These Stores Have Layaway + Pay Over Time Financing Options
| Army & Air Force Exchange | Best Buy | Big Lots | Buckle | Burlington | Conn’s | Gabe’s | Guitar Center | Hallmark | Sears | Target | Walmart |
It might not be as popular a concept today, but layaway was pretty big once upon a time.
During the Great Depression, an era when the economy was extremely tight, layaway made it possible for retailers to sell pricier products to cash-strapped customers. By the ’80s, layaway programs were disappearing as shoppers used credit cards to fund their big-ticket purchases. However, it had a resurgence around 2008, when the economic recession made people a little more cautious with their credit cards.
Now, you can find layaway at a number of major retailers — particularly around the holidays. But layaway isn’t always the right financing option for everyone. Plus, the option is becoming increasingly rarer to find. Walmart, which has steadily offered traditional layaway around the holidays over the past several years, has ditched it in favor of partnering with the buy now, pay later company Affirm.
This guide gives you everything you need to know about layaway, including how it works, important considerations and stores offering this type of financing.
What Is Layaway?
Layaway is a payment system that lets you purchase an item over time in installments — interest-free. The store holds the item, typically in exchange for a deposit or small fee, until you finish making the installment payments. Once the item is paid off in full, you get to take your purchase home.
How Does Layaway Work?
Layaway programs vary slightly from store to store, but most follow the same fundamental structure. Here’s how layaway typically works:
- Step 1: Choose an item — Choose an item(s) you want to put on layaway. Some stores restrict layaway to items over a certain price or within certain departments, such as electronics, furniture and jewelry.
- Step 2: Put down a deposit and/or service fee — Some retailers require a certain percentage of the total purchase price, while others might allow you to choose the amount you want to put down.
- Step 3: Make incremental payments — Different stores may offer different payment scheduling options and varying lengths for their layaway programs. Depending on the program and factors like the price of your item, you may be able to make payments on a weekly, biweekly or monthly basis. Most stores require layaway purchases to be paid off in full within a year.
- Step 4: Bring home your item — After paying off your layaway purchase, you can pick it up at the store and bring it home.
Which Stores Offer Layaway in 2025?
1. Army & Air Force Exchange Layaway
Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) is a military retailer with store locations around the world. AAFES offers affordably priced brand-name apparel, home essentials and other goodies both in stores and online. AAFES allows in-store only shoppers to put eligible purchases of $25 or more on layaway.
During the holidays, the Exchange often runs a Fee-Free Layaway by waiving the $3 layaway fee for military shoppers on purchases of clothing, toys, and bikes that were paid in full and picked up by Dec. 24. Purchases of computers, laptops, tablets, iPads, notebooks and smartwatches had to be paid in full and picked up by Dec. 13.
| Service Fee | $3 (non-refundable) |
| Initial Payment | 15% |
| Cancellation Fee | $5 |
| Payments | 30-day layaway for all clothing, handbags and shoes; 60-day layaway for all other merchandise (except jewelry); 120-day layaway for fine jewelry |
2. Best Buy Layaway
Best Buy is the go-to retailer for electronics, gaming gear and tech devices. With over 1,000 stores, shoppers have a plethora of gadget options to choose from.
Does Best Buy Have Layaway?
No, Best Buy doesn’t offer a traditional layaway program. However, the tech retailer does offer a payment alternative called Progressive Leasing. The lease-to-own program is a more expensive option that offers an alternative to using a credit card and doesn’t require you to have credit.
Note: Progressive Leasing is not available in Minnesota, New Jersey, Vermont, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Puerto Rico.
Check out the full Best Buy Progressive Leasing policies.
| Service Fee | None |
| Initial Payment | $59 on $250 and up |
| Cancellation Fee | None |
| Payments | 90 days; 12 months |
3. Big Lots Layaway
As a massive retail chain, Big Lots sells everything from electronics and toys to home goods and household essentials. Much like Best Buy, Big Lots offers a Progressive Leasing program at select stores for furniture, mattresses, grills and outdoor equipment.
