Nike Warranty: Two-Year Flaw Coverage, How to File a Claim & Exclusions

Nike stands behind its shoes and gear against manufacturing flaws: if materials or workmanship fail in a way that isn't normal wear, Nike will inspect the item and make it right if it finds a defect ¹. The steps depend on where you bought it and how long ago. This guide covers the process, what counts as a flaw and the product lines with their own rules, all from Nike's help pages and Terms of Sale. If you just changed your mind or the fit is off, that's a return – see our Nike return policy guide.

What Nike's warranty covers

Nike's help page says that if you believe your item has developed a material or workmanship flaw within two years of the manufacture date on its tag, you can send it to Nike for an inspection ¹. If Nike finds a defect, it says it will make it right ¹.

Two things to note:

• The clock starts at manufacture, not purchase. The date that matters is the manufacture date on the product tag ¹ – so a pair that sat on a shelf for months has less time left than you might think.
• Some products have their own terms. Certain Nike products come with specific written guarantees or warranties, and the details are on the label, hang tag or warranty card included with the item ¹.

What to do, based on where you bought it

Nike.com or the Nike App

• Within 60 days of purchase, you can return the item for a refund or exchange it for an eligible item ¹.
• More than 60 days after purchase, if it's still within two years of the manufacture date (or within one year of the purchase date for NikeSKIMS items), you can ship the item to Nike for an inspection – Nike asks you to contact it for help ¹.

Nike stores

• Within 60 days of purchase, take the items to a Nike store to return them ¹.
• After 60 days, the same inspection route applies: within two years of the manufacture date (one year from purchase for NikeSKIMS), ship the item to Nike for inspection ¹.

Nike-authorized retailers (other stores)

• Return the item to the store where you bought it ¹.
• If you can't return it there, or the store referred you back to Nike, use Nike's claim submission form ¹.

How to file a Nike claim

The claim submission form is the route for items bought at a Nike-authorized retailer that sends you back to Nike ¹. Have this information ready before you start it ¹:

1. Place of purchase
2. Date of purchase
3. Date of manufacture (on the product tag)
4. Style code – a nine-digit code in the format xxxxxx-xxx, found on the shoe box or the tag
5. Receipt amount
6. Mailing and shipping address

You can check your claim's status at nikeclaims.com ¹.

What happens after the inspection

Nike inspects the item to confirm whether there's a material or workmanship flaw ¹. If a claim filed through the claim form is approved, Nike emails you a Nike gift card to use on Nike.com or in the Nike App, and it recycles the flawed item ¹. Nike's page doesn't describe a cash refund or a like-for-like replacement for those claims.

For items bought on Nike.com, in the Nike App or at a Nike store, the help page says to contact Nike and ship the item in for inspection, but it doesn't say what you get if a defect is found ¹. Ask Nike when you contact it, before you ship.

What isn't covered

Nike says these aren't considered material or workmanship flaws and aren't eligible ¹:

• Normal wear and tear
• Excessive wear or misuse
• Excessive dirt

These items aren't eligible for inspection at all ¹:

• Items with any product alteration
• Items bought from unauthorized retailers or resellers

Removable parts that come with a shoe – including, but not limited to, shoelaces, charms, insoles and spikes – aren't eligible for replacement ¹.

Products with their own warranty rules

• NikeSKIMS: potentially defective or flawed items can be returned within one year of the purchase date ¹.
• Hyperice: Hyperice items have a one-year warranty, and Nike says to contact Hyperice directly about a flawed item, even if it's within 60 days of purchase ¹.
• Tennis shoes: select styles have a six-month rubber Outsole Durability Guarantee, and eligible styles include a warranty card in the box ¹. If the flaw doesn't meet the card's criteria and you bought directly from Nike, follow the purchase-type steps above ¹. Bought at an authorized retailer? Return to that retailer; if it directs you back to Nike, you may still be able to set up a claim ¹.
• Nike Vision sunglasses: pairs bought on Nike.com, in the Nike App or at a Nike store fall under the standard return policy ¹. Pairs bought at a Nike-authorized retailer are warrantied for up to one year – contact that retailer first, and if it refers you back, call the Nike Vision Team at 800-544-1336 or email [email protected] ¹. The warranty is valid only for purchases through a Nike-authorized Vision dealer, and it doesn't cover lost items or scratched lenses ¹. Frames with prescription lenses are warrantied against manufacturer defects through your eye care provider ¹.
• Swimwear: swimwear bought from Nike directly is covered by the standard return policy ¹. For swimwear bought at a U.S. Nike-authorized retailer that developed a flaw within one year of the manufacture date, once the retailer refers you to Nike ¹, package it securely with a note listing your name, address, phone number, email and a brief description of the problem ¹, and mail it to Nike Swimwear Customer Support/Nike Claim, Perry Ellis International, Attn: Quality Department, 1820 NE Glisan St., Ste 100, Portland, OR 97232 ¹. Questions go to 800-828-2393 ¹.
• Nike x LEGO sets: missing or damaged pieces are requested directly from the LEGO website ¹.

If your order arrives defective

Separately from the inspection process, Nike's U.S. Terms of Sale say you're entitled to return products that are defective or don't match your order when you receive them ². If Nike decides the claim is justified, the purchase price and any shipping costs are refunded ². The terms add that this doesn't affect your statutory rights ².

Contacting Nike

Nike's warranty page lists its company info and inquiries line at 1-800-806-6453, 7 am – 4 pm PT, Monday through Friday ¹.

Quick tips

• Check the manufacture date on the tag before you file – that's what the two-year window is measured from ¹.
• Still within 60 days of buying from Nike? A regular return or exchange is simpler than a claim ¹.
• Keep the shoe box: it shows the style code the claim form asks for ¹.
• Bought from a reseller? Nike won't inspect items purchased from unauthorized retailers or resellers ¹.
• Compare with other brands in our warranty guides, or see all our Nike guides.