Gap Factory: Outlet vs Mainline Quality, Sizing Across Denim and Kids, and How the Discounts Layer

Gap Factory is Gap's outlet business, sold through Gap Factory stores and gapfactory.com. It carries Gap-branded jeans, tees, sweatshirts, activewear, baby and kids clothing at lower prices than mainline Gap, with a promotion running almost every day. A good Gap Factory order depends on knowing what the outlet range is, getting the fit right, and never paying the ticket price.

Gap Factory is its own range, not old Gap stock

Much of what Gap Factory sells is made for the outlet channel rather than being unsold mainline Gap stock. Styles look similar to Gap's, and the logo is the same, but fabric weights, trims and details can differ from the mainline versions.

That is not a reason to avoid Gap Factory; it is a reason to judge each item on its own description. Read the fabric content on the product page. A Gap Factory tee in cotton-polyester will wear differently from a 100% cotton one, and a sweater's wool percentage tells you more than its name.

For wardrobe basics bought in multiples, such as tees, pyjamas, kids' leggings and logo hoodies, the Gap Factory range is usually the better value. For a piece you want to keep for years, compare with the mainline Gap equivalent.

Gap Factory denim fits

Gap Factory uses Gap's fit names, such as straight, slim, skinny, relaxed and the looser '90s and baggy fits that come in and out of fashion. The fit name tells you the leg shape; the rise and inseam on the product page tell you where it sits and how long it is.

Check stretch. Gap Factory jeans with elastane stretch and soften as you wear them, so a snug fit on day one is usually right. Rigid 100% cotton denim barely gives, so buy the size you are comfortable in.

Inseams are offered in short, regular and long on many styles. Choosing the right inseam saves a hemming bill that would wipe out the Gap Factory discount.

Baby, toddler and kids sizing

Gap Factory sells a lot of baby and kids clothing. Baby sizes run by months, toddler sizes by years, and kids' sizes by letter or number with a chart that maps to height and weight.

Use the chart rather than the child's age. Children at the top of a Gap Factory size range will outgrow it within weeks, so size up for anything bought ahead of a season.

Multipacks of bodysuits, tees and leggings are where Gap Factory is strongest for kids. They are the cheapest per piece and the least likely to be a sizing gamble.

How Gap Factory promotions work

Gap Factory runs a site-wide percentage off most days, often with an extra percentage on top at checkout. The advertised discount usually applies automatically or with a code shown on the banner. Prices can change daily, so an item in your basket today may be cheaper tomorrow.

Gap Factory's promotions are tied to the Gap Inc. family, including Gap Good Rewards, the loyalty programme shared with Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic and Athleta. Members earn points on Gap Factory orders; check the current earning rate and redemption terms on the site.

A Gap-branded credit card offers extra discounts, but a new line of credit is a financial decision, not a shopping one. Do not open one just for a Gap Factory basket.

Shipping and returns

Gap Factory offers free shipping above a threshold, and Gap Rewards members may get better terms. Check the current threshold at checkout; a Gap Factory basket just short of it is the one time adding a basic makes sense.

Returns can generally go by post or to a Gap Factory store. Check the current return window, and note that final-sale items are usually excluded. Gap Factory items are not always accepted at mainline Gap stores, so read the returns page before relying on that.

Where the Gap Factory savings are

The $40 code is the biggest cash saving but usually needs a minimum spend, which the offer terms state. On a large Gap Factory basket, compare it with the 25% code: 25% beats $40 once your basket passes $160.

The free shipping code is worth adding to small Gap Factory orders below the free-delivery threshold, where postage would otherwise eat into the price.

Gap Factory often allows one promo code alongside the automatic site-wide discount but not two codes together. Enter each code, compare the final total, and keep the best.

Common questions

Is Gap Factory the same quality as Gap?

Much of the Gap Factory range is made for the outlet, so fabrics and details can differ. Read each fabric composition.

Do Gap Factory jeans run small?

Stretch Gap Factory denim loosens with wear. Rigid denim does not, so buy that at your comfortable size.

Can I earn Gap Good Rewards at Gap Factory?

Yes, the programme covers Gap Factory. Check the current points and redemption terms.

Can I return Gap Factory items to a Gap store?

Not always. Check the Gap Factory returns page for where your item can go.