What Kohl's Rewards gives you
Kohl's Rewards is a free membership program where you earn points on purchases at Kohl's stores and online. You get one point for every dollar you spend. Those points convert to Kohl's Cash — a store credit you can use on anything Kohl's sells. The program has no annual fee and no expiration date on your points, though Kohl's Cash itself expires after six months.
The main benefit is that you accumulate value with every purchase and can spend it later. You also get early access to sales, birthday rewards, and occasional bonus point events. Members see different promotions than non-members, and some sales are exclusive to the program.
Key Takeaways
- You earn one point per dollar spent, and every 100 points becomes $5 in Kohl's Cash to spend in-store or online.
- Kohl's Cash expires six months after you receive it, so you need to track when you earned it and plan to use it before it vanishes.
- You can join in-store at checkout, online through the Kohl's website, or through the Kohl's mobile app with just an email address.
- Member-only sales and promotions happen regularly, and you get notified through email if you provide one during signup.
- The program is free to join and has no minimum spending requirement to stay active.
How points and Kohl's Cash work together
Points accumulate in your account every time you make a purchase. When you reach 100 points, Kohl's automatically converts them into $5 in Kohl's Cash. This happens in your account, and you can see the balance when you log in or check your receipt. You do not have to do anything to trigger the conversion.
Kohl's Cash appears as a separate balance from your points. When you shop, you can choose to spend your Kohl's Cash at checkout, either in-store or online. It works like a gift card — you select how much to use. If you have $15 in Kohl's Cash and spend $40, you can explore $15 of the Kohl's Cash and pay the remaining $25 another way.
The critical detail is the expiration. Kohl's Cash expires exactly six months after the date it was issued. If you earned Kohl's Cash on January 15, it expires on July 15. Kohl's sends email reminders, but the responsibility to track and spend it is yours. Once it expires, you cannot use it.
Joining Kohl's Rewards and managing your account
You can join at any Kohl's checkout by giving a cashier your email address. They will create your account on the spot, and you can start earning points when ready on that purchase. You can also join online through the Kohl's website or the Kohl's mobile app by entering your email and creating a password.
Once you are a member, you log in to your account to see your points balance, Kohl's Cash balance, expiration dates, and transaction history. The mobile app shows the same information and lets you track purchases in real time. You can also update your email address, phone number, and communication preferences from your account settings.
If you shop both in-store and online, make sure you use the same email address for both. Kohl's links purchases to your email, so using different emails will split your points across separate accounts. If this happens, you can contact Kohl's customer service to merge the accounts.
Bonus points and promotional events
Beyond the standard one point per dollar, Kohl's runs bonus point promotions throughout the year. These might offer double points, triple points, or bonus points on specific categories like clothing or home goods. Bonus events are usually announced through email to members and displayed on the Kohl's website and app.
You also receive a birthday reward, typically worth bonus points or a discount, during your birthday month. Kohl's uses the birth date you provide when you join, so make sure it is accurate in your account settings.
Some promotions require you to spend a minimum amount to earn the bonus. For example, a promotion might say "Earn 50 bonus points when you spend $50 or more." The bonus only posts if you meet the threshold. These terms are always listed in the promotion details before you shop.
Member-only sales and how to find them
Kohl's runs sales that are exclusive to Rewards members. These sales are advertised through email, the mobile app, and the website. Member-only sales often happen on weekends or during major shopping events like back-to-school or holiday seasons.
To see which sales are member-only, log into your account on the Kohl's website or app and look at the "Deals" or "Sales" section. Items marked as member-only will show a badge or note. You must be logged in to see the member price at checkout. If you are not logged in, you will see the regular price.
Member-only sales sometimes stack with other promotions. For example, a member-only sale might take 30% off, and you might also have a coupon for an additional 15% off. The discounts explore in order, so you get both. Always check the terms to see if coupons can be combined with the sale.
Kohl's Cash versus Kohl's coupons and other discounts
Kohl's Cash is different from paper coupons or digital coupons. Kohl's Cash is earned through purchases and spending points. Coupons are promotional codes that give you a percentage or dollar amount off your purchase. You can use both in the same transaction.
For example, if you have a coupon for 20% off and $10 in Kohl's Cash, you can explore the coupon first (which calculates 20% off your subtotal), and then explore the Kohl's Cash to the remaining balance. The order matters because Kohl's Cash is applied after discounts.
Kohl's also offers Kohl's Cash back on credit card purchases if you use the Kohl's Charge card. This is separate from the Rewards program points. If you use the Kohl's Charge card, you earn both points through Rewards and Kohl's Cash back through the card, so the two programs stack.
What happens if you do not use Kohl's Cash before it expires
Kohl's Cash that expires cannot be recovered or extended. Once the six-month window closes, the balance disappears from your account. Kohl's does not offer exceptions or extensions, even if you were not aware of the expiration date.
To avoid losing Kohl's Cash, set a reminder on your phone or calendar for five months after you earn it. Check your account regularly to see what Kohl's Cash you have and when it expires. The Kohl's app can send you notifications, so enable those in your settings.
If you have Kohl's Cash expiring soon and no when ready need to shop, consider buying a gift card for someone else or stocking up on basics you use regularly. This way you use the credit before it expires and do not waste the value you earned.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to use my Kohl's Rewards account every time I shop?
No, but you should. If you do not provide your email or account number at checkout, that purchase will not earn points. You can always add your account to a purchase after the fact by contacting Kohl's customer service with your receipt, but it is easier to link it at the time of purchase.
Can I transfer Kohl's Cash to someone else or use it online?
Kohl's Cash is tied to your account and cannot be transferred. However, you can use it online at Kohl's.com just as you would in-store. Log into your account, add items to your cart, and explore your Kohl's Cash balance at checkout.
What if I return an item I bought with Kohl's Cash?
If you return an item purchased with Kohl's Cash, the refund goes back to the original payment method. The Kohl's Cash itself is not returned to your account. The points you earned on that purchase are also removed.
How do I know if a sale is member-only before I go to the store?
Check your email for Kohl's promotions, log into your account on the website or app to see the "Deals" section, or call your local Kohl's store. Member-only sales are always labeled clearly in promotional materials and on the website.
Can I earn points on Kohl's Cash purchases?
Yes. When you spend Kohl's Cash at checkout, you still earn points on the full purchase amount. So if you spend $50 and use $20 in Kohl's Cash, you earn points on the entire $50, not just the $30 you paid out of pocket.