UPDATE: Nov. 3 2021, 8 p.m. EST This story has been updated to include information about new sales at , , and (along with the latest markdowns).
We’ve rounded up all of the best early Black Friday deals as of Nov. 3 — here are our top picks:
-
BEST TV DEAL: is one of the most affordable displays with gorgeous mini-LED backlighting — $699.99
$949.99(save $250) -
BEST ROBOT VACUUM DEAL: , the newest and first Roomba with obstacle-avoiding PrecisionVision Navigation — $499
$649.99(save $150.99) -
BEST APPLE DEAL: , a powerful desktop from early 2019 with an AMD Radeon Pro 560X graphics card for gaming — $999
$1,499(save $500) and get 6 free months each of Apple Music and Apple News+ -
BEST SMART HOME DEAL: is a snappy and sleek smart speaker from 2020 that boasts impressive bass for its size — $59.99
$99.99(save $40) and get a free 6-month trial of Amazon Music Unlimited -
BEST GAMING DEAL: is a stellar value that includes the Arctis 1 Wireless headset, an Apex 3 keyboard, a Rival 3 Wireless mouse, and a QcK mousepad — $139.99
$199.99(save $60) -
BEST KITCHEN DEAL: , a versatile enameled cast-iron sauté pan from the fancy French cookware brand that rarely goes on sale — $179.95
$300(save $120.05)
When you realized we’re in the thick of our second pandemic holiday shopping season?
Stores began soft-launching their Black Friday deals in October to get a jump on the supply chain chaos that’s making “availability” a central theme in this year’s sales. But now that November is here, things are really ramping up.
Below, you’ll find a complete list of all the Black Friday doorbusters that are live right now (with sales grouped by retailer, category, and brand). We continue to update this post as more deals pop up, but don’t hold out too long if something on your shopping list is already enjoying a discount — it may not be in stock for much longer.
Here are the best deals at each retailer
: Amazon got the earliest start on this year’s Black Friday sales and will continue to drop holiday doorbusters every day in the lead-up to Black Friday proper. (Its inventory tends to change the most, so check back often — you can find out what’s up for grabs by visiting its page, installing its mobile app, or by asking your smart home device, “Alexa, what are my deals?”) At the time of writing, highlights included up to half off its lineup of , some deep discounts on , up to 40% off select , and a massive sale on for .
: Last to the Black Friday festivities (but certainly not least), BB&B is having a five-day early holiday sale from Nov. 3 to 7 that features “don’t-miss deals” on select cookware, appliances, toys, and home decor. (How’s about $150 off the , $20 off a , and 25% off the ?)
: Don’t bother waiting for Best Buy’s official Black Friday sale (which begins a whole week early on Friday, Nov. 19). The electronic store is also treating the entire month of November like one big Black Friday celebration, running thousands of deals across multiple sales (starting with “The Wish List Sale” from Nov. 5 through 8) that are all covered by its new “ — don’t miss out on some dirt-cheap , a selection of that start at only $99, a $999 , or a $250 markdown on TCL’s stunning . My Best Buy and Best Buy Totaltech members can also shop some exclusive “Member Mondays” series of deals at the beginning of each week, so there are plenty of opportunities to save.
: A few other stores beat Dell to the punch this year — it’s usually among the first to tease its holiday — but its official Black Friday event will begin earlier than most on Monday, Nov. 15. In the meantime, you can shop a preview sale featuring some “” on things like (up to 33% off), (up to $300 off), and (up to 45% off).
: The techies over at HP are rolling their Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals into one big ol’ sale from Nov. 25 to Cyber Monday (its “biggest savings event of the year,” per the ), which drops prices on Microsoft Office software and tons of its Windows 11 laptops and PCs. As far as go, you can currently score $270 off the , save $200 on the , and take $100 off the .
: The department store is keeping things pretty traditional this year with a three-day Black Friday sale from Nov. 26 to 28. But like most of its peers, it’s also putting a sprinkling of weekly deals and doorbusters up on its all month long. (See: $12.99 with mail-in rebates, up to 60% off select , and this $10 .) If you’re patient/brave enough to wait for the big day, make sure to keep an eye out for some seriously good — select gadgets from Black + Decker and Bella Essentials will be marked down to a mere $7.99 each (!) after some rebates.
: Your Cash-doling fave ran a five-day Lowest Prices of the Season Event from Oct. 20 to 24 to give shoppers a first look at some holiday offers ahead of its official Black Friday sale (which will see the of its excellent $15 for $50 Kohl’s Cash offer on select days). Nothing’s on deck there at the moment, but check back later for deals!