Check out the full Big Lots Progressive Leasing policy.
| Service Fee | None |
| Initial Payment | $59 on $250 and up |
| Cancellation Fee | None |
| Payments | 90 days; 12 months |
4. Buckle Layaway
Buckle is one of the favorite destinations to score denim. The retailer offers in-store layaway at 440+ locations in 42 states. With the service, stores hold your merchandise until it’s paid for in full.
Check out the full Buckle store layaway policy.
| Service Fee | None |
| Initial Payment | 20% minimum |
| Cancellation Fee | None |
| Payments | 60 days |
5. Burlington Stores Layaway
In addition to coats, Burlington Stores (formerly known as Burlington Coat Factory) also offers men’s and women’s apparel, home goods, and beauty products. Participating Burlington locations offer layaway year-round. Loyalty members get a $5 bonus for completing their layaway purchases.
Note: Payments may be made in-store by cash, check or credit card.
Check out the full Burlington Store layaway policy.
| Service Fee | $5 in most states; $1 in Maryland (non-refundable) |
| Initial Payment | $10 or 20% (whichever is greater) |
| Cancellation Fee | $10 |
| Payments | 30 days |
6. Conn’s HomePlus Layaway
When you’re in search of electronics, fitness gear and mattresses, look no further than Conn’s HomePlus. Conn’s introduced an in-store layaway program in 2022, inviting customers to purchase appliances, furniture, mattresses and eligible electronics by making biweekly payments. Conn’s layaway excludes certain products, including Apple iPad and Mac computers and gaming consoles.
Check out Conn’s layaway policy.
| Service Fee | None |
| Initial Payment | $50 or 10% (whichever is greater) |
| Cancellation Fee | 5% of the purchase price or $50 (whichever is greater) |
| Payments | Five biweekly payments for 12 weeks |
7. Gabe’s Stores Layaway
Gabe’s is a store for savvy shoppers seeking apparel for the whole family and home decor and budget-friendly prices. Gabe’s stores offer a layaway program to members of their Unbelievable Rewards! Program who are over 18 years old.
Check out the full Gabe’s Store layaway policy.
| Service Fees | $10 set-up fee |
| Initial Payment | $10 |
| Cancellation Fee | $10 |
| Payments | 20% every two weeks for 60 days |
8. Guitar Center Layaway
Guitar Center is hands down the coolest place for getting your musical gear. Guitar center no longer offers their layaway program, replacing it with the Gear Card, a store credit card that you will have to apply for. The card still offers a chance to pay off your equipment over time instead of all at once.
Check out the full Gear Card terms.
| Service Fees | 2% Promo fee |
| Initial Payment | First of 48 equal monthly payments |
| Finance Charges | 0% interest for up to 48 months on eligible brands |
| Payments | See card terms |
9. Hallmark Gold Crown Layaway
Hallmark Gold Crown is renowned for its greeting cards, but the retail chain also offers ornaments and gifts. Participating stores offer layaway is available from July to December. Policies vary by location.
Check out the full Hallmark Gold Crown layaway policy.
| Service Fee | Varies |
| Initial Payment | 20% |
| Cancellation Fee | None |
| Payments | 90 days |
10. Sears Layaway
Although Sears has shut down most, if not all, locations, you can still shop the retailer online for appliances, tools, mattresses, auto and more. Sears discontinued their traditional layaway program. However, shoppers can have the option to pay with Zip, a service that lets you split purchases into four payments. Any transaction between $2 and $2,000 will qualify.
Check out the Sears Zip program.
| Service Fee | Installment fee may apply | |
| Interest | 0% | |
| Initial Payment | 25% of the total purchase | |
| Cancellation Fee | Late fees may apply | |
| Payments | Three payments every two weeks over a six-week period |
11. Walmart Layaway
A big-box giant with stores around the world, Walmart hooks shoppers with everything from groceries to high-end tech gadgets to affordable patio furniture.
Does Walmart Have Layaway?
Yes, but not in the traditional sense. Walmart did offer traditional layaway through the 2020 holiday season. However, as of Sept. 2021, Walmart partners with Affirm, a buy online pay later program. That means no more layaway counters. Instead, Walmart shoppers can prequalify online for the amount needed.
