All About Black Friday; How to Get This Year's Best Black Friday Deals

What is Black Friday?

Black Friday shopping is definitely a love-it-or-leave-it holiday for most shoppers. With crazy lines at the registers, crowds fighting over discounted gaming systems, and frazzled employees, you might be tempted to skip the Black Friday rush—especially amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

With inflation creeping up, shipping issues, and other challenges, prices are up for this year’s holiday season. Toy giant Hasbro has already announced that its raising prices ahead of the holiday season. Christmas and Hanukkah and other holiday presents are going to be harder to get this year, and steeper in cost.

If you have a little one at home, Black Friday is the perfect time to look for favorites like Itty Bitty Pretties and Hot Wheels. While you might be tempted to focus on your Thanksgiving day turkey and skip the shopping, more and more stores are upping their online game.

Early bird sales, multiple Black Friday events scattered throughout November, and even Black Friday sales bursts as early as October have all caught on among large, popular retailer. Make sure you’re staying up to do date with all the Black Friday promotions that are happening.

Why is it Called Black Friday?

If you’re financially savvy, you might think that Black Friday is dubbed from the term, “into the black,” which basically means that stores start to become profitable. But the true story is much darker. While Black Friday does bring the biggest retail sales of the year to big box stores, the real origin of the story doesn’t have anything to do with shopping.

The term “Black Friday” originated with two investors in 1869. Jay Gould and Jim Fisk decided to drive up the price of gold the Friday after Thanksgiving, causing a huge crash. The stock market dropped 20% and all foreign trade stopped. Farmers suffered a 50% dip in wheat and corn harvests because of changes in trade value. This scandal happened during the presidency of Ulysses S Grant, who hoped to stabilize the dollar and boost the economy, which still wasn’t restored after the upheaval of the Civil War. The fluctuation in the stock changes caused a huge panic among consumers and nearly caused a national depression.

Over the years, Black Friday slowly became a popular shopping day. By the 1950’s, Philadelphia police used the term to coin the day between Thanksgiving and the Army-Navy game, when massive crowds of shoppers flocked to the city. Cops had to work overtime to compensate for the fluctuation in traffic, working long hours to keep the city safe. Retailers in the area tried to re-name the day to “Big Friday,” but it never quite caught on.

While most people don’t know the exact history of the date, we can still refer to the day as “Black Friday” and most people know exactly which day of the year we’re talking about.

What Day is Black Friday?

Although the deals vary and trendy items change from year to year, Black Friday doesn’t change much. This huge retail day takes place on the same day every year, the Friday following Thanksgiving Thursday. This year, Black Friday will be November 26, 2021. Black Friday is considered the biggest day of the year for retail sales, with American consumers spending $6.3 million per minute shopping.

Online sales increased by 32% over the fourth quarter of 2020, in part driven by the number of stores now offering same deals online as in person.

This year, Black Friday is expected to be bigger than ever, with both in-store and online retail sales dominating the holiday season.

When Was the First Black Friday?

The first Black Friday was on September 24, 1869 when the gold market crashed. Investor-speculators Jim Fisk and Jay Gould have driven up the price of gold and it came crashing down on a day dubbed ‘Black Friday’.

It wasn’t until nearly 100 years later, in 1950’s Philadelphia, that Black Friday became a shopping holiday. Black Friday marked the day between Thanksgiving and the big army-navy football game in Philadelphia, driving in hoards of visitors (turned mega shoppers).

Other retailers outside of Philadelphia quickly joined the bandwagon, since the Friday after Thanksgiving was a day shops were open and most Americans were taking vacation or calling in sick. Stores began incentivizing consumers with special discounts, freebies, and rewards programs. By 2020, nearly every major retailer participated in Black Friday deals.

Is Black Friday a Holiday?

While many employers give workers the day off, Black Friday is not a federal holiday. Many employees take a day of PTO to use it for traveling, shopping, or visiting with loved ones. (And plenty more wind up “sick”.)

Is Black Friday a Worldwide Thing?

The short answer? Yes.

Although Black Friday started in the United States, many countries have Black Friday. Its popularity has quickly grown because of the upswing it brings to national economies. Countries known for sizable Black Friday sales include Canada, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Great Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Australia, Brazil, Chile, and China.

Black Friday is a relatively new concept internationally. The UK, widely considered a retail superpower, did not start participating in Black Friday until 2010, when Amazon UK first announced their participation in sales. Until 2014, Boxing Day (December 26th the day after Christmas) had been the most popular sales day in Britain. Now it’s Black Friday that reigns supreme.

Does Russia Have Black Friday?

Yes, Russia has Black Friday! The former communist superpower has embraced this capitalist trend. Since the early 2010’s, Russians have celebrated this shopping event. Black Friday popularity grows year over year in Russia. In 2015, one news outlet reported that 90% of consumer polled planned to go shopping on Black Friday.

Just like the United States, Russia’s online and in-store retailers offer special sales and promotions to kick off the holiday shopping season. Everyone wants to claim their piece of the $350 million (or 22.3 billion rubles) pie. In November 2019, Russian online shoppers set a national record for online sales by spending over $270 million within 24 hours.

Is There Black Friday in France?

Like many other countries, France has also embraced the Black Friday trend. It’s proven a boon for French and other European retailers, and serves as the semi-official kickoff to Christmas shopping and the holiday season.

