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Updated November 13, 2026.
Black Friday 2026 is November 27, but the sales started weeks ago. Lowe’s kicked off its Black Friday deals on October 29, Costco on October 30, Target on November 1, Best Buy on November 6, Amazon on November 10 and Walmart on November 12. Many of these early prices are as good as the ones you’ll see on the day itself, and some popular items won’t last that long.
This guide covers which stores are on sale right now, what’s coming in the next two weeks, how each store’s early sale works, and, most importantly, whether you should buy each kind of product now or wait.
Early Black Friday sales live now
| Store | What’s running | Until |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | Early Black Friday deals | Black Friday Week starts Nov 19 |
| Best Buy | Early Black Friday deals and doorbusters | Main sale starts Nov 19 |
| Walmart | Early Black Friday Deals event | Ends Nov 15 |
| Target | New daily deals, early Black Friday sale | Daily deals through Dec 24 |
| Home Depot | Tool deals and savings event | Runs to Nov 25, then doorbusters |
| Lowe’s | Black Friday deals and 12 Days of Deals | Through Thanksgiving week |
| Costco | Early holiday sale | Ends Nov 15; Holiday Savings Nov 16–30 |
| Dell | Holiday Sale, new deals weekly | Ongoing |
Coming in the next two weeks
| Date | What starts |
|---|---|
| Nov 15 | Sam’s Club “Countdown to Black Friday” (to Nov 25) |
| Nov 16 | Costco Holiday Savings; Lowe’s 12 Days of Deals |
| Nov 19 | Amazon Black Friday Week; Best Buy Black Friday sale |
| Nov 22 | Kohl’s Black Friday Week ($15 Kohl’s Cash per $50) |
| Nov 23 | Walmart Black Friday Deals (Walmart+ early access; everyone Nov 24) |
| Nov 26 | Home Depot appliance deals; Kohl’s online doorbusters (12:01 a.m. CT) |
| Nov 27 | Black Friday: in-store doorbusters at most stores |
How each store’s early sale works
Amazon
Amazon’s early Black Friday deals went live on November 10, ahead of its main Black Friday Week, which starts at 12:01 a.m. PST on November 19 and runs through Cyber Monday, November 30. Amazon drops new deals every day during the event, with extra drops at midnight and 8 a.m. PST on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Most deals are open to everyone; some are limited to Prime members.
The early window is a good time to set up for the main event. Save items to a Wish List and Amazon can alert you when the price drops, and many product pages now show up to a year of price history, so you can see whether today’s price is really a deal. Amazon doesn’t adjust prices after you buy, so if something isn’t at its low yet, it’s worth waiting until November 19.
Best Buy
Best Buy has been running early Black Friday deals and doorbusters since November 6, ahead of its main Black Friday sale from November 19 to 28. Its Cyber Sunday and Cyber Monday deals follow on November 29–30.
The big advantage of buying early at Best Buy is that it will match its own lower price if it drops during your return period, so buying a laptop or pair of headphones now carries little risk. The catch: Best Buy reportedly pauses competitor price matching from November 19 to 30, and limited-quantity doorbusters may not qualify for its own price adjustments. Most items bought from October 30 through December 31 can be returned until January 15, 2027.
Walmart
Walmart’s Early Black Friday Deals event runs November 12–15. Walmart+ members got first access at 12:01 a.m. ET on November 12, with everyone else joining on November 13. The main Black Friday Deals event starts online on November 23 for Walmart+ members and November 24 for everyone, with in-store deals from November 27 at 6 a.m.
Walmart doesn’t adjust online prices after you buy, and it doesn’t match competitors. So with Walmart, timing matters more: if an item on your list isn’t at a great price in the early event, it may well drop again on November 23. Our guide to Walmart+ early access explains whether a membership is worth it for the main event.
Target
Target has been releasing new daily deals since November 1, and they’ll continue through December 24, with an early Black Friday sale that started November 5 and bigger drops expected in Black Friday week. Many of Target’s best offers are Target Circle deals you add to your account in the app, so join the free program first.
