Is Black Friday Worth It? Here's How You're Doing It Wrong in 2025

Is Black Friday Worth It?

You can find sales throughout the year, so do you need to shop on Black Friday, too? Even if you've snagged some great deals already in 2025, we say Black Friday offers are definitely worth watching.

Black Friday is worth shopping, but not every deal is a good one. Just because an item is on sale doesn't mean it's at the lowest price.

Black Friday season can start at the beginning of November, if not sooner. And the sales following Cyber Monday make the season stretch into early December. During that time, you can get great deals across practically all categories, including on items that rarely see discounts. Apple Black Friday deals here are a prime example, as we've seen amazing deals on their MacBook M3s and M4s, AirPod 3, 4, and Max models and multiple iPad models.

But not every deal that shows up during November is a good deal. Black Friday can be worth it for significant discounts on high-ticket items like electronics and furniture, but only if you are a strategic shopper who is prepared to do research and avoid impulse buys. While it offers deep discounts and a head start on holiday shopping, it's also important to be aware of psychological tactics used to pressure you into buying and to verify that you are getting a good deal, rather than simply buying something you don't need on sale.

Top Black Friday Sales for 22025

Amazon Black Friday Sale 2025

Live Now

Amazon's Black Friday Sale is now live. You'll find deals spread across every major category including home, garden, apparel, toys, electronics, and more. There's also savings to be found in Amazon's Outlet, Resale, and Renewed sections, as well as a regularly-updated rotation of limited lightning deals. The main sale will also be updated daily with fresh deals.

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Best Buy Black Friday Sale 2025

Up to 60% off

The Best Buy Black Friday Sale is now live with deals and doorbusters live across the store, marked up to 60% off. You can expect to save as much as 50% on OLED TVs, up to $600 on laptops and desktops, shop iPads as low as $299, and Mac computers from just $479. My Best Buy members get free shipping on all orders, too (it's free to join).Plus and Total members get a $5 bonus reward for every $50 spent on the store's doorbusters.

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Target Early Black Friday Deals

Up to 60% off

A selection of Target Black Friday deals are already live at Target, including a video game sale where titles are discounted by up to 60%. You can also save up to 50% off on headphones, up to $150 on Apple devices, and up to $150 on the Oura Ring 4. Orders over $35 ship for free, too.Target price protection is now live, too, so if you purchase an item in store or online and the price goes lower at Target on or before December 24, you can request a price adjustment. Proof of purchase is required and some exclusions apply.

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Walmart Black Friday Sale

Up to 50% off

Walmart+ members can shop the Walmart Black Friday sale early on November 24 at 7pm ET. Then, at midnight, everyone will be able to shop deals from the Walmart Black Friday sale. You can scan the page to find what to expect like up to 50% off on tech, 30% off bikes, 30% off LEGO, and more.

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Wayfair Black Friday Sale 2025

Up to 80% off

The Wayfair Black Friday Sale is now live with discounts as high as 80% across the store. There are some great deals on sofas and beds, which are marked at up to 60% off, Christmas trees and decor that are up to 45% off, and mattresses that have dropped by as much as $400. You can find a new selection of offers each day in this Black Friday daily deals section, too. Nearly everything ships for free, too.

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Lowe's Early Black Friday Deals

Up to 75% off

The Lowe's Early Black Friday sale is live with deals on appliances, tools, holiday decor, storage, kitchen, and more. We found the biggest discounts on seasonal decor, but you'll great discounts on top brands like DeWalt, Craftsman, Kobalt, Kohler, and more. Shipping is free on orders of $35 or more and many items will be eligible for in-store pickup.

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Home Depot Black Friday Sale 2025

Up to 50% off + Free Tools

The Home Depot Black Friday Sale is now live with big discounts on appliances, tools, furniture, and hardware across the store. Lots of power tools come with free batteries or other tools, too. There are also buy more, save more discounts on some major appliances. Most of the items across the store ship for free if your order totals $35 or more.

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When Is Black Friday 2025?

Black Friday 2025 is on Friday, November 28, 2025, which is the day after Thanksgiving. While the official day is November 28, many retailers have extended their sales to start earlier in November or even late October. That said, don't sleep on extended sales! Many Black Friday sales events begin weeks before the official date, with some starting as early as November 17th or 20th.

Cyber Monday will be on Monday, December 1, 2025.