: The mall stalwart is “unbeatable deals” and “early-access specials” each week of November ahead of its big holiday sale (which begins a few days early on Tuesday, Nov. 23 and goes through Saturday, Nov. 27). It’s kicking things off with a Black Friday Early Access event from Nov. 3 to 7 that’s shaping up to be a must-see for home chefs. The last time we checked, there were a dozen sub-$10 and some steep discounts on Ninja gadgets (including $100 off this and $50 off the ). You can also take an extra 20% off select clearance items using the code SALE. A word to the wise: Macy’s often dabbles in — i.e., inflating its list prices to make deals seem better than they really are — so cross-check items across another retailer or two if you come across discounts that seem too good to be true.
: The bullseye brand is getting a head start on Black Friday with a series of weeklong Holiday Best sales, the first of which goes from Oct. 31 through Nov. 6 (with extra deals added into the mix on Nov. 4, just to keep everyone on their toes) — peep these $100 , this $60 , and these that get you a $10 Target gift card for every $50 spent. It’s also worth noting that Target’s holiday price match policy is now in effect through Dec. 24, and you can also take advantage of two new “” payment options through Sezzle and Affirm.
: The big box store has revived its popular event from 2020, this time spreading it out over three sales throughout the month of November. (Like Target, it’s also in favor of a new “buy now, pay later” program as part of its partnership with Affirm.) The first sale began online on Nov. 3 and continues in stores on Nov. 5, bringing can’t-miss deals like $59 , a $99 , and $64 with 14 exclusive dolls. If you’re worried something on your list will sell out, join — paying members receive online access to its holiday offers four hours earlier than everyone else, as a treat.
Best tech deals
Credit: Amazon
: Get up to 52% off select DNA tests (starting at just $79).
AeroGarden: Take $40 off the indoor garden (now $59.99), 40% off the (now $89.97), 44% off the (now $83.99), 35% off the (now $116.97), and $80 off the (now $99.99).
: Save up to 55% on select (including ), take 25% off the second-gen (now $89.99), and get 40% off the latest smart speaker (now $59.99, plus six free months of Amazon Music Unlimited) as part of .
: Save up to 50% on select (starting at just $59.99) or get half off the (now $54.99).
: Get half off the newest (now $24.99) and take 21% off the new (now $94.99).
: Save up to 29% on select and take 33% off the noise-canceling headphones (now $199).
: Take $200 off the cordless vacuum (now $649.99).
: Get up to 56% off Facebook Portal smart video-calling devices (now $79).
: Save up to 40% off select (starting at just $59.95).
: Get $10 off the new Instax Mini 11 instant camera (now $59.99).
: Take 23% off the new (now $99.99), get half off the smart display and the second-gen smart speaker (now $49.99 and 24.99, respectively), and save $50 on the battery-powered (now $129.99). Plus, enjoy three free months of YouTube Premium when you grab the stellar on sale for only $59.99 (normally $99.99).
: Save $160 on the brand’s (now only $99) and get $150 off the 2-in-1 laptop with 256GB of storage (now $669.99).
Insignia: Save 41% on the brand’s bestselling (now $99.99) and get a free 30-day trial of fuboTV Plus when you buy its on sale for $230 off (now $349.99).
: Get half off select JBL Tune headphones and earbuds (starting at only $24.95).
: Save $40 on a (now $49.99), or grab a for 45% off its usual price of $110 (now $59.99).
: Take $200 off the ThinkSmart View for Microsoft Teams (now $149.99).
LG: Get up to 22% off select and save as much as 28% on , our for next-gen gaming.
: Save $100 on the Kilburn II portable Bluetooth speaker (now $199.99).
: Save up to $200 on select devices and take up to $400 off the .
: Get up to 41% off Philips Hue smart lighting kits (starting at $79.98).
: Save 43% on the Roku Premiere (now $19.88 — its lowest price to date).
: Take $50 off the new , up to 35% off select , 61% off the , 41% off the , up to $230 off select , and up to 26% off select .
: Get up to 54% off select headphones and earbuds (starting at only $19.95).
: Save up to 29% on select , up to 57% on select , and up to 51% on select .
: Get $250 off its (now $699.99) and save up to 42% on select 50 inches and up.
MORE BLACK FRIDAY DEALS ON AND
Best robot vacuum deals
Credit: Bissell
: Save $100 on the SpinWave Wet and Dry Robotic Vacuum (now $299.99).
: Take 57% off the (now $149), 34% off the (now $99) and 36% off the (now $179.99) with an extra savings coupon.
: Save $150 on the brand new (now $499 and $699, respectively), get 34% off the entry-level (now $179.99), and take 27% off the self-emptying (now $949).
: Get $240 off the S6 Pure robot vacuum and mop (now $359.99) with an extra savings coupon.
: Take $130 off the (now $249.99), $150 off the (now $249.99), and $55 off the (now $144).
MORE BLACK FRIDAY DEALS ON AND
Best Apple deals
Credit: Apple
AirPods: Take $70 off the (now $479), $59.01 off the (now $189.99), $40 off the (now $119), and $4.02 off the new (now $174.98 — hey, it’s something).