Target stopped matching competitors’ prices in July 2025, but it still matches its own lower price within 14 days of purchase. That makes buying early at Target fairly safe, as long as you keep an eye on the price for two weeks.
Home Depot
Home Depot’s tool deals started November 5, alongside a savings event that runs through November 25. Appliance deals start November 26, doorbusters arrive on November 27, and the sale runs through December 2.
Home Depot offers a 30-day price adjustment if its own price drops, which makes early tool and decor purchases low-risk. It does exclude Black Friday sales from competitor price matching, so don’t expect it to match another store’s doorbuster.
Lowe’s
Lowe’s started four weeks of Black Friday deals on October 29, then its 12 Days of Deals on November 16. Its biggest savings arrive in Thanksgiving week, and Black Friday Doorbusters go live for everyone on November 27, a day after MyLowe’s Rewards members get early online access. Like Home Depot, Lowe’s offers a 30-day price adjustment on its own price drops.
Costco
Costco’s early holiday sale ran from October 30 to November 15, followed by Holiday Savings from November 16 to 30 and a short Black Friday sale from November 27 to 30. Costco will refund the difference if its own price drops within 30 days, as long as the lower price is in the same channel (warehouse or online). That makes buying early at Costco one of the safest bets of the season.
Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club’s Countdown to Black Friday runs November 15–25, followed by its Black Friday event from November 26 to 29. You need a membership to shop in clubs; Plus members, whose membership now includes Walmart+, get an early shopping hour on Black Friday.
Kohl’s
Kohl’s ran Black Friday Early Access November 6–8. Its Black Friday Week runs November 22–28, with $15 in Kohl’s Cash for every $50 spent. If you’re shopping Kohl’s, it’s usually worth waiting for Black Friday Week so you earn Kohl’s Cash on top of the sale price.
Dell
Dell’s Holiday Sale is already live, with up to $700 off PCs, monitors and gaming systems and new deals added every week. The deepest laptop prices often arrive on Cyber Monday, but if a configuration you want is already at a strong price, there’s little reason to wait.
Buy now or wait? Category by category
TVs: usually wait
TVs traditionally see their deepest discounts in Black Friday week, especially on big screens and budget brands. Unless a TV is already at its lowest price on our price history, or you’re buying at Costco, Home Depot or Best Buy where a price drop can be refunded, it’s usually worth waiting until around November 19–27. Check the model number carefully: some Black Friday TVs are versions made for the sale. See our TV deals.
Laptops: buy early if the price is right
Laptop deals are strong now and get another push on Cyber Monday. If a laptop you want is at a genuinely low price at Best Buy, buy it and rely on Best Buy’s own price adjustment. For configurable models from Dell, Lenovo and HP, Cyber Monday is often worth waiting for. See our laptop deals.
Headphones and Apple: watch from November 19
AirPods, Beats, Sony and Bose headphones and iPads usually hit their lows when Amazon’s and Best Buy’s main sales start on November 19, and hold those prices through Cyber Monday. If you see a strong price now, it may be matched or beaten next week. See our headphone and Apple deals.
Toys: buy early
The most popular toys can sell out by early December, and prices on top toys rarely drop much once stock runs low. If you know what a child wants, buy it now at a fair price. See our toy deals.
Kitchen appliances and vacuums: buy when you see a low
Air fryers, stand mixers, coffee makers and vacuums are discounted early and often, with many prices unchanged from mid-November to Cyber Monday. Kohl’s adds Kohl’s Cash from November 22, which can make it the cheapest option. See kitchen appliance and vacuum deals.
Major appliances: wait for Black Friday week, buy with protection
Home Depot’s appliance deals start November 26, and Lowe’s biggest savings arrive in Thanksgiving week. Both offer 30-day price adjustments, so if you need to buy sooner, you’re protected. See appliance deals.
Clothing and shoes: wait
Fashion deals tend to get better through the weekend, with sitewide codes common on Cyber Monday.
