- TOMS rarely drops below 25% off at full price, but there are reliable ways to save 30-50% if you know the sale calendar and where to look.
- Stacking coupons with sale pricing is possible if you use email signup codes, student discounts, and the TOMS Rewards program together.
- The best deals happen in January, July, and during Surprise Sales that pop up with little warning. Sign up for texts to catch them.
The TOMS Sale Calendar: When to Buy
TOMS follows a predictable sale pattern once you know what to watch for. Here's the rough calendar based on the last few years:
- January (Post-Holiday Clearance): 30-50% off fall and winter styles. This is one of the deepest discount windows of the year. You'll find boots and darker colorways marked way down.
- March/April (Spring Sale): 20-30% off sitewide. Usually tied to a specific promo code. Good time to grab Alpargatas before summer demand kicks in.
- May (Memorial Day): 25-30% off select styles. Not the best sale, but decent if you need something specific.
- July (Mid-Year Clearance): 30-50% off spring and summer inventory. This is the other big one. Canvas slip-ons and sandals get heavy discounts as they clear seasonal stock.
- September (Back-to-School): 20-25% off. Modest savings, mostly on newer fall arrivals.
- November (Black Friday/Cyber Monday): 30% off sitewide, sometimes 40%. Their biggest promoted sale of the year, though January clearance often beats it on individual items.
The pattern is clear: buy last season's styles in January or July for the best prices. Buy current season during Black Friday. And avoid paying full price in August or October, when there's rarely anything worth grabbing.
The Email Signup Coupon (And How to Actually Get It)
TOMS offers a 15% off coupon when you sign up for their email list. It's one of the easiest discounts to grab, but there are a few things to know.
First, the code usually arrives within 10-15 minutes of signing up. Check your spam folder if it doesn't show. The subject line is something like “Welcome to TOMS” and the code is buried mid-email.
Second, the code works on full-price items. It typically won't stack with other promo codes. But it will work on items that are already on sale if the sale isn't code-based (like marked-down clearance items). That's where you get the real value: 15% off an already-reduced price.
Third, if you've already signed up and used the code, you can sign up again with a different email address. Use a secondary email or a Gmail alias (add a “+1” before the @ sign, like [email protected]). It works, and no, TOMS doesn't seem to flag it.
Student Discounts: 10% Off With Verification
TOMS offers a 10% student discount through UNiDAYS or SheerID verification. You'll need a valid .edu email or student ID to verify your status. Once verified, you get a code that works on full-price items.
Here's the trick most students miss: the student discount can sometimes stack with sitewide sales. During Black Friday 2024, some shoppers reported getting the 10% student discount on top of the 30% sitewide sale. That's 37% total savings (the discounts apply sequentially, not additively).
This doesn't always work. TOMS occasionally restricts stacking during their biggest promotions. But it's always worth trying. Worst case, the code just doesn't apply at checkout.
Recent graduates: UNiDAYS verification usually stays active for a few months after graduation. Use it before it expires.
TOMS Rewards Program: Worth It or Not?
TOMS has a rewards program called TOMS Passport Rewards. Here's how it works:
- You earn 1 point per dollar spent
- 100 points = $5 off a future purchase
- You also earn points for social actions (following on Instagram, sharing on social media, writing reviews)
- Birthday reward: $10 off coupon
- Early access to new collections and sales
The math: that's a 5% return on your spending. It's not amazing, but it's free money if you're buying TOMS anyway. The birthday coupon is the real perk. That's essentially a free $10 just for having an account.
The early access benefit is actually useful during Black Friday and major clearance events. Rewards members sometimes get to shop the sale 24-48 hours before the general public, which matters because popular sizes in popular colors sell out fast.
Verdict: Sign up. It takes 30 seconds, the birthday coupon alone is worth it, and early sale access is a genuine advantage.
Surprise Sales: The Best Deals You'll Almost Miss
TOMS runs “Surprise Sales” a few times a year, usually through their email list and SMS subscribers. These are flash sales lasting 24-48 hours with discounts of 40-60% off select styles.
The catch: they don't announce these on their main website or social media. You'll only know about them if you're on the email or text list. Sign up for SMS alerts specifically. TOMS texts tend to arrive 2-3 hours before the email blast, giving you first pick of the inventory.
