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How to Use Kohl's Cash – And All Your Other Kohl's Cash Questions Answered

Dayna Lang
By Dayna Lang
Learn how Kohl's Cash works, what you can use Kohl's Cash on, whether you can use expired Kohl's Cash and more.

Kohl\'s cash in background behind ice cream machine

Kohl's

Although many people are familiar with Kohl’s and the Kohl’s Cash program, for those who have never used this coupon before, the rules may seem intimidating. This retailer rewards program is an amazing way to save money, so don’t let that Kohl’s Cash sit in your pocket and expire.

Guide to Kohl’s Cash

Kohl’s basically gives you money to shop. Kohl’s Cash can be earned on many Kohl’s purchases and then used on future purchases – rewarding return customers and giving you a great incentive to shop at Kohl’s!

1. What is Kohl’s Cash?

Right off the bat, we want to say, Kohl’s Cash is not currency. This may be obvious, but given that the word “cash” brings about images of presidents and paper bills, it’s important to make that clear. Kohl’s Cash is more of a coupon or gift card of sorts that you can apply to your Kohl’s cart and reduce your total bill. As Kohl’s says, it is not “legal tender.” Although Kohl’s offers other promo codes and coupons, Kohl’s Cash is its most popular rewards program and here are a few basics:

  • Kohl’s Cash is a coupon earned when you spend money on purchases at Kohl’s.
  • Kohl’s Cash is not available all of the time. Kohl’s runs periodic Kohl’s Cash Promotions.
  • Kohl’s Cash is not cash, but it spends like cash at Kohl’s.
  • Kohl’s Cash must be applied to future Kohl’s purchases.
  • Kohl’s Cash has specific dates for when it can be used.
  • Kohl’s Cash can’t be exchanged for actual cash.
  • Kohl’s Cash can’t be used to pay your Kohl’s credit card balance.
  • Kohl’s Cash cannot be used to purchase gift cards.
  • Kohl’s Cash cannot be earned on or redeemed for Sephora at Kohl’s purchases.

2. How do you earn Kohl’s Cash?

You can earn Kohl’s Cash during periodic Kohl’s Cash promotions (dates are available online and in various advertisements) when you make qualifying purchases on products Kohl’s sells.

For every $50 you spend, Kohl’s will give you a coupon – called “Kohl’s Cash” – to use on a future shopping trip. When you have a shopping account at Kohls.com, the Kohl’s Cash you earn will be added to your Kohl’s Wallet – which you can access either online or on the Kohl’s app.

  • Through Kohl’s Rewards program: Kohl’s free loyalty program, Kohl’s Rewards (launched Sept. 2020), offers 5% back on every purchase you make at Kohl’s. That 5% back is then issued to you in the form of Kohl’s Cash.
  • Make a Kohl’s In-store purchase: You can easily earn Kohl’s Cash just by spending your money in-store. If you happen to be shopping during a Kohl’s Cash promotional period, then this is a happy little bonus, but you can also look online and plan your shopping trips in advance to make sure you shop when you can earn.
  • Make a Kohl’s online purchase: For purchases made on Kohls.com, at a kiosk or with the Kohl’s App, you’ll get your Kohl’s Cash via email within 24 hours. Make sure to save this email – since you won’t be sent another email containing your Kohl’s Cash, and it isn’t accessible from reminder emails. When you get your Kohl’s Cash email, follow the instructions to print it out or add it to your “Wallet” in the Kohl’s app. If you want to redeem it in-store, it can be scanned from your mobile device by an associate at checkout. With the Kohl’s app, you can also set reminders to use your Kohl’s Cash before it expires.

Kohl\'s app

Kohl's

3. What can you spend Kohl’s Cash on?

Kohl’s Cash is just like cash and can be used on just about anything in the store – with the notable exception of Sephora products. Other than that, there are no brand exclusions, which makes this program quite unique.

Even better, if you’ve got a Kohl’s Cash coupon for $10 in your pocket and you find an item for just under $10, depending on the tax rate in your area, you could purchase that item with no out-of-pocket “legal tender.” In other words, there is no minimum for using your Kohl’s Cash.

While Kohl’s limits promotional discounts and offers on some categories and brands such as Columbia, Dyson, KitchenAid, UGG, Levi’s and quite a few sporting goods brands, it does not limit your use of Kohl’s Cash on these items. Some helpful tips I’ve read suggest using Kohl’s Cash specifically for these items that Kohl’s rarely puts on sale.

4. What can you not spend Kohl’s Cash on?

Kohl’s Cash can be used to purchase most of the products sold at Kohl’s, and the retailer generously allows you to stack other coupons, promo codes and deals along with your Kohl’s Cash. But there are things you can’t spend your Kohl’s Cash on, such as:

  • Purchases of Kohl’s Cares® cause merchandise or other charitable items.
  • Gift cards.
  • Kohl’s Cash can’t be used as a price adjustment or on prior purchases.
  • You can’t use Kohl’s Cash to reduce a Kohl’s charge or any third-party charge account balance.
  • Kohl’s Cash can’t be used to pay for any services or fees, including taxes and shipping.
  • Sephora at Kohl’s purchases.

5. Do you have to spend a certain amount to use Kohl’s Cash?

No, there is no minimum spend required to use Kohl’s Cash. However, you can’t get change for Kohl’s Cash. For instance, if you apply a $10 Kohl’s Cash coupon to a $7 purchase, you won’t receive $3 back.

6. How do you redeem Kohl’s Cash?

There are a variety of ways to put that cash into play while shopping at Kohl’s, but, of course, Kohl’s Cash coupons can be redeemed only during the stated period of time noted on the coupon (redemption periods vary and are clearly stated on your coupon). Our Kohl’s Cash once had a time period of nine days, during which we could return to the store and redeem the Kohl’s Cash.