Holiday decor: buy early
Popular artificial trees, lights and inflatables can sell out by early December. If you want a specific style, buy it now. See home decor deals.
Stores that protect you if prices drop
| Store | If its own price drops after you buy |
|---|---|
| Costco | Refunds the difference within 30 days (same channel) |
| Home Depot | Price adjustment within 30 days |
| Lowe’s | Price adjustment within 30 days |
| Target | Matches its own lower price within 14 days |
| Best Buy | Matches its own lower price during the return period |
| Amazon, Walmart.com | No price adjustment after purchase |
Policies have exclusions, especially for doorbusters and limited-quantity items. See our full Black Friday price match guide.
Membership perks during the early sales
Several stores give members first access or extra savings in the run-up to Black Friday. Here’s what’s worth knowing before the main sales start.
Free programs (always worth joining)
- Target Circle: free. Many of Target’s daily and Black Friday deals are Circle offers you add in the app. Target Circle Card holders also get 5% off most purchases, on top of sale prices.
- MyLowe’s Rewards: free. Members get Black Friday Doorbusters online a day early and free same-day delivery on eligible orders of $25 or more placed by 2 p.m.
- Kohl’s Rewards: free. It stacks with Kohl’s Cash and coupons during Black Friday Week.
- Dell Rewards: free. Members earn rewards on Dell purchases (not on Outlet orders).
Paid memberships (worth it only if you’ll use them)
- Walmart+ ($98 a year or $12.95 a month): 24-hour early access to Walmart’s hottest deal drops, starting at 12:01 a.m. ET on November 23 for the main event. A single month can be worth it for one hard-to-get item. See Walmart+ early access.
- Walmart+ with Sam’s Club Plus ($120 a year): both memberships for the price of Sam’s Club Plus alone, including Sam’s Club’s member shopping hour. See our bundle guide.
- Costco Executive ($130 a year): last year Executive members could shop an hour early on Black Friday, and they earn 2% back on most purchases.
- Amazon Prime: most Amazon Black Friday deals are open to everyone, but some offers are Prime-only, and Prime’s faster shipping helps closer to Christmas.
How to track prices before Black Friday
Early deals only help if you can tell a real discount from a relabeled regular price. A few habits make this easy:
- Start now. Check the prices of the things on your list today, so you have a baseline when the main sales start.
- Use price history. Our deal pages show a “Lowest in 30 days” badge when a price beats anything we’ve tracked in the last month. Amazon also shows up to a year of price history on many product pages.
- Set alerts. Save items to an Amazon Wish List to get deal alerts, and use the “watch” option on our deal pages.
- Compare the exact model. Copy the full model number and search it at two or three stores. Prices are often matched within hours during Black Friday week.
- Note the adjustment windows. If you buy early at Costco, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Target or Best Buy, add a calendar reminder to check the price again before the window closes.
Early-deal traps to avoid
- “Black Friday price” labels on regular prices. Some early “deals” are simply the normal price with a new badge. The price history will tell you.
- Inflated “was” prices. A big percentage off a price the item rarely sold at isn’t a real saving. Read how to spot fake Black Friday discounts.
- Last year’s model at this year’s price. Older models can be great value, but only if they’re clearly cheaper than the current version.
- Marketplace sellers. On Amazon and Walmart, check whether the store itself or a third-party seller is selling the item. Returns and warranties can differ.
- Stores without price protection. At Amazon and Walmart.com, you can’t get the difference back if the price drops, so be more patient there.
- Non-returnable items. Clearance, open-box and some final-sale items can’t be returned. Check before you buy early.
How to shop early Black Friday deals well
- Make a list with target prices. Know what you need and the price you’d be happy to pay.
- Check the price history, not the “was” price. Our “Lowest in 30 days” badge flags real lows.
- Prefer stores with price adjustments for early buys: Costco, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Target and Best Buy.
- Set alerts. Amazon’s Wish List alerts and our deal pages help you catch drops.