Surprise Sales are where you'll find $60 Alpargatas for $28-$35. The selection is limited (usually last season's colors and discontinued styles), but the prices are the lowest TOMS ever offers on their own site.
One more tip: Surprise Sale items are final sale. No returns, no exchanges. Make sure you know your size before you buy. This isn't the time to experiment with a new style.
Where Else to Buy TOMS (For Less)
You don't have to buy from TOMS.com. Several retailers carry the brand at lower prices, especially on older styles.
Nordstrom Rack
Consistently the best third-party source for discounted TOMS. You'll find Alpargatas for $35-$45 and boots for $60-$80. The selection rotates, so check regularly. Their online site (nordstromrack.com) usually has more sizes than the physical stores.
DSW
DSW carries current-season TOMS and regularly runs 20-25% off coupons that apply to the brand. Stack with DSW's own rewards program (which gives you $5 for every $50 spent) and you're getting a solid deal. DSW also puts TOMS on clearance racks at the end of each season.
Zappos
Usually sells at full MSRP, but the free shipping and free returns (365-day return window) make Zappos the best place to try TOMS if you're unsure about sizing. Buy two sizes, return the one that doesn't fit. No restocking fees, no hassle.
Amazon
Prices vary wildly. You can find deals, but watch out for third-party sellers offering “new” TOMS at suspiciously low prices. Counterfeits exist. Stick to listings sold by Amazon.com directly or by TOMS' official Amazon store. Check the seller rating before you buy.
Poshmark and ThredUp
Gently used TOMS go for $15-$30 on resale platforms. Since canvas Alpargatas mold to the original owner's foot, buying used can be hit or miss on comfort. But lightly worn leather or suede styles hold up well secondhand. Filter for “NWT” (new with tags) listings to find unworn pairs at discount prices.
Pro Tips From TOMS Regulars
These are the things you learn after buying TOMS for a few years. They're small, but they add up.
- Buy two pairs during big sales. Since Alpargatas wear out in 6-8 months, buying a backup pair at 40% off is cheaper than buying one pair at full price later.
- Scotchgard your canvas TOMS. A $10 can of fabric protector spray extends the life of canvas Alpargatas significantly. Spray them before the first wear. Reapply every few months. It prevents staining and makes the fabric more water-resistant.
- Wash them in a pillowcase. Canvas TOMS are machine washable (cold water, gentle cycle, air dry). Put them in a pillowcase to prevent the elastic from stretching. Never put them in the dryer. They'll shrink.
- Check the outlet section on TOMS.com. There's a permanently discounted “Last Chance” section buried on the site. It's not promoted much, but it always has 20-40 styles at 30-50% off. Bookmark it: toms.com/collections/sale.
- Wait for the cart abandonment email. Add items to your cart, then leave the site without checking out. Within 24-48 hours, you'll likely get an email offering 10-15% off to complete your purchase. It doesn't work every time, but it works often enough to be worth trying.
- Size consistency hack: If you find a TOMS style that fits perfectly, write down the size and style name. Because sizing varies between models, having a reference point saves you from ordering the wrong size when you try something new.
Mistakes That Cost You Money
Avoid these common errors and you'll come out ahead:
- Buying at full price in September. Fall styles launch in August/September at full MSRP. Wait until Black Friday (just two months later) and they'll be 30% off.
- Ignoring the rewards program. Free money is free money. The birthday coupon alone saves you $10 a year for zero effort.
- Ordering your “normal” size in every style. TOMS sizing varies. The Mallow runs big. Boots run narrow. Check reviews for size guidance on each specific model.
- Buying Surprise Sale items in a new style. Final sale means final sale. If you've never tried that shoe model, you're gambling. Stick to styles you already know fit.
- Paying for shipping. The free shipping threshold is $65. If your order is $55, add a pair of socks or insoles to hit the minimum. You'll save more on shipping than you spend on the add-on.
The Bottom Line
Nobody should pay full price for TOMS. Between the sale calendar, email signup codes, student discounts, rewards program, and third-party retailers, you can reliably save 25-50% on every purchase. The key is patience and timing.
For the best possible deal, sign up for email and SMS alerts, create a rewards account, and wait for January or July clearance. That combination gets you TOMS shoes at prices that actually match their quality. And if you're a student, stack that 10% on top.
The smartest TOMS shoppers never pay more than $35-$40 for Alpargatas. With the tips above, neither should you.
