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Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday: Exactly When to Buy What
Retailers want you to believe everything is on sale all weekend. The truth is, specific categories drop to their lowest prices on very specific days. We analyzed 5 years of pricing data from Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target to bring you the definitive guide.
What to Buy on Black Friday
Black Friday remains the champion for "doorbuster" big-ticket items and older technology models.
- Televisions: The absolute best day of the year to buy a TV. Retailers use massive TV discounts to drive traffic. Avoid the "no-name" brands manufactured specifically for Black Friday, and look for deep discounts on last year's Samsung, LG, and Sony models.
- Smart Home Devices: Amazon Echo, Google Nest, Ring cameras, and smart plugs hit their lowest prices.
- Major Appliances: Refrigerators, washers, dryers, and dishwashers see 30-40% discounts at Home Depot and Lowe's.
- Gaming Consoles: While the consoles themselves rarely see massive cash discounts, Black Friday offers the best bundle deals (console + 2 games + extra controller).
What to Buy on Cyber Monday
Cyber Monday is better for smaller items, clothing, and travel.
- Clothing and Shoes: Apparel retailers typically offer 40-50% off site-wide on Cyber Monday, outperforming Black Friday's department store sales.
- Laptops and Computers: Dell, HP, and Lenovo save their best customized PC and laptop configurations for Cyber Monday.
- Beauty and Skincare: Sephora, Ulta, and direct-to-consumer brands offer their steepest site-wide discounts on Monday.
- Travel Deals: "Travel Tuesday" (the day after Cyber Monday) has become the best day of the year to book discounted flights and hotel stays.
What NOT to Buy on Either Day
- Toys: Wait until the second week of December. Retailers panic as Christmas approaches and slash toy prices up to 70%.
- Fitness Equipment: Wait until January. Treadmills and weights go on sale to capture the New Year's resolution crowd.
- Winter Clothing: Wait until late January or February when stores are clearing inventory for spring.