Walmart Clearance
Walmart's pricing system leaves coded clues in the last two digits of every price. Once you know what these endings mean, you can identify which stage of clearance an item is in — and whether it's worth buying now or waiting for a deeper markdown. Here's the full decoder, plus how to use PriceWatchPro to track online clearance stages without ever walking into a store.
Track online clearance: PriceWatchPro's price history shows every markdown stage, so you can spot clearance progressions without visiting a store.
The most sought-after price ending. A .03 ending typically signals the final clearance stage before an item is removed from inventory, donated, or destroyed. These prices are often not updated on the physical shelf tag — the only way to see them is to scan the barcode. For retail arbitrage, .03 items can represent 70–95% off original retail. Act immediately: stock disappears fast at this stage.
A round .00 price can indicate a manager-overridden price, an approaching clearance event, or a price that just reset after a system update. It's not always a bargain, but combined with an orange clearance tag it may signal the next markdown is imminent. Check the item's price history on PriceWatchPro to understand context.
The .97 ending traditionally signals that an item has entered Walmart's clearance pipeline. The item is being discontinued but hasn't reached its final markdown yet. This is a good time to add the item to your watchlist — it will likely drop further. If you're on the fence, wait for a deeper stage; if it's a popular item or specific configuration you need, consider buying now.
These endings often represent promotional or markdown stages between initial retail and final clearance. They're common on seasonal items, post-holiday stock, and overstocked goods. They're worth tracking but typically not at their lowest point yet.
These endings are Walmart's standard everyday pricing format. Items priced this way are part of regular inventory and are not in a clearance cycle. Look for yellow rollback tags to identify any current temporary discount on these items.
Standard non-promotional pricing. No special action needed unless the item also has a rollback or clearance tag.
The price history on PriceWatchPro reflects the actual Walmart.com price on any tracked item. When a product enters clearance, the online price history shows the markdown steps — even when the physical store shelf tag hasn't been updated. This lets you spot multi-stage clearance progressions and time your purchase at the optimal stage without a store visit.
In-store, scan barcodes with the Walmart app or the PriceWatchPro barcode scanner feature to reveal the live system price. Compare it against the shelf tag — if they differ, the system price is what you'll pay at checkout. A shelf tag showing $24.97 might scan as $8.03 if the system has already applied a final markdown that store staff haven't re-tagged yet.
What does .03 mean on a Walmart price tag?
It typically signals the final clearance stage — prices often 70–95% below original retail. Buy immediately as stock disappears fast at this stage.
What does .00 mean?
It can indicate a manager special, price reset, or an imminent markdown. Check the price history chart for context.
What does .97 mean at Walmart?
Early to mid-stage clearance. The item is being discontinued but likely has further markdowns ahead. Track it and wait if you're not in a hurry.
How do I find hidden clearance prices?
Scan barcodes in-store, or check the PriceWatchPro Walmart price tracker online — price history shows every markdown stage, including online clearance progressions.
Start tracking Walmart items in the clearance pipeline on the Walmart price tracker. The price history chart shows every markdown step so you can pick the right moment to buy.