Apple accessories: Save $5 on the (now $34) and take 9% off the second-gen (now $117.64).
: Get six months each of Apple TV+ and Apple Music on top of a 30-day FuboTV trial when you grab a 32GB Apple TV 4K on sale for $30 off (now $129.99).
: Save $50 on the 40mm (now $349) and get $30 off the 38mm (now $169), or buy any Apple Watch with cellular connectively directly from the and get $100 back after activation.
Beats: Get $180 off the wireless noise-canceling headphones (now $169.99), half off the wireless headphones (now $99.99), $20 off the new (now $129.95), and $100 off the totally wireless earphones (now $149.99).
iPad: Save $60 on an with 64GB of storage (now $539) and get $99.01 off the base configuration of the new (now $999.99).
: Get up to $1,000 off the all-new iPhone 13 with a trade-in and qualified activation on a Verizon plan.
: Take $500 off the 21.5-inch iMac with a Retina 4K display, 256GB of storage, 8GB of RAM, and an Intel Core i5 processor (now $999).
MacBook: Save $199.01 on an M1-equipped with 256GB of storage (now $1,099.99) with an extra savings coupon, or get $99.01 off an M1 with the same amount of memory (now $899.99).
Best fitness deals
Credit: NordicTrack
: Save $500 on the Hydrow Connected Rower (now $1,794.99).
NordicTrack: Get $700 off the new and the (now $1,499 and $2,499.99, respectively ), $400 off the , and $600 off the (now $699.99).
: Take $500 off the Pro 5000 Treadmill (now $1,199.99).
Best gaming deals
Credit: EA
: Save on select games for the Nintendo Switch, including (now $20) and (now $24).
: Save up to 33% on Dell’s premium gaming laptops and PCs (starting at $1,249.99).
: Take 20% off the Luna Controller (now $55.99).
: Save up to 28% on select gaming accessories.
: Get 33% off Mass Effect: Legendary Edition (now $39.99) for Playstation 4, Xbox One, or PC.
: Take up to 25% off its Quantum line of gaming headsets.
: Take $70 off the new 32-inch UltraGear FHD 165Hz monitor (now $229.99).
Logitech: Save 50% on the wired gaming headset (now $39.99) as well as select .
: Get $400 off the GS75 Stealth Gaming Laptop (now $1,349).
: Get up to 50% off select accessories.
: Save 50% on select games, including for Playstation 4 (now $19.93) and the Day One Edition of for PS5 (now $19.99).
: Save $60 on a gaming bundle featuring the Arctis 1 Wireless headset, the Apex 3 keyboard, a Rival 3 Wireless mouse, and the QcK mousepad (now $139.99).
: Get 50% off the Recon 200 gaming headset (now $29.99).
: Take up to 39% off external SSDs (starting at $229.99).
Best kitchen deals
Credit: Le Creuset
: Get 50% off the Pro Series 4.2-qt. Analog Air Fryer (now $29.99).
: Save 20% on the Smart Oven Pro, a top-rated countertop convection oven (now $223.95).
: Save up to 23% on select Instant Pots and air fryers, including the new 6-quart (now $119.95) and the new 6-quart (now $99.95).
: Take 40% off the French brand’s 3.5-quart Sauteuse (now $179.95).
: Save $90 on the 11-in-1 Foodi Dual Heat Air Fry Oven (now $179.99).
MORE BLACK FRIDAY DEALS ON AND
Best house and home deals
Credit: Tuft & Needle
: Take up to 60% off select mattresses.
: Save up to 20% on select mattresses and sleep accessories.
Best toy deals
Credit: LEGO
Amazon: Take up to 60% off select and toys and save up to 50% on a handful of .
: Save up to 10% on select dolls and playsets.
: Take 12% off a metallic slime kit (now $10.99).
: Get a free $10 gift card when you spend $50 on select LEGO sets at Target.
: Save 51% on the L.O.L! Surprise Amazing Surprise set with 14 exclusive dolls and 70+ surprises (now $64).
: Save $20 on the voice-controlled Ruko Smart Robot (now $109.99) with an extra savings coupon.
: Take 20% off select board games.
Credit: Vicky Leta / Mashable
Ready or not, Black Friday is here
Stores began cramming our inboxes with Black Friday-worthy deals in early October (starting with , which kicked off Oct. 4). It probably felt a bit preemptive, like those neighbors who insist on putting up their Christmas lights while the trees are still green, but they actually had a very good reason to get a jump on this year’s sales.
And no, it wasn’t just a good, old-fashioned cash grab in response to some .
