How to Use the Refund Deadline Calculator
Unlike some countries, the US has no general federal law giving consumers a right to return or cancel a regular purchase. Whether you can get a refund, and by when, comes down entirely to the individual seller's stated return policy — commonly somewhere between 14 and 90 days, with 30 days being a very common default. Enter your purchase (or delivery) date and the seller's stated return window, and this calculator tells you the exact last day you can act, plus how many days you have left.
The one real exception is the FTC's Cooling-Off Rule, a narrow federal protection that applies only to sales of $25 or more made away from the seller's regular place of business — think door-to-door sales, or a purchase made at a hotel, home party, or fair. That rule gives you 3 business days to cancel, no questions asked. It does not apply to ordinary online checkout or in-store retail purchases, which is a common misconception.
Select "Door-to-door / off-premises sale" if the FTC rule applies to your situation, or stick with "Regular store / online purchase" and enter the seller's own policy window for everyday shopping. Always double-check the actual return policy printed on your receipt or order confirmation, since it's the seller's policy — not federal law — that ultimately controls the deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
No general federal right to return online or in-store purchases exists in the US. Refunds and returns are governed by each seller's own policy, so always check the store's stated return window before you buy.
It's a narrow exception covering sales of $25 or more made away from the seller's normal place of business, like door-to-door sales or purchases made at a hotel or fair. It gives you 3 business days to cancel. It does not cover typical online or in-store retail purchases.