For many French shoppers and French shop owners and retailers, they have seen a way to fight back against retail Goliath Amazon. While the local French retail scene has languished during Covid lockdowns, Amazon’s sales have soared. And of course there are businesses and shoppers critical of both Black Friday and Amazon.

Regardless of Covid delays or modifications to Black Friday, the shopping holiday appears there to stay in France. By 2019, French consumers spent over 416 million euros ($486 million in USD) during Cyber Weekend (Black Friday through Cyber Monday).

When Does Black Friday Start?

Although Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving, many stores have chosen to have Black Friday store hours begin on Thanksgiving Day itself.

This has always been controversial since Thanksgiving Day is a major national holiday. In 2020, many stores famously open on Thanksgiving chose to shutter their doors celebrating concern for employee welfare and public health.

A number of stores were still open Thanksgiving 2020 though, including ACME, Big Lots, Dollar General, Five Below, Macy’s, Michaels, Old Navy, Ulta, Victoria’s Secret, Lily Pulitzer, and Walgreens too (although most Walmart locations are open 365 days a year anyway). For each of these retail chains, not every store location was open and hours could vary by branch. Most of these stores, however, opened to the public around 3pm to 6pm.

In terms of Black Friday deals online, they tend to start at midnight day of Thanksgiving (or 1 second into the day after Turkey Day).

It’s important to note that although Black Friday technically refers to the day after Thanksgiving (and perhaps a little earlier for retailers who jump the gun on Thanksgiving itself), you can get Black Friday deals all season long. Retailers compete mightily to get your business, and they want to be first in line for your wallet.

It’s become a trend in recent years for stores to run early Black Friday promotions, and with Covid on the scene since 2020, that trend only accelerated. To smooth out crowds and offer a safer shopping experience, many large retailers like Target and Walmart opted to have Black Friday deals and sales events throughout the entire month of November and beyond.

For the 2021 shopping season, retailers like Target had early Black Friday promotional sales events in November. Retailers like Target, Best Buy, and Walmart held Black Friday sales events throughout the month of November. At most large retailers, savings kicked off on the first or second Friday of November.

Where Can You Get Early Black Friday Deals?

There are many stores offering early Black Friday deals this year, especially online. One of my absolute favorite sales is Amazon’s Black Friday. Starting November 20^thand running through November 27^th, Amazon’s Black Friday rivals their Prime Day, with lightning deals on electronics, appliances, and toys. The best part? Most orders arrive at your front door in two days with Prime, completely preventing the headache of fighting over deals in person.

Target, Sam’s Club, Costco, Best Buy, Walmart, and Amazon are just a fraction of retailers who have signaled that they will be holding Black Friday sales promotions throughout the month of November 2021, weeks ahead of Thanksgiving.

When’s Black Friday This Year?

Black Friday falls on Friday, November 26^th, this year, though many stores are having pre-Black Friday sales or advertising online deals before the big day.

Last year for example, Walmart had 3 separate Black Friday events in November with their final Black Friday event taking place on the actual Friday after Thanksgiving. This year, Walmart is having 3 Black Friday events again, the first two have already been announced and are set for the first couple weekends of November.

While only the most giant super chains are starting early in November, plenty of other popular retail chains are kicking off sales up to 7 days in advance.

Are Black Friday Sales the Best Prices?

Black Friday deals are so great, they’re almost too good to be true. Many stores reduce item prices anywhere from 50-70%, which are the largest discounts on popular brands customers will see all year.

One of my personal favorite deals from last year was the Amazon Fire Tablet. At $79, I saved over 50%, which meant I could buy two—one for each of my kids. They still use them every day, and I’ve definitely made a return off of them with the quiet time I’ve enjoyed since last December!

Are Black Friday Deals Worth It?

If deal-seeking gives you a thrill, or you like saving money on purchases, then most of the time Black Friday deals are worth it. And for many of, Black Friday shopping is more about the ritual than the actual savings.

Brands that rarely go on sale (i.e. Apple) have good deals for Black Friday, and many items go on sale for 50% to 80% off. Or even more, when you factor in cash back rebates or free store gift cards or other incentives. Cash back rebates mean you’re basically making money online for free for your holiday shopping.

And as any savvy shopper knows, Black Friday prices aren’t always the cheapest price. Toy prices bottom out about a week to week and a half before Christmas, President’s Day can be just as cheaper, or cheaper than Black Friday for name-brand TV sets, and winter clothing and exercise equipment are at their cheapest in January.

Young smiling fashion blogger walking through the shopping mall with mobile phone in her hands and writing to her followers about big sales night started. Blogging, freelance, shopping concept.

Here are the best things to buy on Black Friday when items are marked down at their cheapest:

Video games
Budget laptops
Small kitchen appliances (like Kitchen Aid Mixers)
Pots and pans
Headphones and earbuds
TV sets (along with President’s Day)
Home theater equipment
Tablets and iPads
Tools
Toys (they get cheaper about a week out from Christmas, but inventory is a challenge. If you know what you want and don’t want to take chances on low stock, this is a good time to snag it.)
Home appliances (along with very end of the year)
Gaming consoles, devices, and accessories
Smart watches and wearable technology

Of course you’ll always to want to do your homework in advance to research prices (including price history) ahead of time. Some people claim Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the best time to buy a TV set, others swear by President’s Day.

The key to getting the best bargain is to know what you want and research the cheapest time to pull the trigger.

