Is Target open on Thanksgiving? As of 2025, the answer is clear, and it shapes the way millions of shoppers plan their holiday week. Target has established a consistent approach to Thanksgiving operations, and this year continues that long-standing pattern. With many Americans preparing meals, hosting gatherings, and kicking off holiday shopping, understanding Target’s plans for Thanksgiving Day remains essential for anyone who relies on the retailer for last-minute items or early gift buying.
Target has become a major part of the holiday season for U.S. households, but the company’s Thanksgiving schedule has shifted over the years. Today, the retailer follows a firm policy, one that affects in-store and online shopping differently. This expanded breakdown explains what Target is doing in 2025, how the policy developed, what shoppers should expect, and how to prepare for Black Friday and the rest of the holiday season.
Target’s Firm Thanksgiving 2025 Policy
Target stores across the United States will be closed all day on Thanksgiving 2025. This closure applies nationwide and includes every department inside each location, from grocery sections to electronics departments to in-store services.
Even with doors closed, Target will still maintain full access to its online storefront and mobile app. Shoppers can browse deals, add items to carts, and place orders for delivery or pickup windows that resume once stores reopen.
The company has turned Thanksgiving into a guaranteed off-day for its store employees. This approach has become part of its annual schedule, creating predictability for shoppers and team members alike. By formalizing this closure each year, Target avoids confusion and ensures that customers can plan ahead without wondering if hours will change from store to store.
How Target Arrived at Its Current Thanksgiving Policy
Just over a decade ago, many large retailers opened their doors on Thanksgiving evening to begin Black Friday sales early. Over time, however, customer habits changed. Shopping behaviors shifted heavily toward online browsing and early digital deals rather than in-person Thanksgiving shopping.
Target adapted to that shift, returning the holiday to a full-day store closure. The company’s decision also reflected a larger cultural movement in the retail industry: providing employees with a guaranteed day off to spend with family during one of the most important holidays of the year in the United States.
Another factor is that the rise of online shopping eliminates the need for Thanksgiving store hours. Shoppers who want to purchase electronics, home goods, toys, groceries, and clothing can do so from their phones or computers without stepping inside a building.
For Target, maintaining a firm policy has helped align customer expectations, simplify operations, and support its workforce.
What Shoppers Can Expect on Thanksgiving Day
Even though physical stores are closed, the Target digital experience remains fully operational. Customers can:
- Browse the full online catalog
- Check early holiday deals
- Place delivery orders (fulfilled after stores reopen)
- Build shopping lists for pickup
- Compare holiday products, toys, and decorations
- Review Black Friday and Cyber Monday previews
While in-store shopping isn’t available, digital access ensures that Target remains part of the Thanksgiving and holiday preparation process.
Many shoppers use the holiday to finalize gift ideas, check prices, or prepare for Black Friday. Because online activity tends to spike on Thanksgiving afternoon and evening, Target frequently highlights promotions on its digital platforms to help shoppers prepare.
Black Friday Store Reopening and What to Expect
The next major moment comes the following morning. Target stores are scheduled to reopen early on Black Friday, typically around 6 a.m. local time. Individual store hours can differ slightly, but early-morning openings remain standard.
Black Friday at Target has evolved dramatically. In the past, the day meant long lines, packed aisles, and early-bird doorbusters. Today, it focuses more on:
- Week-long or month-long holiday deals
- Digital discounts
- More predictable daily promotions
- Streamlined in-store shopping
- Easier returns and exchanges
- Shorter wait times due to online ordering options
Customers preparing to shop in person on Black Friday should consider arriving early, reviewing Target’s digital ads, and planning their shopping route in advance.
Why Target’s Closure Matters for Holiday Planning
For many U.S. households, Target isn’t just a store — it is a go-to spot for nearly everything during the holiday season. With stores closed on Thanksgiving, shoppers who rely on Target for last-minute ingredients, home essentials, or festive supplies need to plan a bit earlier.
Here’s how the closure impacts Thanksgiving week:
1. Grocery Shopping
Anyone relying on Target for Thanksgiving dinner ingredients needs to shop by Wednesday. Dairy, produce, rolls, desserts, and last-minute needs must be purchased before the doors close.
2. Home and Kitchen Essentials
Target is a popular source for disposable tableware, kitchen tools, décor, and seating. These should also be purchased ahead of time.
3. Gift Planning
Many shoppers use Thanksgiving to begin or finalize holiday gift lists. While stores are closed, online browsing is fully available.
4. Medicine and Personal Care
Families with children, guests, or elderly relatives at home often need items like ibuprofen, cold medicine, or first-aid supplies. Planning ahead helps avoid late-night emergencies.
5. Entertainment Supplies
Movies, games, crafts, toys, and electronics for kids and guests should also be purchased before Thanksgiving morning if needed immediately.
How Online Shopping Helps Make Up for the Closure
Target’s digital operations fill the gap left by the physical closure. With online shopping available around the clock, customers can rely on:
- Delivery shipping
- Same-day delivery scheduling for the next available date
- Pickup orders that become available once stores reopen
- Digital coupons and holiday promotions
- Browsing Black Friday previews
- Cart building for early-morning checkout
Even though orders won’t be fulfilled until stores reopen, shoppers can secure items digitally before they sell out.
Thanksgiving Shopping Trends and Target’s Role in 2025
Across the United States, Thanksgiving habits have changed. The once-common tradition of evening shopping trips has faded. Families are leaning more toward:
- Staying home
- Watching sports
- Preparing meals
- Hosting gatherings
- Shopping online selectively
- Saving major shopping for Black Friday or Cyber Monday
Target’s decision aligns well with these trends. Modern customers aren’t demanding in-person Thanksgiving hours the way they once did.
Millions of shoppers now prefer digital convenience over chaotic crowds. By staying closed, Target contributes to a calmer holiday environment while still supporting strong digital sales.
A Holiday Strategy That Works for Shoppers and Employees
Target’s consistent Thanksgiving closure is designed to balance business goals with employee well-being. It gives team members a full day away from retail floors, registers, and stocking responsibilities — a rare break during one of the busiest seasons for retail workers.
Shoppers benefit too:
- Clear, predictable holiday hours
- Full digital access
- Early Black Friday preparation
- Reduced confusion across store locations
By removing uncertainty, Target ensures that customers know exactly how to prepare and plan their week.
Where Target Goes From Here
While the retail landscape continues to evolve, Target’s Thanksgiving closure has become a dependable part of its brand identity. Shoppers know what to expect, employees can rely on time off, and the company can concentrate its energy on digital promotions and the massive Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping wave.
The decision reflects a broader shift in how Americans approach holiday shopping and how major retailers structure their operations around family-centered holidays.
Knowing ahead of time that Target will remain closed on Thanksgiving makes it much easier to plan meals, shopping trips, and gatherings. Whether you’re tackling holiday prep or organizing your Black Friday strategy, being aware of the schedule helps you stay ahead and avoid last-minute stress.
What do you think about Target staying closed on Thanksgiving? Share your thoughts and join the conversation below.