Does Target Offer Military & Veteran Discounts in 2026? A Comprehensive Guide
Do you or a loved one serve in the U.S. military? Are you wondering if Target provides any exclusive discounts or savings for active duty, veterans, and military families?
The answer is yes! Target proudly offers a military discount and veterans discount every year.
In this detailed guide, I‘ll walk you through everything you need to know to take advantage of Target‘s military savings as an active duty or retired service member.
We‘ll cover:
- Dates for Target‘s military discount week
- Who qualifies for the discount
- Step-by-step how to get verified
- What purchases are excluded
- Stacking military discounts with other Target deals
- Statistics on military and veteran shoppers
- Charts comparing Target‘s policy to other major retailers
- Tips for maximizing savings as a military family all year long
Let‘s get started!
When Does Target Offer Military Discounts?
First, when can you access Target‘s discount for military families?
Target offers a dedicated 10% military discount and 10% veterans discount every year leading up to Veterans Day.
For the past 4 years, Target has held an annual military discount week from November 1st through November 11th. This coincides with the build-up to Veterans Day on November 11.
During this promotional period, all verified active duty service members, retirees, veterans, reservists, National Guard, and military family members receive 10% off their Target purchases.
The discount applies sitewide, both in-store and online at Target.com.
Many shoppers wonder – why is the military discount only available for a limited time?
Target focuses on providing special discounts and exclusive offers to military families around holidays like Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Armed Forces Day.
While not offered year-round, these seasonal military discounts are something military shoppers can count on annually.
Below is Target‘s military discount week schedule for the past 4 years:
| Year | Start Date | End Date | Discount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | November 1 | November 11 | 10% off |
| 2021 | November 1 | November 11 | 10% off |
| 2020 | November 1 | November 11 | 10% off |
| 2019 | November 1 | November 11 | 10% off |
Based on the past 4 years of promotions, we can expect Target to offer their military discount from November 1-11, 2023 as well.
Of course, Target also sends exclusive offers and deals year-round to verified military members, which we‘ll cover more later. But the guaranteed military discount week is a key perk around Veterans Day.
Is Target‘s Military Discount for Me? Who Qualifies?
Next, you probably want to know – who can take advantage of Target‘s military and veteran discount?
The discount is available for all active duty, reserve, National Guard, retired, and honorably discharged service members.
Additionally, military spouses and dependents are eligible.
Here is a full breakdown of who qualifies for Target‘s 10% military discount during Veterans Day week each year:
- Active duty Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Space Force
- Reservists
- National Guard members
- Veterans
- Retirees
- Military spouses
- Military dependents
Essentially, all current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their immediate families qualify.
But how do you prove eligibility?
Target requires online verification of your military status in order to register for the discount.
The verification process is easy and free – we‘ll walk through the steps next. With over 1.3 million active duty service members and 18 million veterans in the U.S., Target wants to ensure only eligible shoppers receive the military deal.
Once verified though, you‘ll have access to Target‘s military discount for years to come. Sign up once, shop the Veterans Day deal every year.
How to Get Verified for Target‘s Military Discount
Wondering how to actually get verified and register for Target‘s 10% military discount?
Registering your military status with Target is simple and straightforward. Just follow these steps:
1. Visit Target.com and Create a Target Account
You need a Target.com account to manage military discount offers. If you don‘t have one already, click "Account" then "Create Account".
2. Under Personal Information, Select "Military" as Occupation
This tells Target you may be eligible for military savings.
3. Enter Your Military Details
Specify your branch, rank, status, and ID number.
4. Click "Verify Military Status"
Target will walk you through uploading proof of service like a military ID.
5. Check Your Email for the 10% Offer
Once verified, Target will email your exclusive military discount code redeemable from November 1-11.
And that‘s it – you‘re registered! The verification process takes 2-3 days.
Once complete, your 10% military promo code will be waiting in your Target account to use during the Veterans Day military discount week.
Then whenever you shop November 1-11, have your military ID ready to show cashiers for in-store purchases. For online orders, just enter your code at checkout.
Below is a table summarizing the step-by-step process:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1. | Create Target.com account |
| 2. | Select "Military" as occupation |
| 3. | Enter military details |
| 4. | Complete verification |
| 5. | Get 10% military promo code |
Easy right? You take care of the verification once, then you‘re all set to use the discount year after year.
What Purchases are Excluded from Target‘s Military Discount?
Now that you know when and how to access Target‘s 10% military discount, you‘re probably wondering – what can I actually buy with it?
The fine print says Target‘s military discount applies sitewide. However, there are some exclusions.
Certain brands and products are exempt from the 10% off deal. Excluded items include:
- Alcohol
- Apple products
- Bose
- CVS Pharmacy
- DSLR cameras
- DSLR lenses
- Elf on the Shelf
- Gift cards
- Google devices
- GoPro
- LEGO
- LG OLED TVs
- Mobile phones
- Prescription glasses
- Prepaid cards
- Select board games
- Sonos speakers
- Target Optical
- Tylenol
- Video game consoles
- Weber grills
As you can see, many big ticket electronics, gaming systems, and hot toy brands don‘t qualify for the military savings.
However, thousands of items across food, clothing, beauty, pet supplies, furniture, kitchenware, school supplies, and more ARE eligible.
So while there are exclusions to read through, military families can still save 10% on lots of everyday essentials during Target‘s Veterans Day military discount week.