If you’re looking for, say, the cheapest laptop of any kind just to score a low price on a laptop then Black Friday will be your friend. But if you know that you want a specific make and model and have specification requirements, you’ll need to dig a little deeper.

Doorbuster prices are always amazing, with many of them sold at break-even costs (or even at a loss) to drive foot traffic. You’ll need to decide if the chaos and planning to get that special deal is worth it to you. It may not be when you consider that there are many great webbuster deals too and many retailers offer the same deals online as they do in-store. Of course, some deals may sell out online but not in store and vice versa.

What are the Best Black Friday Deals?

While the Black Friday Ads aren’t officially out yet, retailer analysts are great at predicting what the deals are going to be. In terms of the best Black Friday deals for 2021, you’re going to see a lot of the usual suspects.

TV’s
Laptops
Tablets, Kindles, and iPads
Smart watches and other wearable technology
Smart home devices
Gaming consoles and accessories
Video games
Earbuds and headphones
Speakers and home theater equipment
Kitchenware including small gadgets and appliances
Toys
Clothing

When Are Black Friday Ads Coming Out?

Black Friday Ads are typically released by early November, but we expect many will be available by late October this year. When the deals are announced, we will update them straightaway so make sure to bookmark this page.

Do Small Brands and Boutiques Do Black Friday?

Yes – many smaller more niche brands and boutiques have Black Friday deals too. Some of these more eco-friendly clothing brands, for example, will hold a Black Friday promotion. But brands and stores like Taylor + Max, Rylee + Cru, and Quincy Mae will try to adopt a different approach, holding a more Sustainable Black Friday sale that encourages thoughtful consumption of sustainable brands vs a a shop-til-you drop mindset.

Some local boutiques may choose to host Small Business Saturday sales (a marketing concept introduced by American Express several years ago), and some brands notably choose to go dark on Black Friday – closing the doors of their business and encouraging shoppers to instead spend time with loved ones.

What Are the Best Black Friday 2021 Sales?

There will be stunning deals for Black Friday 2021 sales, with the best deals centered around technology, apparel, toys, kitchenwares, and home entertainment. Based on what we saw last Black Friday, we are expecting some of the same amazing Black Friday sales.

Best Black Friday Sales at Amazon

Up to 80% off adidas hoodies and sneakers
Bose 700 Headphones for $299 (reg. $379)
Up to $50 off Fitbits
Up to $250 off Galaxy S20/Note
Up to 50% off digital movies (Amazon Prime)
$24 and up for 4K streamers
Up to 50% off Samsung EVO Plus SSD
$278 for Sony WH-1000xM4
Get 4% to 20% cash back on your purchase if you shop on Amazon.com through the Swagbucks link.
$10 Free Gift Card (from deals site Swagbucks) with Purchase of $25 or more.

Read more about Amazon Black Friday deals, and how Amazon has helped globalize this American shopping trend.

Best Black Friday Sales for Microsoft

$749 (reg. $900) for Microsoft Surface Laptop Go
Up to $700 off PC’s at The Microsoft Store
$349 and up for Microsoft laptops
$299 and up for Xbox Series S & X
$1 for a $15 Xbox Game Pass
Up to $900 off tablets and PC’s
$250 off Surface Pro 7 w/Type Cover – sale price of $599 (reg. $849)
Get 4% to 20% cash back on your purchase if you shop the Microsoft Store through the Swagbucks link.
$10 Free Gift Card (from deals site Swagbucks) with Purchase of $25 or more.

Read more about Microsoft Black Friday deals.

Best Black Friday Sales at Lenovo

$119 Lenovo IdeaPad 1 (reg. $229+)
$200 off Lenovo IdeaPad 5 14″ Laptop – sale price of $599 (reg. $799)
$400 off Lenovo Yoga C940 4K – sale price of $1,199 (reg. $1,599)
$400 off Lenovo Legion 5 – sales price of $999 (reg. $1,399)
$799 and up ThinkPads
Get 4% to 20% cash back on your purchase if you shop at Lenovo through the Swagbucks link.
$10 Free Gift Card (from deals site Swagbucks) with Purchase of $25 or more.

Read more about Best Buy and Walmart Black Friday deals.

Best Black Friday Sales at HP

Up to 60% off all laptops
$149 for HP Chrombook 14″ (reg. $289)
$559 for HP Envy 15 (reg. $799)
Get 3% to 20% cash back on your purchase if you shop HP through the Swagbucks link.
$10 Free Gift Card (from deals site Swagbucks) with Purchase of $25 or more.

Read more about Best Buy and Walmart Black Friday deals.

Best Black Friday Sales at New Balance

25% off or more sitewide at NewBalance
Get 4% to 20% cash back on your purchase if you shop at New Balance through the Swagbucks link.
$10 Free Gift Card (from deals site Swagbucks) with Purchase of $25 or more.

Best Black Friday Sales at Walmart

$278 and up for monster big-screen TV’s and laptops
$298 for Vizio 50″ 4K QLED TV (reg. $349)
$100 off iPhone SE – sale price of $349 (reg. $349)
$169 for Apple AirPods Pro (reg. $249)
$327 for Samsung 50″ 4K TV (reg. $429+)
$250 off Gateway GWTN 14-1-RG – sale price of $449 (reg. $699+)
$169 for Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 (reg. $229)
$59 for Roku Ultra LT (reg. $70)
$99 for Fitbit Charge 4 (reg. $149)
Get 4% to 20% cash back on your purchase if you shop at Walmart through the Swagbucks link.
$10 Free Gift Card (from deals site Swagbucks) with Purchase of $25 or more.