10 Ways You're Doing Black Friday Wrong

1. You're Not Making a Plan

Thousands of sales happen during Black Friday season, and the most important thing you can do to get great deals on Black Friday is make a plan in advance. If the store dazzles you with its online or in-person promotional signs, you're likely to jump on sales that aren't very good and overspend as a result.

How much planning you do is up to you, but you should start well before Black Friday. October may have been ideal, as that's when the first sales have been kicking off in recent years. But if you couldn't bring yourself to tackle this task before Halloween, don't worry. The next best time is early November!

Set a budget for yourself so you know how much you have to spend, and make a shopping list. If you're feeling more industrious, you can take a look at current prices and start reviewing sale circulars as soon as they show up. Then when sales roll in, you can more easily pay attention to the deals you want without getting distracted by other offers.

2. You're Assuming All Sales Are Good Sales

A sale could mean a product is $5 off or $500 off. You'll want to pay attention to whether you're getting a tiny discount or huge savings instead of assuming everything is a bargain. Many sites list a percent discount on sale prices, but even these can be deceptive. They may list the discount off the manufacturer's suggested retail price, and some products commonly sell for less than the MSRP. That means you may run into sales that look more impressive than they are.

Avoid impulse buying because a store lists an item as on sale. Check the price to be sure it's a good deal.

3. You're Waiting for Black Friday to Start Shopping

You can't wait until Black Friday to start shopping anymore, as the first Black Friday deals begin cropping up in October. The early sales may not be the best ones of the holiday shopping season. But if you don't check, you won't know if there's a must-buy bargain.

Keep your shopping plans in mind, but do look at the early deals to see if there are sales on items you want.

When Waiting Pays Off: Categories to Delay for Bigger Savings

While Black Friday offers some of the year's best deals, not every product category reaches its lowest price during this event. In fact, certain items often see even deeper discounts if you wait until after Black Friday or closer to the end of the holiday season. Here's when patience can pay off:

• Toys: Although toys are heavily promoted on Black Friday, prices frequently drop further as the holidays approach and retailers look to clear out inventory. If you can hold off, you may find toys discounted by 10% to 50% after Christmas, making post-holiday sales a smart time to buy.
• Fitness Equipment: Big-ticket fitness gear such as Garmin smartwatches, treadmills and stationary bikes, typically sees the best deals in January and February, when New Year's resolutions drive demand. If you're not in a rush, waiting until after the holidays could save you significantly.
• Seasonal Decor and Apparel: Holiday-themed items and winter apparel often get marked down steeply in the weeks after Black Friday as stores make room for new inventory, which we're seeing from top retailers like Abercrombie and Hollister and broader retailers such as Nordstrom, which offers a wide variety of apparel from several major brands, home decor items, and more.

By knowing when to wait, you can avoid overpaying and make your holiday budget stretch further. If you're eyeing items in these categories, consider tracking prices and setting alerts so you're ready to pounce when the biggest discounts hit.

4. You're Ignoring or Counting on Doorbusters

Online or in-person, doorbuster deals are usually fantastic offers with a very limited quantity. To get them, you'll want to pay attention to what time sales start and be in the right place. For brick-and-mortar retailers who are only offering these deals in-store, you'll want to get in line if there's a doorbuster you really want. For online retailers, you'll want to be sitting online ready to click buy at the right moment. Retailers tend to advertise these sales well in advance, so you'll know to be ready.

At the same time, counting on doorbuster deals to make your holiday shopping budget work can also be a mistake. Doorbuster promotions are great, but their limited quantities means there's no guarantee you'll get them. You shouldn't expect to get them either, no matter how prepared for Black Friday you are. Don't make a doorbuster your only holiday gift solution. And if you don't happen to get what you want, resist the temptation to buy lesser deals just because they're there.

5. You're Skipping Cyber Monday

Just as Black Friday sales start early, the season of savings runs late. Cyber Monday and the week that follows continue the offers with a focus on online deals. The sales on and around Cyber Monday can be as good as — or better than — those on Black Friday.

That means you shouldn't feel pressured to buy on Black Friday if you don't find the deal you want. More sales are coming! Be sure to keep your eyes open during the week after Black Friday, as well.

6. You're Not Paying Attention to Gift Cards, Store Credits, and Rebates

Some of the best deals we see during Black Friday season feature reasonably low prices that come bundled with gift cards or other discounts. Sure, the base price won't always be the best. But if you'll use the gift card or store credit, that can make these offers the best bargains you'll get. (Read more about the best Black Friday gift card deals in 2025 here!) Some items may also have rebates you won't get immediately, but will add up to a great sale in the end.