Shipping delays and supply chain chaos
The global economy is grappling with some unprecedented supply chain challenges as the result of the , which continues to inflame pandemic-related material scarcities, labor shortages, and shipping bottlenecks across industries of all kinds. (Under circumstances absolutely no one had on their bingo card, and have gotten as elusive as .)
Unsurprisingly, the ordeal has left most major manufacturers and retailers scrambling. Amazon is trying to an extra 150,000 seasonal employees with the promise of $3,000 sign-on bonuses and higher pay for certain shifts, while , Home Depot, and Ikea have all gone so far as to to make sure their shelves are stocked for the season. Apple, meanwhile, is “predicting that we’re going to be short of demand by larger than $6 billion” heading into the holidays, CEO Tim Cook said in a recent interview with .
For us consumers, this all means that finding the best deals this holiday season will likely be an ongoing question of availability more so than price.
“There will always be sales, but they won’t be as deep and as plentiful,” Bain & Company’s Aaron Cheris told . (He’s the head of the consulting firm’s Americas Retail practice.) “As a retailer or a brand, I don’t have the same motivation when I know I’m going to stock out.”
If you missed out on October’s whirlwind of early sales, fret not. Backorders and “sold out” notices haven’t besieged stores just yet, but mapping out a game plan now will help you avoid them when they inevitably crop up in the coming weeks. Here are all the must-know details you can use to strategize this holiday shopping season:
What is Black Friday?
Black Friday is a shopping holiday that takes place every year on the day right after Thanksgiving. It used to be synonymous with viral fistfights and stampedes and lines that stretched around city blocks before 3 a.m., but COVID-19 has turned it into a mostly online event.
When is Black Friday?
While Black Friday proper falls on Nov. 26 this year, most stores have already begun rolling out their holiday doorbusters.
— what’s the difference?
The National Retail Federation officially the term “Cyber Monday” in 2005 after it noticed that in previous years, the Monday after Thanksgiving saw a massive uptick in online sales. It credited the phenomenon to two factors: Online retailers were starting to vie for a piece of the Black Friday pie, and shoppers were waiting to peruse the deals on their faster work computers come Monday morning. (At the time, office PCs had better broadband than home setups.)
Last year’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales effectively bled together since in-person shopping wasn’t really a thing. We’ll almost certainly see that repeat this year.
What stores will be open for in-person shopping this Black Friday, if any?
All major retailers with brick-and-mortar locations have made the call to stay closed on Thanksgiving Day. That’s another big change from pre-pandemic years, when many stayed open on the federal holiday so that eager shoppers could start perusing their best deals early. (If you feel the urgent need to do some post-pie shopping that day, you’ll have to crack open your laptop instead.) In-person shopping is making a comeback for Black Friday, but be mindful of COVID-related safety procedures and limited store capacities:
-
Bed Bath & Beyond: Closed on Thanksgiving; Black Friday hours TBD. Masks are required for all customers (unless you’re fully vaccinated) as well as associates, and all stores are following that include extra cleaning, free wipes and hand sanitizers, employee health screenings, and occupancy limits. Curbside and in-store pickup are available.
-
Best Buy: Closed on Thanksgiving; Black Friday hours TBD. Face coverings (available in stores) are recommended for all customers and required for all employees, who are abiding by such as daily wellness checks and regular cleaning of high-touch areas. Curbside and in-store pickup are available.
-
JCPenney: Closed on Thanksgiving; doors open at 5 a.m. local time on Black Friday. Its mask policy based on local and state mandates, but all locations are following safety measures like regular nightly cleanings, socially distanced queues, contactless checkout, and capacity limits. Curbside pickup is available.
-
Kohl’s: Closed on Thanksgiving; Black Friday hours TBD. The company is requiring all associates to mask up, that customers in high-risk counties do the same; it’s also implemented that include placing sanitizer at every register, removing beauty testers, and installing signage that encourages social distancing. Drive-up and in-store pickup are available.
-
Macy’s: Closed on Thanksgiving; stores are open from 6 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. local time on Black Friday. Its includes pre-shift wellness checks for all associates, readily available hand sanitizer, increased cleaning in high-touch areas, extra ventilation, and social distancing; masks are recommended but not required for vaccinated customers except where mandated. Curbside and in-store pickup are available.
-
Target: Closed on Thanksgiving; Black Friday hours TBD. Face masks are required for team members and for shoppers in areas with a substantial or high risk of transmission, per CDC guidelines, and increased cleanliness/disinfecting measures have been implemented. (Haven’t gotten a vaccine yet? You can do so at within Target stores.) Drive-up and in-store pickup are available.
-
Walmart: Closed on Thanksgiving; Black Friday hours TBD. All associates are required to wear a mask (regardless of vaccination status) in areas where there are mandates, and customers are to do so, too. Stores are spraying carts after use and keeping plastic shields at registers, among other enhanced safety procedures. Curbside and in-store pickup are available.