Read more about Walmart Black Friday deals.

Best Black Friday Sales at Target

$50 for JBL 225 True Wireless Earbuds (save $50)
$175 for Beats Studio3 Wireless Over-Ear Noise Canceling Headphones (save $175)
$1,597 NIKKOR Z 24-50mmm Zoom Lens (save $100+)
$10 Free Gift Card (from deals site Swagbucks) with Purchase of $25 or more
$499 Canon EOS REBEL T7 EF1-85mm + EF 750300mm Double Zoom Kit (save $51)
$1,899 Samsung 50″ Smart 4K HDR TV (save $900)
$480 Samsung 65″ Smart 4K Crystal HDR TV (save $59)
$100 Ninja Kitchen System 7-Speed Blender (save $100)
$140 Cuisinart AirFryer Toaster Oven (save $60)
$48 Kristen Ess 3-in-One Flat Iron 1 1/4″ (save $32)
$60 Kristen Ess Iconic Style Professional Blow Dryer (save $40)
Save big with the latest Target coupons on CouponCause, and the coupon portal will donate a portion of your sale to charities.

Read more about Target Black Friday deals.

Best Black Friday Sales on Apple

$639 for Mac Mini M1
$1,199 for MacBook Pro M1
$169 for AirPods Pro
$200 off MacBook Air – sale price $799 (reg. price $999)
$799 for 12.9″ iPad Pro (reg. $1,149)
$109 for AirPods w/Charging Case
$329 for Apple Watch 6 GPS 40 mm (reg. $399+)
Free $25 gift card for Apple with purchase of AirPods
Free $25 gift card for Apple with purchase of Apple Watch 3
Free $50 gift card for Apple with purchase of iPhone SE, iPhone 11, iPhone XR
Free $50 gift card for Apple with purchase of select Beats headphones
Free $50 gift card for Apple with purchase of Apple TV 4K
Free $100 gift card for Apple with purchase of iPad Pro or iPad Mini
Free $100 gift card for Apple with purchase of of Apple TV 4K, Apple TV HD, or HomePod
Free $150 gift card for Apple with purchase of MacBook Pro or iMac
Get 3% to 20% cash back on your purchase if you shop at Apple through the Swagbucks link.
$10 Free Gift Card (from deals site Swagbucks) with Purchase of $25 or more.

Read more about Amazon and Walmart Black Friday deals.

Best Black Friday Sales at Levi’s

40% off and more on men’s apparel
40% off and more on women’s apparel
Get 4% to 20% cash back on your purchase if you shop at Levi’s through the Swagbucks link.
$10 Free Gift Card (from deals site Swagbucks) with Purchase of $25 or more.

Best Black Friday Sales at Verizon

Free iPhone 12 with Unlimited (when you trade in an iPhone X or higher) – that’s a $799 savings
Get up to $20 cash back on your purchase if you shop at Verizon through the Swagbucks link.
$10 Free Gift Card (from deals site Swagbucks) with Purchase of $25 or more.

Best Black Friday Sales at Best Buy

$79 and up for Smart TV’s
Nintendo Switches in stock
Up to $200 off gaming laptops and gaming monitors
$129 and up for Chromebooks
$899 and up for OLED TV’s
Up to $3,000 off all models of Samsung QLED TV’s
$229 for TCL 50″ 4K Android TV (reg. $349)
$377.99 for Samsung 55″ 4K TV
$899 for Vizio 55″ OLED 4K TV (reg. $1,299)
$500 off Vizio 65″ OLED 4K TV
$79 for Insignia 24″ Fire TV (reg. $149)
$119 for Toshiba 32″ Fire TV (reg. $179)
$279 for Insignia 55″ 4K Fire TV (reg. $429)
$529 for Samsung 70″ 4K TV (reg. $749)
$599 for Hisense 75″ 4K Android TV (reg. $999)
$649 for LG 75″ 4K Smart webOS TV (reg. $849)
$1,000 Off Sony Bravia 65″ OLED TV – sale price $1,799 (reg. $2,799)
Up to $1,000 off LG OLED TV’s
$200 Off MacBook Air
$110 Off Lenovo IdeaPad 1 – sale price $119 (reg. $229)
$149 for HP Chromebook 14″ (reg. $289)
$1,199 for LG Ultra PC (reg. $1,499)
$44.99 for Insignia Compact Microwave (reg. $69)
$100 off Nespresso Essenza – sale price $99 (reg. $199)
$99 for Nina Coffee Maker (reg. $179)
$169 for Ninja Foodi 8-Qt Cooker (reg. $249)
$44 for Echo Show 5 (reg. $89)
$49 for Echo Show 5 w/Blink Cam (reg. $124)
$599 for Pixel 5 (reg. $699)
$34 for Roku Streaming Stick 1080p (reg. $49)
$49 for UE Wunderboom 2 (reg. $99)
$200 off iRobot Roomba i3+ – sale price $399 (reg. $599)
$48 for LEGO Iron Man Helmet (reg. $59)
Get 2% to 20% cash back on your purchase if you shop at Best Buy through the Swagbucks link.
$10 Free Gift Card (from deals site Swagbucks) with Purchase of $25 or more.