The caveat with these deals is you have to be sure you'll spend your gift cards, use your discounts, or redeem those rebates. If you buy a bundle with a gift card and let the gift card expire, you won't get a very good deal in the end.

7. You're Not Checking Brands

If you're shopping for a new TV this holiday season, know there's a big difference between buying a top-of-the-line LG and a budget-friendly Hisense. Some deals — particularly doorbusters — may not advertise brand details beforehand. That means the great Black Friday flight deal you hope to buy may not be as great as it looks at first glance.

Even if you don't particularly care about the brand of product you're buying, it has a large impact on price. And if you wind up buying budget, you may not be getting as good of a deal as you think you are. You could wind up with a product that isn't exactly what you want or one that doesn't even last a year. The result is you're shopping for the same item again next Black Friday!

8. You're Making Impulse Purchases

Black Friday's flashy deals and limited-time offers can make it easy to fall into the trap of impulse buying. While it's tempting to grab items just because they're on sale, these unplanned purchases can quickly derail your budget and lead to buyer's remorse. Here are practical strategies to help you stay disciplined and make thoughtful decisions:

• Set a Mandatory Cooling-Off Period: Before making any unplanned purchase—especially on big-ticket items—commit to waiting at least 24 hours. This pause gives you time to consider if the item is truly necessary or just an impulse.
• Use Budgeting Apps: Leverage free apps that help you set spending limits and track your purchases in real time. Some apps even send alerts when you're approaching your budget, making it easier to stick to your financial goals.
• Make and Stick to a Shopping List: Create a detailed list of what you actually need before browsing sales. If something isn't on your list, resist the urge to add it to your cart, no matter how good the deal seems.
• Track Prices Beforehand: Use price tracking tools to research historical prices. This helps you recognize genuine deals and avoid being swayed by inflated discounts that aren't truly bargains.
• Avoid Shopping When Emotional: Shopping while stressed, tired, or excited can lead to poor decisions. Try to shop with a clear, focused mindset.

9. You're Expecting Price Matching, Free Shipping, or Other Extras

Beyond low prices, the extras you're likely to find are a mixed bag. Even stores that typically do price matching tend to have limitations during Black Friday season and may suspend the policy during that time altogether. Other stores won't price match online deals or will only price match certain retailers, and you can't expect any retailer to be willing to price match a sold-out doorbuster deal.

Read the fine print! Then you'll know if you're getting a gift card, instant credit, or rebate you'll need to redeem after the fact to capture the advertised savings.

If you're counting on price matching for savings, be sure to review the store's price matching policy and be prepared with the information you need to get the lower price.

Free shipping is another extra that we often take for granted, but it's not a given. Companies like Amazon and Walmart expect you to subscribe to their shopping services to get free shipping. And other retailers may only offer free shipping with a high minimum purchase — if at all. In fact, many retailers have been raising the minimum-order threshold for getting free delivery. Basically, don't build an online shopping budget expecting free shipping from all retailers.

But there are still some ways to save money on shipping. If you're buying online from a brick-and-mortar retailer, curbside and in-store pickup options are typically fast and free. And if you're buying at Amazon or Walmart and don't subscribe to Amazon Prime or Walmart+, know that both programs offer a 30-day free trial you could use to help with holiday shopping.

10. You're Expecting the Same Low Prices From Previous Years

Last year we saw continuing issues with inflation, and prices are still higher now than they were a year ago. Even without considering that, though, manufacturers reported plans to raise prices. And that could include Black Friday.

While we hope to see great bargains this year, prepare for the fact that you may not see prices quite as low as before. But even with this uncertainty, Black Friday is still worth it. For households still feeling the pinch of inflation and higher prices in general, Black Friday deals will likely offer some much-needed respite in the form of the best savings of the year. And that can make all the difference in holiday shopping.

Related DealNews Blog Posts:

• Peacock TV has exclusive movies and shows, live sporting events including NFL games, and Black Friday deals make it even better. Check out the details of the best deals offered this Black Friday season and stream your favorites at a discount.
• Black Friday is on the way and plenty of deals will be popping up, including on streaming services such as Hulu, which offered 90% off in 2024. This year we expect similar savings, so keep an eye out!
• As the holiday season approaches, many streaming enthusiasts anticipate the Black Friday deals offered by platforms like Paramount Plus. This guide will help you navigate the best Paramount Plus Black Friday savings in 2025 and maximize your savings.