Holiday weekends are weird. You’ve got a Monday off, the grill is fired up, and suddenly you realize you forgot to grab that specific pair of sneakers or a fresh set of towels for the guest room. If you’re wondering if Kohls open Labor Day is a thing, the short answer is yes. Usually.
Most Kohl’s locations across the country maintain their regular operating hours on Labor Day. While some major retailers like Costco famously shut their doors to give employees a breather, Kohl’s typically leans into the holiday weekend crowd. You can generally expect doors to swing open at 9:00 AM or 10:00 AM and stay that way until 9:00 PM or 10:00 PM. But—and there is always a "but" with retail—this isn't a federal law. It's a corporate policy that individual store managers sometimes tweak based on their specific mall's schedule or local staffing levels.
Why checking Kohls open Labor Day hours matters before you drive
Honestly, there is nothing more annoying than pulling into a silent parking lot when you were expecting a bustling sale. Labor Day falls on Monday, September 1, 2025, and while Kohl’s is a staple of the American suburban landscape, they don't operate on a universal "one size fits all" schedule for every single zip code.
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Take a look at stores in high-traffic areas like the Woodfield Mall in Illinois or the King of Prussia Mall in Pennsylvania. These spots almost always stay open because the foot traffic is too high to ignore. However, if you're visiting a standalone Kohl’s in a smaller town, they might decide to let staff head home a few hours early. It's rare, but it happens.
The best way to be 100% sure? Use the store locator on the Kohl's website. It’s significantly more reliable than a random Google sidebar that might not have updated for the 2025 season yet. Also, if you’re doing an Amazon return—which is a huge reason people visit Kohl’s these days—those kiosks typically follow the store’s main hours. Don't expect the Amazon desk to stay open if the rest of the store is dimming the lights.
The Labor Day sale frenzy
Retailers love Labor Day. It's the "last hurrah" of summer. For Kohl's, this period is a massive bridge between the back-to-school rush and the early rumblings of holiday shopping. You'll see aggressive markdowns.
We're talking about the "Goldilocks" zone of clearance. Summer apparel like tank tops and swimsuits are basically being shoved out the door to make room for flannels and heavy coats. If you've got Kohl's Cash burning a hole in your pocket, this is the time to use it. Usually, the Labor Day sale event starts several days before the actual Monday holiday. By the time Monday rolls around, the picked-over racks might be a bit depressing, so going on Saturday or Sunday is often the smarter play for the best sizes.
Sephora at Kohl’s: Does the schedule change?
Since Kohl’s integrated Sephora into most of their physical locations, the "store within a store" concept has complicated things slightly. Thankfully, Sephora at Kohl's follows the parent store's hours. If the main doors are open, the beauty aisles are open.
You won't find yourself in a situation where you can buy a toaster at 8:00 PM but can't grab a new mascara. This integration has been a lifesaver for the brand's relevance. It keeps the stores busy even when the clothing sections are quiet. If you're planning a Labor Day makeover, you're likely in the clear.
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Logistics, shipping, and the "In-Store Pickup" trap
If you’re planning to buy online and pick up in-store (BOPIS) on Labor Day, give the employees a break. It's a holiday. Even though the store is open, they are often working with a "skeleton crew" because, frankly, everyone wants the day off.
- Orders placed on Labor Day morning might take longer than the usual two-hour window.
- The "Drive Up" service might be backed up if the parking lot is full of holiday shoppers.
- Inventory counts can get wonky during high-volume sales. If the website says there is one blender left in stock on a busy Monday afternoon, there's a 50/50 chance a guy named Mike is currently walking toward the register with it.
What shoppers usually get wrong about holiday hours
People often confuse Labor Day with Thanksgiving or Christmas. In the United States, retail culture has shifted. A decade ago, everything stayed open. Now, there’s a growing movement to give workers these days off. While Kohl's hasn't joined the "closed on Labor Day" camp yet, it's always a possibility in future years as corporate social responsibility trends evolve.
Another misconception is that the "holiday hours" mean extended hours. Actually, it's usually the opposite. If a store changes its hours for a holiday like Labor Day, it’s almost always to close earlier, not stay open later. If your local store usually closes at 10:00 PM, don't be shocked if they lock the doors at 7:00 PM or 8:00 PM on the actual holiday Monday.
Real-world advice for the savvy shopper
Don't just walk in and pay the price on the tag. That's a rookie move at Kohl’s. Between the Labor Day specific coupons, the Kohl's Cash rewards, and the "Yes2You" (now Kohl's Rewards) points, you should never be paying full retail.
If you are heading out because you saw Kohls open Labor Day and you want to snag a deal, check the app while you're standing in the aisle. Often, there’s a 15% or 20% "friends and family" or "holiday savings" pass that can be scanned right from your phone.
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Actionable steps for your Labor Day shopping trip
To make the most of your holiday Monday without the headache of unexpected closures or sold-out items, follow this quick checklist.
- Verify via the App: Open the Kohl's app on Monday morning. The "Store Finder" feature is updated in real-time by the corporate office and reflects specific holiday adjustments for your local branch.
- Stack your coupons: Labor Day usually triggers a "spend $50, get $10" Kohl's Cash promotion. Time your purchases to hit those increments. If you're at $48, grab a pair of socks. It's literally free money.
- Go early or go late: The 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM window on Labor Day is a nightmare. It's the post-brunch, pre-barbecue crowd. Aim for the first hour of opening or the last two hours before closing for a much calmer experience.
- Check the Amazon Return Status: If your primary goal is returning a package, verify that your specific Kohl’s is still an active drop-off point. Most are, but some smaller formats have moved the kiosks or changed their return processing procedures.
- Look for "hidden" clearance: Labor Day is the official death knell for summer stock. Look for the racks tucked in the back corners of the home goods and children's sections. These are often marked down significantly more than the "front of store" sale items.
By staying aware of the slight variability in local schedules and focusing on the stacking of rewards, you can navigate the holiday weekend effectively. Kohl’s remains one of the most reliable brick-and-mortar options for holiday shopping, provided you do thirty seconds of digital legwork before leaving the house.