Read more about Black Friday Best Buy deals.

Best Black Friday Sales at Chewy

Up to 50% off pet supplies
Get 3% to 20% cash back on your purchase if you shop at Chewy through the Swagbucks link.
$10 Free Gift Card (from deals site Swagbucks) with Purchase of $25 or more.

Best Black Friday Sales at Casper

15% off all mattresses
$506 for Original Twin Mattress (reg. $595)
$931 for Original Queen Mattress (reg. $1,095)
Get 2% to 20% cash back on your purchase if you shop at Casper through the Swagbucks link.
$10 Free Gift Card (from deals site Swagbucks) with Purchase of $25 or more

Best Black Friday Sales at Purple

Up to $500 mattress + bundle
$100 off flagship Purple mattress
$300 off flagship Purple mattress with pillows, sheets, and sleep protector
Get 2% to 20% cash back on your purchase if you shop at Purple through the Swagbucks link.
$10 Free Gift Card (from deals site Swagbucks) with Purchase of $25 or more.

Best Black Friday Sale at DreamCloud

$200 off Luxury Hybrid Mattress w/bundle – sale $599 (reg. $799)
$599 and up for twin mattresses
$899 and up for queen mattresses
Free $299 bundle with purchase of any mattress (bundle includes pillow, mattress protector, and a luxury sheet set).
Get up to $75 to $100 cash back on your purchase if you shop at DreamCloud through the Swagbucks link.
$10 Free Gift Card (from deals site Swagbucks) with Purchase of $25 or more.

Best Black Friday Sale at Nectar

$90 for Nectar duvet queen size (reg. $179)
All duvets, all sizes on Sale
Get 5% to 20% cash back on your purchase if you shop at NECTAR Sleep Mattresses through the Swagbucks link.
$10 Free Gift Card (from deals site Swagbucks) with Purchase of $25 or more.

Best Black Friday Sale at Home Depot

$638 GE Top Freezer Refrigerator (save up to $81)
$674 Maytag High-Efficiency Top Load Washing Machine (save $75)
$448 Amana Top-Loading Washing Machine (save $51)
$358 GE Countertop Microwave (save $41)
$578 LG Electronics Front-Control Built-In Dishwasher (save up to $271)
$399.99 iRobot Roomba i3+ Wifi Robot Vacuum (save $149)
$199.99 Bobsweep PetHair Plus Robotic Vacuum Cleaner and Mob (save $200)
$199 Dyson Slim Ball Animal Upright Vacuum Cleaner (save $150)
$99 Ryobi ONE+ Cordless Airstrike Braid Nailer (save $30)
$249 Makita 18-Volt Circular Saw Kit (save $100)
$599 Milwaukee M18 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Combo Tool Kit (save $500)
$265.99 Husky 4-Foot Wood-Top Workbench (save $114)
$59.99 Magic Chef 9-in-1 6 Quart Electric Multi-Cooker (save $40)
$34.99 Lenovo Smart Clock with Google Assistant (save $43.22)
$169.99 Arlo Pro 3 Wire-Free Security Add-on Camera (save up to $100)
Get 4% to 20% cash back on your purchase if you shop at Home Depot through the Swagbucks link.
$10 Free Gift Card (from deals site Swagbucks) with Purchase of $25 or more

Read more about Black Friday Home Depot deals.

Best Black Friday Sale at Dick’s Sporting Goods

$12.97 Columbia’s Men’s Super Backcast Water Shorts (save up to $22)
$13.97 adidas Women’s Hybrid crop top (save up to $51)
$21.97 Nike Men’s TechKnit Ultra short sleeve running tops (save up to $48)
Up to $90 off Patagonia Women’s down parkas
Up to $4o off North Face Women’s fleece jackets
Up to $55 of Sorel waterproof winter boots
$63.97 Timberland’s men’s waterproof hiking boots (save up to $66)
$199 Bag Boy EZ-Walk Push golf cart (save up to $81)
$179 Ping G400 Fairway Wood (save $90)
$49.99 Top Flite 2020 Gamer Fairway Wood (save $60)
$39.99 Top Flite 2020 Gamer Hybrid Club (save $50)
$549.99 Schwinn 170 Upright Exercise Bike (save $150)
$299.98 Prince Tournament 6800 Indoor Table Tennis (save $300)
$279.99 Nishiki Women’s Tamarack Comfort Bike (save $130)
$99.00 Rollerblade Women’s Zetradable Inline Skates (save $70)

Read more about Dick’s Black Friday deals.

Best Black Friday Sale at Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops

$149.97 Leupold binoculars (save $100+)
$79.97 Heavy-duty food slicer (save $20+)
$399.97 Pro Series 24″ Pellet Grill (save $ 200)
$59.97 Bass Pro Shops Folding Filet Table with faucet and filet knife (save $60+)
$499.97 Humminbird Helix 7 GPS Fishfinder/Chartplotter (save $300)
$10 Cabela’s hoodies (men’s, women’s, and kid’s sizes) – these sell out quickly!
$79.97 Muck Boot Company Camo Chore Boot (save up to $55)
$299.97 Lane Furniture Big Cabin Rocker Recliner (save $200)
Up to $400 off on camping essentials
Up to 10% off gift cards
Up to 25% off Under Armour apparel
$50 off 12V ride-on trucks for kids
$100 Bushnell Range Finder (save $50)
$40 Zero Gravity Lounger (save $40)
Get 4% to 20% cash back on your purchase if you shop at Cabela’s through the Swagbucks link.
$10 Free Gift Card (from deals site Swagbucks) with Purchase of $25 or more.

