Pet Supplies Clearance: When Chewy, Petco, and PetSmart Discount Deepest
Pet supplies are one of the most price-stable categories in retail — until they're not. Each of the three major pet retailers (Chewy, Petco, PetSmart) runs a distinct clearance cycle, and stacking the right ones against autoship discounts can cut your monthly pet bill by 30–60% without changing what you buy.
Chewy
How clearance shows up
Chewy is online-only, which means no shelf markdowns — but a "Last Chance" section on the website lists items being discontinued or oversupplied. Discounts on Last Chance typically run 30–60% off MSRP.
Autoship is the real deal engine
Chewy's big saving isn't clearance — it's the Autoship subscription. First Autoship of any item: 35% off, capped at $20. Subsequent orders: 5% off automatically. If you stack Autoship onto an already-discounted Last Chance item, the combined savings beat most physical-store clearance.
Best categories
- Dog and cat food — Last Chance + Autoship stack is the best price-per-pound on premium brands (Hill's, Purina Pro Plan, Royal Canin) almost any time of year
- Cat litter — heavy and expensive to ship through other retailers; Chewy ships free over $49
- Prescription medications — Chewy's pharmacy regularly beats vet office pricing by 30–50%
Petco
Markdown cadence
Petco runs physical-store clearance in two big waves each year:
- January — holiday pet items (sweaters, themed toys, advent calendars) hit 75% off in the first two weeks
- August — summer pet items (cooling pads, outdoor toys, seasonal treats) clear at 50–70% off
Year-round, end-cap clearance shelves at each location carry rotating items at 40–60% off. The Petco app shows store-specific clearance inventory — worth checking before a trip.
Vital Care Premier
Petco's $19.99/mo Vital Care Premier subscription includes unlimited routine vet visits, monthly grooming, and dental cleanings at participating Petco locations. For dog owners that vet-shop anyway, the math works out — but skip it if you don't use Petco grooming or veterinary services regularly.
Best categories
- Aquarium supplies — Petco's ongoing "$1 per gallon" sale on tanks is one of the longest-running clearance promotions in pet retail
- Reptile and fish food/equipment — niche categories with frequent oversupply markdowns
- Seasonal pet costumes and toys — see January/August windows above
PetSmart
Markdown cadence
PetSmart's clearance system uses pink tags layered over the white original-price stickers. Pink tag progression:
- First pink: 25–30% off — fresh markdown, will go lower
- Second pink: 50% off — added 2–3 weeks later
- Yellow final-clearance sticker: 70%+ off — last week before being pulled
Markdowns usually appear early in the week (Monday/Tuesday), and the deepest stock is gone by the following weekend.
Treats program
PetSmart's free Treats loyalty program earns $5 back per $100 spent. Combined with clearance, the rewards stack — meaningfully better than nothing on big purchases like a $300 dog crate.
Best categories
- Dog and cat toys — KONG, Outward Hound, and house-brand toys all show up on the clearance end-cap consistently
- Beds and crates — heavy and floor-space-eating, so PetSmart marks them down faster than smaller stores
- Aquatic plants and decor — second only to Petco
Which one to shop, by purchase
- Regular food and litter
- Chewy with Autoship — the math beats both physical stores year-round.
- Aquarium / fish
- Petco for tanks and gravel; Chewy for food and water conditioners.
- Dog crates and beds
- PetSmart yellow-sticker clearance is typically cheapest.
- Holiday-themed pet items
- Petco in January and August (75% off windows above).
- Prescriptions
- Chewy pharmacy. Beat any vet office on every standard pet med.
- Cooling pads / hot-weather pet gear
- Petco in August. Don't buy in May/June when they're full price.
The autoship trap to avoid
Chewy Autoship is brilliant for food and litter — items you reliably go through. It's a money-loser for treats, toys, and equipment because the 5% recurring discount is offset by the fact that you'd typically buy these items on flash sale (50%+ off) rather than at full MSRP. Restrict Autoship to consumables.
Related: Walmart's clearance schedule, holiday clearance calendar by month, and how to spot fake clearance pricing.