Overview

Amazon has rolled out its annual extended holiday returns policy for the 2025 season, allowing customers to return most items purchased between November 1 and December 25, 2025 until January 31, 2026 — or 30 days after delivery, whichever is later. This recurring policy affects all fulfillment types and multiple international marketplaces, making it essential for sellers to plan ahead for higher return volumes and cash flow impacts.

What's Changing

• Longer return deadline — Items bought during the November 1 to December 25 holiday window can be returned through January 31, 2026, or within 30 days of delivery if that date falls later.
• All fulfillment types included — The extended window applies to FBA, FBM, and Seller Fulfilled Prime orders alike.
• International marketplace coverage — The policy spans Amazon stores in the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Poland, and other European markets.
• Category-specific shorter windows — Some product categories in select European stores have a tighter deadline of January 15, 2026, or 14 days from delivery.
• No opt-in required — The policy activates automatically for all eligible orders with no action needed from sellers.

How the Extended Window Works

Amazon implements this policy each holiday season to remove a key friction point for early gift buyers — the worry that recipients won't be able to return unwanted items after the holidays. By stretching return eligibility well into January, the program encourages consumers to shop earlier in the season with greater confidence.

For sellers, the practical effect is significant. Items sold during the roughly two-month holiday window can carry an effective return period of nearly three months from the original purchase date. The policy applies universally across eligible fulfillment methods, and customers will see the extended return window reflected at checkout and in their order details without any seller configuration changes.

Regional Variations and Exceptions

While the broad policy is straightforward, sellers operating across multiple marketplaces should note important regional differences. Items purchased in certain Amazon stores between November 1 and January 6, 2026 may follow a slightly different timeline, with returns accepted until January 6 or within 30 days from delivery.