Best Black Friday Sale at Kohl’s

$101.99 Ninja Professional Plus Kitchen System – blender with bundle (save $117)
$39.49 Faberware Nonstick Cookware set (save $80)
$179.99 +get $50 Kohl’s Cash for Google Nest Hello Video Doorbell (reg. $229.99)
$199.99 +get $70 Kohl’s Cash for Google Nest Learning Thermostat (reg. $249.99)
$199.99 +get $70 Kohl’s Cash for Powerbeats Pro Totally Wireless Earphones (reg. $249.99)
$229.99 +get $70 Kohl’s Cash for Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones (reg. $349.99)
$99.99 +get $35 Kohl’s Cash Voyager Hover Strobe Hoverboard (reg. $199.99)
$124.99 +get $35 Kohl’s Cash Huffy Land Rover 12-Volt SUV Ride-on (reg. $249.99)
$59.99 +get $15 Kohl’s Cash for Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition Tablet (reg. $99.99)
$8 for oversize plush throw blankets
Up to 60% off gaming chairs
Get 4% to 20% cash back on your purchase if you shop at Kohl’s through the Swagbucks link.
$10 Free Gift Card (from deals site Swagbucks) with Purchase of $25 or more.

Read more about Kohl’s Black Friday deals.

Best Black Friday Sale at Lowe’s

$549 Samsung dishwasher (save $100)
$479 Whirpool top-load washing machine (save $120)
$699 Samsung gas range (save $400)
20% off Black & Decker space heaters
$249 for 42″ kitchen island (save $150)
$3,499 for Samsung French-door refrigerator with Family Hub Wifi (save $900)
$79 Craftsman trimmer and blower combo kit (save $50)
$229 Bosh 4-tool 18-volt power tool combo kit (save $100)
$99 DeWalt 20-volt cordless drill (save $60)
$99 Craftsman 20-volt max power tool combo kit (save $50)
$189 Craftsman rolling tool cabinet (save $60)
$129 Little Giant 17′ Leveler aluminum telescoping multi-position ladder (save $55)
$199 Kobalt 4-tool 24-volt max brushless power tool combo kit (save $100)
$18.99 Amazon Echo Dot 3rd gen (save $21)
$19.99 Ring Smart Lighting Brigade (save $30)
$79.99 Black & Decker Spillbuster cordless vacuum (save $20)
Get 4% to 20% cash back on your purchase if you shop at Lowe’s through the Swagbucks link.
$10 Free Gift Card (from deals site Swagbucks) with Purchase of $25 or more.

Read more about Lowe’s Black Friday deals.

Best Black Friday Sale at Macy’s

$10 for Clinique 3-piece fragrance set (save $9.50)
$24.50 for Urban Decay Naked Palette (save $24.50)
$24.75 for Clinique 4-piece moisturizer set (save $24.75)
$29.99 for International Silver Stainless Steel 51 Piece Set (save $50)
$45.59 Cuisinart Color Pro Collection 12-Piece Cutlery Set (save $42)
$50 All-Clad 7.5″ French Skillet (save $50)
$49.99 J.A. Henckels Zwilling Porterhouse Steak 8-piece knife set (save $110)
$69.99 Instant Pot 8-Quart 7-in-1 Multi-Cooker (save $80)
$99.99 Staub Enameled Cast-Iron Round 4-Quart Cocotte for $99.99 (save up to $360)
$249.99 Anolon Advanced Home Hard-Anodized 11-piece nonstick cookware set (save $125)
$279.99 Ninja Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 indoor grill with 4-quart air fryer (save $69)
$79.99 Shark Navigator Light Vacuum (save $187)
$99.99 Tag Vector II 3-piece hardside luggage set (save $240)
$9.99 for 50×70 inch plush throw blankets.
$20.99 Martha Stewart 3-piece and 4-piece sheet sets (save up to $126)
$29.99 Bedding 8-piece sets with comforter included (save $70+)
$77 and up Martha Stewart Collection diamond tufted velvet quilts (save up to $234)
$104.99 and up for Hotel Collection European goose down pillows (save up to $247)
$1.99 and up for holiday ornaments
$7.99 and up for Holiday Lane Shine Bright decor.
$7.99 and up for Holiday Lane stockings.
$9.50 and up for women’s bras (save up to $35)
$9.99 and up for men’s dress shirts
$9.99 and up for men’s plaid flannel shirts
$39.99 Charter Club cashmere sweaters for women (save $119)
$127.50 UGG Arielle Boots (save $42.50)
Get 4% to 20% cash back on your purchase if you shop at Macy’s through the Swagbucks link.
$10 Free Gift Card (from deals site Swagbucks) with a Purchase of $25 or more.

Keep in mind that Macy’s also offers coupons and deals on other brands that can be an even better deal than what you’ll find on the brand’s website, like Vans, Tory Burch, or Birkenstock. Even if a pair of sandals are the same price on Macy’s and Birkenstocks for Black Friday, with the cash back rebates for Macy’s and lower shipping minimums, Macy’s may still be the better deal.

Read more about Macy’s Black Friday deals.

