walmart Layaway During the Holidays
Not every item sold at Walmart is available for the layaway program. Clothing, for example, cannot be put on layaway. Walmart offers layaway for the following products during the holidays (excluding Black Friday), as long as the items are each $10 or more and the total purchase price of the total order is at least $50:
- Auto electronics
- Electronics (except for wireless phones that require contracts)
- Infant toys
- Infant furniture
- Jewelry
- Large furniture
- Select sporting goods
- Small appliances
- Toys
In Summary
Walmart offers layaway, but only during the holiday season. The dates for Walmart holiday layaway vary by year and by store, but generally, layaway starts in late August or early September and ends in mid-December. Layaway is available for select items, such as small appliances and toys; each item must cost over $10, and your total layaway order must be $50 or greater to qualify. The down payment for layaway at Walmart is the greater of $10 or 10% of your total purchase.
For layaway options outside of the holiday season, see our list of stores that offer layaway year-round.
Joseph Cho
Cathy Desmet
Kait Scirri
Lindsey Desmet
Loren Eaton
Erika Crawford
Maria R. Riegger, Esq.
can you put bedding on layway the list of some items dont really say
Hi Racheal,
Unfortunately the list of exactly what Walmart lets you put on layaway is somewhat vague. According to Walmart.com, bedding is in the “Home, Furniture, and Appliances” department. Matching that to the layaway list, bedding could fall under the furniture and appliances. To get an accurate answer you’ll need to get in touch with the Walmart you want to buy the bedding. Layaway specifics are left up to individual stores, and it might also depend what they have in stock this season.
I am wanting a desk but they don’t offer it at any of the Walmart’s around me. I need to put it in layaway. Is there any way they could have it shipped to the Walmart and let me put it in layaway?
Hi Tiffany,
You’d have to check with your local Walmart to ask whether they can order an out of stock item. Layaway cannot be used on Walmart.com (i.e., for online purchases), so a store would have to get the item in stock for you to put it on layaway.
I have two items in layaway at Walmart, can I get one of them out before the other if I pay full price for that one, or do I have to pay the full amount for both?
Hi Bricola,
You’ll have to check at your local store, as they are free to adjust the layaway policy as they see fit. If you put both of these items on layaway at the same time as part of the same purchase, you might not be able to separate them. It may also depend on how much the items were worth. There’s a minimum purchase requirement of $50 for layaway, so if you had, for example, two items worth $25 that you joined to meet the minimum, I doubt Walmart would be willing to separate them for you.
Hello!! I have an existing layaway and wanted to add a few more items. Can I add to my existing layaway ?
Hi Nicole,
You’ll have to check with your specific store to see how they’ll deal with this situation, but you’ll probably have to make a new layaway purchase.
Can you put rollback items on layaway?
Hi,
Generally yes, you should be able to. The only sale that’s excluded from layaway is Black Friday. But, you’ll have to check with your local store to confirm, as each is able to change the layaway policy to fit their store and whats in stock. You can use the store finder to get your local store’s contact info and call ahead and ask, or you can visit the store to ask.
Can you put a grill on layaway?
Hi Heather,
Thanks for your question. Unfortunately the categories Walmart gives for what can be put on layaway are somewhat unclear. Grills are in either the outdoor and sporting goods department or the patio and garden department. You can probably put one on layaway, but because each store’s layaway policy varies a bit, you’ll have to contact your local store to confirm. You can use the store finder to find your local store’s phone number and call ahead and ask, or stop in and ask, which ever is easier for you.
If you already have stuff on layway and you find something else you want to put on will they add it to you existing layaway
Hi Bethany,
Each purchase you make on layaway is separate, and has to meet the requirements, such as being worth $50 total and each item being at least $10.
Can you put trampolines on layway
Hi Autumn,
My local Walmart said yes. Layaway policies can vary a bit from store to store, but you probably can put them on layaway at your store too. If you want to check what trampolines are stock before you head to the store, you can use the My Local Store function on Walmart.com to find your store by zip code and then search what’s in stock.
Can you use a Walmart gift card as payment towards your layaway?
Hi Brandy,
Yes, you should be able to use a Walmart gift card to make layaway payments.
Can I have a Walmart layaway at different locations?
Hi Melody,
All Walmart locations do layaway, though specific terms, like when the layaway seasons starts and ends may vary slightly. If you put an item on layaway at one store, you’ll also have to make payments and pick up the item at the same store. And, layaway is not available for items on walmart.com. Hope that answers your question!
My son is building his first home and I was hoping to be able to layaway a lot of the items he will need for his Christmas gifts like linens/towels and kitchen items, trash cans etc. are these things that would be able to be placed on layaway.
Hi Betsy,
According to Walmart’s website, only the following items can be put on layaway: Electronics, Toys, Infant Toys, Infant Furniture,
Small Appliances, Large Furniture, Auto Electronics, select Sporting Goods and Jewelry.
How old do you have to be to put something on layaway
Hi Kayla,
According to a Walmart customer service representative, you must be at least 21 to start a layaway at Walmart.
When will Walmart start layaway this year?
