Black Friday 2024

Black Friday always takes place on the Friday after Thanksgiving Day. In 2024, Black Friday falls on Nov. 29. That being said, many Black Friday sales start on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 28 this year) or even a week or two before.

In addition to subscribing to the BlackFriday.com email newsletter and checking out our list of the Best Black Friday Sales, there are a few ways you can prepare for a stress-free and savings-rich Black Friday.

1. Sign up for your favorite retailers' email newsletters

   The best way to be immediately notified of a retailer's sale is by signing up the newsletter. The majority of retailers send an email to all of their subscribers when a major sale starts, and some include exclusive coupon codes for subscribers as well.

2. Set up an account on your favorite retailers' websites

   In addition to signing up for emails, make sure to set up an account with your favorite online retailers. This way, when you go to checkout, you can do so quickly and you don't run the risk of an item selling out on Black Friday while you were busy entering in your address details at checkout.

3. Do your research and read reviews

   If you have items on your shopping list, we recommend scoping them out before Black Friday arrives so you can be sure you're making a wise purchase, and you're not just reacting to the flashy deep discount. This applies to all products, but particularly big-ticket items like TVs or appliances, where you are spending a lot of money (even at the sale price) and you intend to keep and use this product for years to come.

4. Create wishlists on your favorite retailers' websites

   Many online retailers give shoppers the ability to create wish lists all year round. We recommend taking advantage of these tools. Not only does this help you find the exact item you've been looking for on Black Friday – saving yourself the scrolling time – but this ensures that you buy what you actually need and don't get too enticed by items that aren't on your list, but feature a flashy discount.

This Black Friday shopping season, we expect to see more of the following than we have in past years:

• Promoting in-app shopping: As more retailers are developing mobile shopping apps, we are seeing special promotions available to shoppers who complete their purchase on the retailer's app. In some cases, Black Friday sales have started early on retailers' apps as well.
• Text notifications: News alerts via text message continue to grow, and more retailers are offering exclusive deals to shoppers who opt-in to receive text messages. This trend benefits shoppers as well, since you are less likely to miss out on a sale if you are getting a text alert on your phone.
• Gift cards with purchase: We are seeing many retailers attach free gift cards to certain items, as a way to make deals all the more appealing. Retailers like Target and Best Buy, in particular, are offering many of their own gift cards for free with certain purchases.

If you are hoping to find everything in one place – think toys, apparel, small kitchen appliances and more – these are the retailers you should be keeping an eye on this Black Friday.

Amazon offers tons of amazing Black Friday deals. You can also take advantage of fast and free shipping as a Prime Member.

Best Buy is famous for offering tons of amazing deals on TVs and the hottest tech products.

Home Depot If you're in the market for new power tools, outdoor holiday decor or home improvement items like faucets and paint, be sure to put Home Depot on your Black Friday shopping hit list.

Kohl's brings out tons of deep discounts in honor of Black Friday. This retailer also offers great Kohl's Cash promotions. You can typically earn $15 for every $50 you spend.

Lowe's is always one of the best places to shop for home improvement related products on Black Friday. You'll find savings on tools and appliances, as well as holiday home decor and smart home gadgets.

Macy's serves up major savings during Black Friday every year. It carries more brand name apparel, beauty and home products than some other competing retailers.

Target thanks to Target's holiday price matching policy, you can shop for deals during Black Friday without worrying about seeing a lower price on Cyber Monday or the first weeks of December. This retailer also has an extensive selection of deals, and many gift card giveaways too.

Walmart is always a top shopping destination during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Here you can find some of the best deals on tech gadgets, toys and home essentials like vacuums.

• Streaming services are getting a lot of attention this Black Friday. Top platforms like Hulu, Peacock and Max are offering subscription savings that allow users to lower their monthly entertainment bills.
• Many gaming consoles are finally back in stock this year, and shoppers are taking notice. Gaming consoles, including the PS5, Nintendo Switch and Xbox Series X have all been hot ticket items this year.
• Athletic apparel brands are attracting shoppers this Black Friday with savings on clothing and accessories that blend comfort with style. Lululemon shoppers, for example, have been eager to take advantage of Black Friday deals.

Yes, Black Friday deals are widely available online. In recent years, retailers have expanded their Black Friday promotions to include online sales, often starting early in the week or even at the beginning of November. Most retailers are closed on Thanksgiving Day, but since they offer Black Friday deals early online - you can shop from home to get a head start.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday differ in terms of the types of deals, timing and focus. The most obvious difference is timing.

Black Friday sales are traditionally held on Thanksgiving Day and the day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday). Meanwhile, Cyber Monday occurs the Monday after Thanksgiving with some Cyber Monday sales starting on the Saturday following Black Friday.

Black Friday sales are traditionally held online and in-store with enticing deals like doorbuster sales. Cyber Monday sales are typically only online and have tended to highlight digital saving opportunities like traveling booking site discounts or software deals.

Yes, you can generally return items purchased on Black Friday, but the return policies vary depending on the retailer. Many larger retailers like Target, Walmart and Best Buy offer extended holiday return periods which is convenient for holiday gifting. Occasionally limited-time offers, like deeply discounted items and doorbusters, may have stricter return policies, such as shorter return windows or restocking fees. Be sure to double check the specific return policy before you purchase.

Saving the most money during Black Friday requires a combination of planning, research and strategic shopping. We suggest planning ahead; making a holiday shopping list helps you avoid impulse purchases.

You can sign up for the BlackFriday.com email newsletter to get updates on all your favorite retailers' Black Friday sales. Also, you can visit our sister site RetailMeNot and download the Deal Finder to find additional discounts and cash back opportunities.

Another savings hack is to utilize reward programs. For example, if you are a Kohl's rewards member you can earn Kohl's Cash while you shop Black Friday sales. Most rewards programs are free to join, offer a way to earn points for shopping and can even grant you early access to sales.

Downloading your favorite retailer's app ahead of Black Friday is a smart way to manage your Black Friday shopping. Some retailers, like Wayfair have even offered early access to app users during previous Black Friday shopping events. You can also download the RetailMeNot app to activate cash back offers and find any extra coupons before you shop.

Yes, Black Friday ads are often released early, sometimes weeks before the actual event. Retailers do this to build anticipation and give shoppers time to plan their purchases. For example, last year Walmart's Black Friday ad was released on November 1st for the pre-Black Friday sale, which started on November 8 (about a week in advance). You can sign up for BlackFriday.com emails and check our site frequently, as we share Black Friday ad scans as soon as they are released.

Black Friday can be a great opportunity to score deals, but it’s also easy to make mistakes that could cost you time, money or both. Savvy shoppers know how important it is to plan ahead, so you can research reviews and prices. BlackFriday.com publishes Black Friday ad scans in advance of the big day, which can help you avoid impulse purchases.

Be sure to double-check return policies and shipping fees before you check out. Finally, many people fail to take advantage of cash back and rewards programs which can help you save and earn rewards on top of your savings.

Black Friday prices are often among the lowest of the year, but they’re not always the absolute lowest for every item. Black Friday sales are known to feature deep discounts on electronics like TVs, laptops and gaming consoles. And for many clothing brands, Black Friday is one of the biggest saving events of the year. Start making your shopping list early so you have time to track prices before you buy.

Yes, you can often use coupons on Black Friday deals, but it varies by retailer. Some retailers, like Macy's and Target, release special coupons just for Black Friday that are designed to be used on top of sale prices. These are usually found in Black Friday ads or through email promotions. Planning ahead and understanding these details will help you maximize your savings during the Black Friday shopping event.