Kohl\'s cash how to details

Kohl's

Here is how to use your Kohl’s Cash:

  • Kohl’s Cash can be redeemed in stores using the paper Kohl’s Cash coupon. It can also be scanned from your “Wallet” in the Kohl’s app and also at Kohls.com.
  • At checkout in the Kohl’s app, any Kohl’s Cash that has been added to your Wallet can be applied directly to your purchase.
  • Kohl’s Cash is valid only during the redemption dates specified.
  • Kohl’s Cash will be applied prior to percent-off total purchase discounts, and a maximum of six Kohl’s Cash coupons are redeemable in a single transaction in-store or online.
  • To redeem your Kohl’s Cash at Kohls.com, at checkout, enter the 15-digit Kohl’s Cash number and four-digit PIN. The value of your Kohl’s Cash will be deducted from your order total (the number is above the bar code on the back of your coupon, and the PIN is to the right of the bar code: see below).

7. Can you use expired Kohl’s Cash?

This topic is hotly debated online. At times in the past, exceptions to the policy have been made at particular stores, and people have written about that experience online. Kohl’s store policy is to not accept expired Kohl’s Cash, so it is best to take expiry dates seriously.

According to more recent customer experiences (and in line with Kohl’s official policy), the best plan of action is to use your Kohl’s Cash during the redemption period. While Kohl’s customer service is terrific, like most companies, it asks its employees to respect store policies, and you are unlikely to be able to use your expired Kohl’s Cash. Be sure to take advantage of this terrific perk by keeping track of expiry dates and using it beforehand!

8. Can you return items you’ve purchased using Kohl’s Cash?

Yes, you can. When you make a return, you’ll be refunded as normal in the form of your original payment, but you will not be refunded the amount of the Kohl’s Cash used. You will receive the Kohl’s Cash amount as Return Kohl’s Cash, which is valid for 30 days from the date you receive it.

9. Can Kohl’s Cash be combined with other savings opportunities?

Yes, Kohl’s Cash can often be used on purchases that are already on sale and can be paired with other storewide discounts.

  • Kohl’s coupon stacking with Kohl’s Cash: Kohl’s offers many types of coupons and discounts and allows you to use them on the same purchase. On Kohl’s website, it explains that this “stacking” will be applied in a specific order: Department-specific, dollar- or percent-off promo codes will be applied to the qualifying items. Next, any dollar-off coupons (Kohl’s Cash, hello!) will be subtracted from your subtotal. And then one (only one) sitewide percent-off discount will be applied.
  • Remember that on Wednesdays, folks 60+ receive an extra 15% off!: Folks 60-plus years young can shop at Kohl’s on Wednesdays and receive an additional 15% off! I think many people probably appreciate Kohl’s not calling it a “senior discount.” While this 15% discount can be combined with dollar-off discounts and with Kohl’s Cash, it cannot be used along with other percent-off discounts.

10. How and when will you receive your Kohl’s Cash?

Exactly how you receive Kohl’s Cash depends on when and where you make your purchase.

11. What does pending Kohl’s Cash mean?

After an online or app transaction, you might see a “pending” notice after Kohl’s Cash has been added to your Wallet. This means your Kohl’s Cash isn’t ready to be used yet. The “pending” status will disappear once the coupon is available.

12. Can you still use lost or stolen Kohl’s Cash?

Kohl’s will try to help if you have lost your Kohl’s Cash. As long as you have the receipt from the purchase when you earned the Kohl’s Cash, the team is able to help you retrieve the Kohl’s Cash if it hasn’t already been used. If you are concerned about losing your savings, be sure to save your receipts!

13. Can you earn or spend Kohl’s Cash on Black Friday?

Kohl’s Cash is a traditional part of Kohl’s Black Friday sale. This year, Kohl’s offered $15 in Kohl’s Cash for every $50 spent on Black Friday (higher than the usual $10 in Kohl’s Cash for spending $50).

14. How do you check your Kohl’s Cash balance?

If you scroll to the bottom of the home page on Kohls.com, you’ll find a link to check your Kohl’s Cash balance. You can also check the balance of any Kohl’s Cash added to your Wallet in the Kohl’s app and set reminders, so you’ll never forget to use it. Easy-peasy.

15. Is Kohl’s Cash worth it?

Yes. In our opinion, Kohl’s Cash is definitely worth paying attention to and taking advantage of. We suggest looking out for Kohl’s Cash offers on products that the retailer doesn’t have on sale otherwise.

During key sale seasons like Black Friday, you will often find a better deal on popular products, such as smart home devices, fitness trackers and small kitchen appliances, at Kohl’s than you would at competing retailers such as Amazon and Macy’s. This is because, with the Kohl’s Cash promotion in the mix, you are increasing your savings.

16. What’s the difference between Kohl’s Cash and Kohl’s Rewards?

Kohl’s Rewards is a loyalty program where you can get 5% Kohl’s Rewards on every purchase. This is given in the form of Kohl’s Cash. As shared above, Kohl’s Cash is a kind of coupon that can be used at Kohl’s. You can get Kohl’s Cash in many different ways, including through purchases.

17. Can I use Kohl’s Cash at Sephora?

No, you cannot use Kohl’s Cash at Sephora stores. You also cannot use Kohl’s Cash on purchases made at a Sephora within a Kohl’s location.

18. Can you use Kohl’s Cash online?

Yes, Kohl’s Cash can be used online in the same way you would use it in a Kohl’s store. Simply log in to your Kohl’s account online and apply applicable Kohl’s Cash to your cart at checkout.


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