Below are some example deals to look for with the discount in November 2023:
- Olay skincare: 10% off
- Levi‘s jeans for the family: 10% off
- Furniture like chairs, desks, shelves: 10% off
- Fisher Price toys: 10% off
- Crest toothpaste: 10% off
- GSK health products: 10% off
- Arts & crafts supplies: 10% off
- School backpacks: 10% off
And much more! With a little planning, you can easily save $100+ during the military discount week using the 10% off on non-excluded purchases.
Stacking Military Discounts with Target Circle Deals
Another great perk for military families is stacking Target‘s 10% military discount with other Target savings.
For example, all shoppers can save 5% at Target by joining their free loyalty program, Target Circle.
Target Circle offers:
- 5% off one purchase on your birthday
- 1% back on all purchases to redeem later
- Exclusive weekly coupons and offers
Military shoppers can join Target Circle and add their military discount on top during Veterans Day week.
You can also stack Target‘s military discount with other promos like:
- Buy 2 get 1 free deals
- Buy X get Y% off deals
- $10 gift card with $50 purchase offers
- Target RedCard 5% savings
Combining stacking and coupons, military families have seen over 25% off their entire Target cart during the November military discount week!
The more offers you can layer together, the more you maximize savings as a military family at Target.
Statistics on Military & Veteran Shopping Trends
Now that we‘ve covered the details on Target‘s military discount, let‘s zoom out and look at some stats on military and veteran shopping trends:
- There are 1.3 million active duty military and 18 million veterans in the U.S. as of 2022
- 64% of military families say discounts make them more loyal to retailers
- 45% of military shoppers specifically seek out military discounts
- 82% of veterans say a military discount motivates them to buy
- The average military shopper spends $2200 more per year compared to civilians
Based on the numbers, military families represent a sizable shopper demographic – both in store and online.
Extending military discounts drives loyalty and sales amongst this group.
In fact, military shoppers actively seek out retailers that offer dedicated military savings.
No wonder Target continues to promote their Veterans Day discount week every year.
Appealing to military families with exclusive discounts helpsTarget win their business during the important holiday sales season.
How Target‘s Military Discount Compares to Other Retailers
Target is definitely not the only major retailer offering military discounts.
Let‘s look at how Target‘s military savings compare to other popular stores:
| Retailer | Discount | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Target | 10% | Early Nov annually after verification |
| Home Depot | 10% | Every day with military ID |
| Lowe‘s | 10% | Every day with military ID |
| Under Armour | 10% | Must verify status through ID.me |
| Nike | 10% | Must verify status through SheerID |
| Ray-Ban | 15% | Must verify status through ID.me |
| Columbia | 15% | Must verify status through ID.me |
| Oakley | 20% | Must verify status through ID.me |
| Adidas | Varies | Must verify status through SheerID, up to 50% off |
| Yeti | 15% | Must verify status through ID.me |
| Apple | Varies | Must verify status through ID.me, up to 10% off |
| Walmart | Varies | Special military offers but no blanket discount |
| The Home Depot | 10% | In-store purchases only, must show military ID |
| Kohl’s | 15% | Certain times of the year after verifying through ID.me |
| Best Buy | Varies | Special military deals online, no blanket discount |
| Lowe’s | 10% | In-store purchases only, must show military ID |
| DICK’s Sporting Goods | 10% | In-store purchases only, must show military ID |
As you can see, Target offers a solid military discount comparable to leading apparel and home improvement brands.
The tradeoff is Target‘s is only for a limited time annually, while other retailers extend military savings year-round.
No matter where you shop, joining loyalty programs, getting verified, and signing up for newsletters is key to access military deals.
Tips for Maximizing Savings as a Military Family at Target
As a military family shopping on a budget, how can you maximize Target savings beyond the Veterans Day military discount week?
Follow these tips:
- Stack deals – Combine Target Circle offers, coupons, and RedCard savings with military discount
- Price match – Use Target‘s price match policy to get credit if you find a lower price elsewhere
- Shop sales – Look for seasonal sales around Memorial Day, 4th of July for additional deals
- Buy online – Pick up online orders in-store with Drive Up or get home delivery with $0 Shipt minimum
- Use a credit card – Cards like Chase Freedom Flex offer 5% back on quarterly rotating categories like groceries and gas
- Buy generics – Opt for Target‘s Good & Gather line for low prices on quality essentials
- Buy in bulk – Take advantage of savings when you stock up and buy household items in bulk
- Use rebates – Submit for mail-in rebates online when available for extra cashback
- Sell gift cards – Use sites like Raise to sell any unwanted gift cards from friends and family for cash
Combine military discounts with these creative savings strategies to keep more money in your pocket all year long!
The Bottom Line: Yes, Target Provides an Excellent Military Discount
The bottom line – with early November military discount days and exclusive savings year-round – Target is a go-to shopping destination for military families.
No matter your branch of service, joining Target Circle, getting verified, and stacking deals is the key to maximizing savings.
While exclusions apply, you can still save an average of $100+ on non-restricted items during Target‘s Veterans Day military discount week.
So shop Target‘s military discount from November 1-11, 2023 and salute your Veterans Day savings!
I hope this guide gave you a comprehensive overview of getting and using Target‘s military discount. As a member of the armed forces, you deserve to save – at Target and elsewhere. Please let me know if you have any other questions!