Hi Jess,
Great question. Layaway begins early September this year and ends in mid December (last year it ended December 14th). Specific dates can vary by store, so if you you’re going to try to put something on layaway right when layaway starts, I’d recommend checking with your local Walmart to find their exact start date, so you don’t waste a trip there.
The article has been updated to reflect this information.
How old do you have to be to use layaway
Hi Andrew,
There is no minimum age to use Walmart’s seasonal layaway; however, keep in mind you will be expected to show a valid ID when picking up your layaway. Keep checking with your local Walmart, as many locations will start their seasonal layaway as early as September 1!
Hi Andrew,
We just learned from a Walmart customer service representative that the minimum age to use Walmart layaway is 21. However, we found that this was not enforced at many Walmart locations and that customers could use the layaway service if they had a valid ID.
Why can’t u put household goods on layaway or clothes? These are things we give as gifts.
Hi Chelle,
I’ve contacted Walmart a couple of times with this question, and it’s hard to get a helpful answer from them — it seems they have limited info on the layaway plan outside of the holiday season. Their website does reveal that they can’t put items on layaway if the item comes with a service plan. That might account for some home goods, for example, ones that come with installation, which is a service. Many household goods are available for layaway, however, including, small appliances, large furniture, and infant furniture.
Why can’t there be clothes on layaway?
Hi Stephanie,
Unfortunately, Walmart doesn’t provide a specific answer to that question. They say: “Even though you may wish you could put all items in the store on layaway, sometimes it’s not possible. Some items are not practical to put on layaway because they may have a service plan attached, for example. Take advantage of the items you can put on layaway, and there are plenty!”
Do I need a down payment right up front for stuff on layaway
Hi,
When is layaway for Brunswick, Ga store?
Hi Lavette,
Layaway is offered during the holidays, except Black Friday. You should call your Walmart’s customer service desk to find out about the details. It looks like there are two Walmarts in Brunswick. Here’s the number for the one on Glynn Plaza: (912) 602-6145, and for the one on Atlama Connector it’s (912) 261-1616.
Can i put tires on layaway?
Hi Justin,
Unfortunately, tires are not eligible for layaway at Walmart.
So if all those other stores can offer layaway year around and the are obviously smaller stores than Walmart … why can’t Walmart do it year around?
Do i have to make payment at the store where the layaway was originated or am i able to pay at any walmart location? I pay it forward and want to pay off a family acct. They originated their layaway at the walmart in mechanicsburg, pa. I live next to the walmart in shrewsbury, pa. Also, what information other that the name would i need to make the payment?
Hi Billie,
By the description on the Walmart website, it seems that the payments must be made at the store where the layaway account originated. However, individual Walmart locations may have different policies, so it may be worth a quick phone call to your own Walmart to find out if you can make a payment for an account at a different location. You can find the phone number for your local Walmart through the Walmart store finder. The name on the account should be all that you need in order to make a payment (assuming you go the originating Walmart location). I hope this helps!
i live in cleveland ohio..do they offer a grace period..i just need 3 extra days if not i would have to cancel
Hi Virginia,
Unfortunately, it does not seem as though any grace period is allowed on payments. The best thing to do to be absolutely sure would be to contact the Walmart store where you have the layaway account and speak with a representative directly. You can find contact information for the Walmart locations in Cleveland here. Since you are in Ohio, if you do end up canceling the purchase, you won’t be charged the $10 cancellation fee and you should receive a full refund. Best of luck!
Can payments for Layaway be made online?
Hi Jill,
Payments can be made at any register or at the Pickup Desk, but not online.
The article has been updated to reflect this information.
I have 3 items currently on layaway at Walmart. I have decided not to purchase one of the items. The remaining 2 still exceed the $50 requirement. Will they charge me to restock the item I do not want?
Hi Jill,
The wording on the Walmart website says that the $10 fee will be charged if the layaway “account” is canceled. I went ahead and called the Walmart customer service line to clarify whether that meant the entire account or any item in the account. The representative told me that it was ultimately up to the individual store whether or not to charge the fee for cancelling one item in an active account, so you’ll have to get in touch with your local store to find out for sure. Sorry I couldn’t bring you a more definitive answer!
The article has been updated to reflect this information.
Thank you so much, Hillary, for investigating for me. Happy holidays to you and your family!
can gift cards be put in lay a way ?
Hi Janice,
Unfortunately, gift cards aren’t eligible for the layaway program at Walmart.
If I have an item on layaway an it goes on sale,do I get it at the sale price?
Hi Anita,
Great question! Typically the original price will be the price that’s fixed for the layaway installments. However, Walmart’s standard policies on returns and ad matching also apply to layaway purchases, so customers are able to pursue refunds, exchanges, or price reductions. If an item goes on sale after you’ve put it on layaway, you should be able to either re-negotiate the layaway payments, or (more likely) make the payments in full and receive the price adjustment afterward, depending on how the store wants to handle it. I hope this helps!
Yes they do give it to you for the sale price
What sporting goods items be put on layaway?
Hi Nancy,
Unfortunately Walmart doesn’t have a universal policy on what sporting goods can and can’t be put on layaway – this is a decision that’s reserved for individual stores to make. However, after doing some digging around online, other customers report that in their experiences most all sporting goods are available for layaway, aside from ammo and other hunting-related sporting goods.