Check out the Walmart Affirm policy.
| Service Fee | None |
| Finance Charge | 0% or 10% to 36% APR |
| Initial Payment | First payment |
| Cancellation Fee | None |
| Payments | Three, six, 12 or 24 months |
12. Target Layaway
Target doesn’t offer a traditional layaway option and they don’t have paid-purchase holds in stores either. Like their big-box competitor, Walmart, Target does give shoppers the option to pay for their purchases over time using Affirm.
Check out the Target Affirm policy.
| Service Fee | None |
| Finance Charge | 10% to 36% APR |
| Initial Payment | First payment |
| Cancellation Fee | None |
| Payments | Three, six or 12 months |
What To Know Before You Choose Layaway
Compared to other financing methods, a layaway is an appealing option because it doesn’t charge interest or impact your credit score. That said, layaway does come with its share of drawbacks. Here are six things to consider before putting something on layaway:
Fees Are (Usually) Involved
Although layaway plans are usually interest-free, most retailers charge some or all of these fees:
- Service fee: In addition to a down payment, most stores will charge a service fee (usually between $5 and $15) to cover the cost of storing your item and processing multiple payments.
- Cancellation fee: If you cancel your plan or you cannot make all payments by a certain date, a retailer may charge a cancellation fee. With some stores, this could be as much as $100.
- Restocking fee: In addition to a cancellation fee, some stores might also require you to pay a restocking fee to cover the cost of returning a layaway item to the shelves.
These fees make layaway an impractical option for financing smaller purchases — for instance, if you pay a $10 service fee to put a $40 blender on layaway, you’d be adding on a whopping 25% onto the price.
You (Usually) Need to Put Down a Deposit
Unlike credit card purchases, layaway financing typically requires that you put down a deposit for your item. The amount a store requires for a deposit may vary by store but could be as much as 10% — a hefty chunk of change on larger purchases.
You Might Only Get Store Credit Back
Some retailers may refund your money in the form of original payment, but others might only offer store credit. It’s important to understand the details of each store’s layaway plan before entering into an agreement.
Layaway Requires Planning
Particularly if you need items by a certain date (say, the holidays or a birthday), layaway can require some planning ahead. For example, if you enter a 12-week layaway agreement on a Christmas present, you’ll need to place an item on layaway in early September at the latest.
You May Have to Comply with Strict Payment Terms
Many layaway plans include strict payment terms. If you miss an installment — either because you forget or are unable to pay — you could lose your item. Before opting to use layaway, see if there’s a set payment schedule, or if the store has flexibility with the payoff structure. Plus, layaway has some implications when it comes to shopping during tax-free weekends — and you’ll need to follow certain rules to ensure your layaway purchases get waived sales tax.
You Could Miss Out on a Sale
After placing an item on layaway, there’s always a chance it could drop in price or go on sale — particularly around the Thanksgiving season. Make sure you review the terms carefully to see if you are allowed to have a price adjustment for items on layaway.
Online Layaway (Pay Over Time): The Future of Layaway
Many retailers are partnering with online layaway service providers like Afterpay, Zip, and Klarna to let shoppers set up online installment plans. Different layaway companies offer different plans with different payment options.
Here’s a quick rundown of what the key layaway apps offer:
- Afterpay — Thousands of retailers, including Ulta, Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie use Afterpay, which lets customers set up layaway plans ranging from three to twelve months. Afterpay doesn’t charge any additional fees as long as you make your payments on time, and you are allowed to reschedule payments up to three times per year.
- Klarna — Sephora, Finish Line, Macy’s, GameStop and many other retailers use Klarna to hook their shoppers up with layaway options. Klarna offers different payment options, including a few with interest.
- Zip (formerly QuadPay) — A few of the many retailers that use Zip include Target, Amazon, Walmart and Best Buy. Zip lets you pay off purchases over four installments scheduled over a six-week period.
One key difference between online and traditional layaway? Most online layaway companies let you receive your item immediately, instead of waiting until you complete your installment payments and pay off your entire purchase.
The post These Stores Have Layaway + Pay Over Time Financing Options appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.