Do Black Friday deals really save you money?
Some Black Friday deals are the lowest prices of the year; others aren't deals at all. Here's how to tell the difference before you buy.
Some do, some don't. Black Friday brings real discounts on many products, especially older models, seasonal stock and categories that rarely go on sale. But "was" prices can be inflated, some deals are on versions made cheaply for the sale, and many discounts reappear at other times of year. The way to know is to decide what you want and what you'd pay before the sale, then compare deals against that, not against the crossed-out price.
When Black Friday is
Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving in the US. In 2026 it falls on Friday, November 27, followed by Cyber Monday on November 30. Many stores now start "early Black Friday" offers weeks before and run them through Cyber Monday or later. You can follow the offers as brands release them on our Black Friday page.
Where Black Friday discounts are usually real
- Previous-generation products. When a newer model exists, the older one is often discounted hardest. The differences are frequently small.
- Seasonal and fashion stock. Fall and winter lines get discounted as stores make room, though the deepest clothing markdowns often come later, in the January sales.
- Brands that rarely discount. For some brands, Black Friday is one of the few times a sitewide code appears at all.
- Subscriptions and software. Many services run their biggest discount on a first year or a long plan around this time. Check the renewal price; see our software guide.
- Gift sets and bundles, when they contain things you'd buy separately anyway.
Where to be careful
The "was" price
A crossed-out price is the store's claim of a previous price. It may be the price from a short period before the sale, or a recommended price that was rarely charged. A big percentage off an inflated "was" price can be a modest saving in reality.
What to do: ignore the percentage and compare the final price with what you've seen the product sell for recently, or with the same product at other stores.
Special "Black Friday" versions
Some products, especially electronics, appear in versions made for big sales, with a slightly different model number and lower specs. The price looks dramatic because you're comparing it to a different product.
What to do: compare the exact model number, not the product name.
Deals that come back
Many Black Friday discounts reappear around other events: Cyber Monday, holiday sales, the January sales, back to school, or mid-year shopping events. Missing one isn't always a loss.
Buying things you didn't plan to buy
The biggest cost of Black Friday is often the extra items. A 30% discount on something you didn't need is spending, not saving.
A simple plan that works
- Write your list before the sale, with the most you'd pay for each item.
- Check the store pages early. Early offers often match the main-day prices, and stock on popular items runs out.
- Compare the final price, including shipping and tax, against your number, not against the "was" price.
- Check the returns window. Many stores extend returns for holiday purchases; others make sale items final.
- Stack carefully. A code on top of a sale price is the jackpot, but many codes exclude sale items. Our guide on stacking codes with sale prices explains how to check.
- Use the newest offers. Codes released for Black Friday change daily. We add new ones every morning as brands publish them.
What our data shows
We track every live offer from the brands' affiliate programs every day, so we can see how Black Friday discounts compare with the rest of the year.
Once the event ends, we publish a full Black Friday report with the numbers: average discounts by category, how they compared with the weeks before, and when the strongest offers appeared.
Frequently asked questions
Is it better to buy on Black Friday or Cyber Monday?
It depends on the category. Many stores run the same offers through the whole weekend, and some save specific discounts for Cyber Monday, often on online services and electronics. Watch both if the item matters to you.
Do early Black Friday deals beat the main day?
Often they're the same price. Buying early can make sense for popular items that sell out.
Are Black Friday codes better than sale prices?
Sometimes. Codes often exclude items already reduced, so compare both totals before you buy.
Can I return Black Friday purchases?
Usually, but check the store's policy. Some extend the return window for holiday orders; others treat clearance items as final sale.