Best Black Friday Sale at Menards

$379 for 30 Gun Fire Safe
$2.99 Alkaline batteries 30-pack
$18.88 for 2-quart air fryers (save $21)
$7.99 each item: 6-piece screwdriver set, 6″ C-clamps with regular tips or swivel pads, 10″ groove joint pliers, 6-piece multi-bit screwdriver set, 12″ adjustable hacksaw, 3-piece folding hex key set.
$9.99 each items: stud finder, 8″ adjustable pliers, 11-3/4″ ExtraCut snip, 2-piece shear and snip set, folding utility knife.
$24.99 Auto-darkening welding helmet
$14.99 Easy-fold clamping workbench.
$39.99 Circular saw kit with extra blades
$59 Oscillating multi-tool kit (with 32-piece accessory set)
$119 Cordless drill and impact driver kit
$109 Rolling 6′ Utility Scaffold (save $110)
$109 Ladder 22′ aluminum multi-position (save $95)
$67.99 Tripod or wall mount utility heater (save $42)
$229.99 Deluxe Pellet Grill (save $130)
$49.99 Electric 10-Amp 12″ Snow Shovel

Read more about Menards Black Friday deals.

Best Black Friday Sale at Costco

$319.88 Body Glove stand-up inflatable paddleboard (save $80)
$399.99 Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15.6″ touch laptop (save $150)
Save $2,000 on Osaki Pro Maestro massage chair – $4,999 sale price (reg . $6,999)
$399.99 Dyson V11 Animal+ cordless stick vacuum (save $180)
$69.99 NutriBullet blender combo (save $30)
$199.99 Vizio 40″ TV
Get cash back on your purchase if you shop at Costco through the Swagbucks link.

Read more about Costco Black Friday deals.

Best Black Friday Sale at Hulu

$1.99 a month for a 1-year Hulu subscription
$7.82 a month for a 1-year Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ bundle subscription (save $62.04)
Get up to $12.50 cash back when you purchase your Hulu subscription through the Swagbucks link.

Read more about Hulu Black Friday deals.

Best Black Friday Sale at Ulta

$10 Benefit Cosmetic Roller Lash Curling & Lifting Mascara (save $15)
$96.75 Beachwaver S1-Dual Voltage Rotating Curling Iron (save $32)
$33.75 Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum (save $12)
$12 Kylie Cosmetics The Blue Honey Palette Kyshadow for 71% off (save $30)
$29.75 IT Cosmetics No-Crease CC+ cream with SPF 50+ (save $13)
$99.99 T3 Featherweight compact folding hair dryer with dual voltage (save $50)
$10 Tarte Maneater Mascara (save $13)
$10 Stilla Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick (save $12)
$62.30 Foreo Luna fofo cleanser(save $27)
$160 Bio Ionic 10X Pro Straightening & Styling Iron (save $70)
Get 4% to 20% cash back on your purchase if you shop at Ulta through the Swagbucks link.
$10 Free Gift Card (from deals site Swagbucks) with Purchase of $25 or more.

Read more about Ulta Black Friday deals.

Best Black Friday Sale at Sam’s Club

$338.98 Nintendo Switch bundle
$219.98 Dyson V7 Animal Extra Stick Vacuum (save $100)
Up to 30% off Extreme Value Gift Cards (Subway, Starbucks, Burger King, Wendy’s)
$189.98 KitchenAid 4.5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer(save $40)
$199.98 Roomba 692 (save $100)
$79.98 Member’s Mark play kitchen (save $20)
$99.98 KidKraft Mia’s Pet Loft Dollhouse (save $50)
$279.98 Pre-Lit Bristle Fir 9′ Christmas Tree
$449 Tufted reversible sectional Ashbury (save $300)
$139.98 Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Oven (save $40)
$59.98 Oral-B 1500 or Sonicare Protective Clean Power (save $40)
$89.98 Fitbit Charger 4 Fitness Tracker (save $50)
$139.88 Bose Solo Soundbar Series II (save $40)
$19.98 Donut dog beds (save $25)
$429 De’Longhi Magnifica Espresso Machine (save $100)
$199 Arlo Essential 2-camera pack with solar panel bundle (save $60)
Get 4% to 20% cash back on your purchase if you shop at Sam’s Club through the Swagbucks link.
$10 Free Gift Card (from deals site Swagbucks) with Purchase of $25 or more.

Read more about Sam’s Club Black Friday deals.

Best Black Friday Sales at Bed Bath & Beyond

$15.99 Wamsutta 525-Thread count PimaCott wrinkle-resistant flat sheet (save $12)
$29 Google Nest Mini 2nd gen with Google Assistant (save $20)
$39.99 UGG Classic sherpa throw blanket (save $10)
$39.99 Waterpik Nano Water Flosser (save $10)
$39.99 Artisan kitchen stainless-steel 6-piece roaster set (save $10)
$39.99 Dash Express 2.6 Quart Air Fryer (save $10)
$99.99 Staub 4-Quart round cocotte (save $200)
$99.99 Ninja Foodi Power Duo Smoothie Bowl Maker and Personal Blender (save $20)
$153.99 Nespresso Vertuo Next Premium Coffee & Expresso Maker (save $66)
$199.99 Shark Navigator self-cleaning brushroll pet upright vacuum (save $50)
$249.99 iRoomba e5 Wifi Robot Vacuum (save $100)
$319.99 Breville Smart Oven air convection toaster oven (save $80)
$374.99 Dyson Pure Hot+Cool Air Purifier (save $135)
Get 4% to 20% cash back on your purchase if you shop at Bed Bath and Beyond through the Swagbucks link.
$10 Free Gift Card (from deals site Swagbucks) with Purchase of $25 or more.