- Keep receipts and note each store’s adjustment window in your calendar.
- Don’t buy just because it says “Black Friday”. A label isn’t a discount. Read how to spot fake Black Friday discounts.
Early deals vs. the day itself: the bottom line
Black Friday has become a month-long event, and for most categories, the early prices are as good as they’ll get. Waiting still makes sense for big-screen TVs, Kohl’s (for the Kohl’s Cash) and clothing, but for toys, decor, Apple products and kitchen gadgets, a genuinely low price now is usually the one to take. Buying from stores that refund price drops takes most of the risk out of shopping early.
See everything that’s live now on our Black Friday deals page, check when each store’s main sale starts, or browse by store and category.
FAQ
Have Black Friday 2026 sales started?
Yes. Lowe’s started Black Friday deals October 29, Costco October 30, Target’s daily deals November 1, Best Buy’s early deals November 6, Amazon’s November 10 and Walmart’s early event November 12.
Are early Black Friday deals as good as Black Friday?
Often, yes. Many early prices match what stores charge on Black Friday itself. A few doorbusters are saved for the day, especially big-screen TVs and in-store specials, so check the price history before deciding.
What if the price drops after I buy early?
Some stores refund the difference on their own price drops: Costco, Home Depot and Lowe’s within 30 days, Target within 14 days, and Best Buy during your return period. Amazon and Walmart.com don’t adjust prices after purchase.
When does Walmart’s early Black Friday sale end?
Walmart’s Early Black Friday Deals event runs November 12–15, 2026. Its main Black Friday Deals event starts online on November 23 for Walmart+ members and November 24 for everyone.
When does Amazon’s main Black Friday sale start?
Amazon’s early deals started November 10. Its Black Friday Week sale starts at 12:01 a.m. PST on November 19 and runs through Cyber Monday, November 30.
When does Best Buy’s main Black Friday sale start?
Best Buy’s early deals started November 6, and its main Black Friday sale runs November 19–28, followed by Cyber Sunday and Cyber Monday deals on November 29–30.
Is it better to buy a TV early or on Black Friday?
TVs often see their deepest discounts in Black Friday week itself, especially on big screens and budget brands. If you see a TV at its lowest price on our price history earlier, buying from a store with a price adjustment policy protects you.
Should I buy toys early for Christmas?
Usually, yes. The most popular toys can sell out by early December. If a child has asked for something specific, buy it when it’s in stock at a fair price.
Do early Black Friday deals include doorbusters?
Some do. Best Buy started early doorbusters November 6, and Home Depot and Lowe’s have run tool and decor doorbusters through November. The biggest in-store doorbusters are still saved for November 27.
Do I need Walmart+ for Walmart’s early Black Friday deals?
No. Walmart+ only gets you the hottest deal drops 24 hours earlier. Everyone could shop the early event from November 13, and the main Black Friday Deals event opens to everyone on November 24.
Is Costco’s early Black Friday sale over?
Costco’s early holiday sale ends November 15, but Holiday Savings run November 16–30 and its Black Friday sale runs November 27–30, with online-only deals on Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday.
Are Target’s daily deals worth checking?
Yes, if Target sells what you need. New deals appear every day through December 24, and many are Target Circle offers you add in the app. Target matches its own lower price within 14 days, so buying early is fairly safe.
Can I return early Black Friday purchases after Christmas?
Usually. Most big stores extend holiday returns into January. Best Buy, for example, accepts most items bought October 30 to December 31 until January 15, 2027. Phones and some electronics keep shorter windows, so check each store’s policy.
What’s the best early Black Friday deal right now?
It changes daily. Our Black Friday deals page ranks live deals by discount, community votes and price history, and flags the ones at their lowest price in 30 days.
How can I tell if an early Black Friday deal is real?
Check the price history over the last few months, not the ‘was’ price. Our ‘Lowest in 30 days’ badge flags prices that are genuinely low, and comparing the exact model number at two or three stores takes under a minute.
