You’re standing in the middle of a Target aisle, holding a bottle of sparkling water and a bag of trail mix, realizing you forgot your blood pressure medication. It's 6:45 PM on a Tuesday. You look toward the back of the store. The neon "Pharmacy" sign is glowing, but is anyone actually behind the counter? Most people assume that because the big red bullseye stays open until 10:00 PM or 11:00 PM, the pharmacy follows suit. It doesn't. Not even close.
Trying to figure out what time does the Target pharmacy close is honestly more complicated than it should be.
Since CVS Health officially acquired Target’s pharmacy business back in 2015 for about $1.9 billion, these clinics-within-a-store operate on a completely different heartbeat than the rest of the retail floor. You aren't dealing with Target employees; you're dealing with CVS employees working inside a Target shell. That distinction is exactly why you might find yourself staring at a pulled-down metal gate while the rest of the store is bustling with shoppers buying throw pillows.
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The Standard Closing Times (And Why They Fail You)
If you want a quick answer, most Target pharmacies close at 7:00 PM or 8:00 PM on weekdays. On weekends, it gets even tighter, often shuttering by 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM.
But here is the catch.
If the pharmacist is the only one on duty—which is increasingly common due to industry-wide staffing shortages—they are legally required to take a lunch break. In many states, the pharmacy must physically close for 30 minutes if a licensed pharmacist isn't present. Usually, this happens between 1:30 PM and 2:00 PM. If you show up then, you’re out of luck, even if the "hours" say they are open.
I’ve seen people get genuinely angry at the counter because they rushed over after work, arrived at 6:55 PM, and found the staff already mid-closing procedure. It sucks. But CVS-Target locations are strict. Unlike the retail side, where a manager might let you slide in a minute late to grab a gallon of milk, the pharmacy software often "hard-locks" at the exact closing second for regulatory and security reasons.
Saturday and Sunday are Different Animals
Weekends are a ghost town for pharmacy hours. If you’re asking what time does the Target pharmacy close on a Sunday, the answer is usually 6:00 PM, though some rural locations cut it off at 5:00 PM.
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Why the early exit?
It's a combination of labor costs and script volume. Most doctors' offices are closed on Sundays, so there are fewer "new" prescriptions coming in. CVS manages their labor hours aggressively. If the data shows they only fill three scripts between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM on a Sunday, they’ll just cut the shift.
- Monday - Friday: Typically 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM or 8:00 PM.
- Saturday: Usually 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
- Sunday: Often 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM.
These aren't suggestions. They are rigid. If you have a sick kid and need amoxicillin at 7:30 PM on a Sunday, you’re likely driving to a standalone 24-hour CVS or a hospital-adjacent pharmacy. Target won't be your savior then.
The CVS App vs. Reality
Technology is great until it lies to you. The CVS app and the Target app usually sync their hours, but they don't always account for "emergency" closures.
Over the last year, the pharmacy industry has been hit by what many call the "Pharmacist Burnout Crisis." There have been walkouts and unexpected "dark days" where a location simply doesn't open because they don't have a pharmacist available to supervise the technicians. If a pharmacist calls in sick at 2:00 PM, the pharmacy might close right then and there.
Honestly, the most reliable way to know what time does the Target pharmacy close today—specifically today—is to use the automated phone system. Don't wait for a human to pick up. Just listen to the recorded operating hours. It’s updated more frequently than the Google Maps listing, which is notoriously slow to reflect holiday shifts or temporary staffing cuts.
Holiday Schedules Will Mess You Up
Target stays open on most holidays, including Labor Day, Memorial Day, and even Christmas Eve. The pharmacy? Not so much.
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On federal holidays, expect the pharmacy to operate on "Sunday Hours" or to be closed entirely. CVS generally observes a more conservative holiday schedule than the retail giants. For example, on New Year’s Day, your local Target might be open for its normal 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM run, but the pharmacy might stay closed to give the staff a break.
It’s a weird dichotomy. You can buy a TV, but you can’t get your insulin.
How to Avoid Getting Locked Out
There is a specific strategy for picking up meds at Target without losing your mind. First, aim for the "Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday" window. Mondays are absolute chaos because of the backlog from the weekend. Everyone who realized they were out of pills on Sunday night hits the pharmacy on Monday morning. The lines are long, and the staff is stressed.
Second, use the "ReadyFill" or text alerts.
Don't just show up and hope for the best. Wait for the text that says "Your prescription is ready for pickup." If you show up before that text, even if it’s an hour before closing, you might be told it's still being processed. And if there are five people in line ahead of you and it’s 15 minutes before closing, the pharmacist might not have time to finish your "new" fill before the gates come down.
Key Things to Remember:
- The Lunch Break: Almost every Target pharmacy closes from 1:30 PM to 2:00 PM daily for a mandatory meal break.
- Insurance Issues: Don't show up 10 minutes before closing with a new insurance card. Resolving a "rejected claim" takes time. If the clock hits closing time while the pharmacist is on the phone with your insurance company, they are legally allowed to tell you to come back tomorrow.
- Controlled Substances: If you’re picking up a Schedule II medication (like Adderall or certain painkillers), there are often extra verification steps. These take time. Show up at least an hour before closing.
Why Does Target Even Have a Pharmacy?
It seems like a lot of hassle for Target to host a CVS, right? It’s all about "foot traffic." Retailers know that pharmacy customers are the most loyal customers. If you have to go to Target every 30 days to get your cholesterol meds, you’re probably going to buy milk, paper towels, and maybe a new shirt while you’re there.
It’s called a "sticky" service. CVS gets the prescription revenue, and Target gets the retail spillover. But because they are two separate companies, their hours will never perfectly align.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Visit
If you need to know what time does the Target pharmacy close and you want to ensure you actually get your meds, follow these rules:
- Check the CVS Website, Not Just Google: CVS.com manages the pharmacy data more accurately than the general Target store locator.
- Call Before 1:00 PM: If you need to speak to a human, do it early. Once the lunch break ends at 2:00 PM, the afternoon rush begins and they likely won't answer the phone.
- Set Up Autopay: Using the CVS app to pre-pay for your prescriptions can shave minutes off your time at the counter, which is vital if you're racing against a 7:00 PM closing time.
- Transfer if Necessary: If you work late and can never make it to Target before they close, consider transferring your script to a 24-hour standalone CVS. You can still use your CVS ExtraCare rewards, but you won't be limited by the retail store's pharmacy hours.
The reality is that "convenience" is a relative term. Target is great for one-stop shopping, but their pharmacy hours are built for the company's bottom line, not for the person working a 9-to-5 with a long commute. Plan your trip for a Tuesday morning or a Saturday afternoon to avoid the most common headaches. Stop relying on the general store hours and start looking at that CVS-branded clock instead.