Read more about Bed Bath & Beyond Black Friday deals.

Best Black Friday Sales at GameStop

$36.99 WatchDogs Legion Xbox and PlayStation (save $24)
$29.99 PlayStation 4 Final Fantasy VII Remake (save $30)
$59.99 PlayStation Plus 12-Month Subscription
$24.99 Madden 21 for Xbox (save $25)
$299.99 Nintendo Switch with Neon Joy-Con and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe System Bundle (save $60)
$29.99 Pokemon Let’s Go! Pikachu for Nintendo Switch (save $20)
$34.99 Razer Kraken X Wired Gaming Headset (save $15)
Get 4% to 20% cash back on your purchase if you shop at GameStop through the Swagbucks link.
$10 Free Gift Card (from deals site Swagbucks) with Purchase of $25 or more.

Shopping Hours: When Are Target, Walmart, Kohl’s, Dick’s, and Best Buy Black Friday Hours?

All of these stores, Target, Walmart, Kohl’s, Best Buy, and Dick’s Sporting Goods, will be closed on Thanksgiving Day.

Here are Black Friday (day after Thanksgiving) hours for these retailers.

Target Black Friday Hours: 7am – 11pm*
Walmart Black Friday Hours: 5am – 11pm*
Kohl’s Black Friday Hours: 5am – 11pm*
Best Buy Black Friday Hours: 5am – 10 pm
Dick’s Sporting Goods Black Friday Hours: 5am – 11pm*

Store Hours for Other Retailers on Black Friday

Lowe’s: 6am – 11pm
JCPenney: 5am – 11:59pm*
Macy’s: 5am – 11pm
GameStop: 7am – 10pm
Home Depot: 6am – 11pm*
Costco: 9am – 9pm*
World Market: 7am – 11pm*
JoAnn Fabrics: 6am – 10pm*
Ashley HomeStore: 7am-10pm
IKEA: 10am – 9pm
Boscov’s: 6am – 10pm
Bealls: 8am – 10pm*
Fred Meyer: 5am – 10pm*
Micro Center: 9am – 10pm*
Dillard’s: 9am – 8pm
Ulta: 6am – 10pm
Office Depot & Office Max: 9am – 10pm
Petco: 8am – 9pm
Build-A-Bear: 7am – 10pm
Cabela’s: 5am – 11pm* (This retailer is also open on Thanksgiving at 8 am.)
Old Navy: 12am Midnight – 11pm
Dollar General: 7am – 5pm (This retailer is also open on Thanksgiving 7am – 5pm.)
Five Below: 8am – 10pm
Academy Sports +: 5am – 11pm
Sears: 6am – 9pm
Dick’s Sporting Goods: 5am – 11pm
Staples: 9am – 10pm*
Tractor Supply Company: 8am – 10pm*
BJ’s Wholesale: 9am – 10pm
Fleet Farm: 5am – 9pm
Menards: 6am – 9pm*
Bed Bath & Beyond: 6am – 10pm*
Belk: 7am – 9pm*
PetSmart: 7am – 9pm
RadioShack: 8am – 9pm*
Big Lots: 6am – 10pm*
Guitar Center: 6am – 9pm*
Bass Pro Shops: 5am – 11pm*
Nordstrom: 9am – 10pm*

*Closing hours not yet confirmed. Once Black Friday ads are dropped, we will update store closing hours. Bookmark this page and check back.

What Stores Have the Best Black Friday Deals?

The stores that have the best Black Friday deals tend to be the typical lineup year over year.

Stores with the Best Black Friday Deals

Based on what these retailers featured for Black Friday last year, we expect these stores will have the best Black Friday deals for 2021 and that the deals will be equally sweet.

What’s the Difference Between Black Friday and Cyber Monday?

Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving and traditionally viewed as an unofficial, in-store shopping holiday. Cyber Monday, by contrast, is the Monday after Thanksgiving and has been considered an online shopping event.

The term itself of Cyber Monday did not come into usage until the 2005 November and December holiday season. U.S. retailer analysts noted a surge in online shopping activity during business hours the following Monday after Thanksgiving.

But really, retailers (and most shoppers) treat the four-days following Thanksgiving, Friday through Monday, as one long Black Friday weekend or even Cyber weekend. Some retailers may deals specifically available only on Monday (starting at 12:01 am), but others may blend the Cyber Monday and Black Friday deals together.

Most Popular Gifts this Holiday Season

Year after year, the holiday season’s gifts seem to be the same perennial favorites: technology, tools, toys, apparel, and kitchen wares.

We’ve got the lowdown on how you score the best best Black Friday prices for the season’s most popular gifts:

What Other Stores Have the Best Deals on Black Friday?

Other retailers and hot deals you should hit up during the holiday season include:

Nintendo Switch Black Friday Deals

Great Deals at Lululemon: Black Friday and Beyond

Bed Bath and Beyond Black Friday

Old Navy Black Friday Deals

Academy Black Friday

Staples Black Friday

Dick's Sporting Goods Black Friday Deals

Cricut Black Friday Deals

All About Black Friday; How to Get This Year’s Best Black Friday Deals