Black Friday 2026 falls on Friday, November 27. Here is the whole week at a glance, followed by six checks worth doing before you pay for anything with a big red "SALE" sticker.
The calendar
| Day | Date | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving | Thursday, Nov 26, 2026 | The fourth Thursday of November, a US federal holiday |
| Black Friday | Friday, Nov 27, 2026 | The day after Thanksgiving, the traditional start of holiday shopping |
| Small Business Saturday | Saturday, Nov 28, 2026 | Created by American Express in 2010 to send shoppers to small, local businesses |
| Cyber Monday | Monday, Nov 30, 2026 | The Monday after Thanksgiving, focused on online shopping |
| GivingTuesday | Tuesday, Dec 1, 2026 | Started in 2012 as a day for giving to good causes rather than buying |
Stores often use the words "Black Friday" for sales that start well before the day itself, so read the start and end dates in the offer, not its name.
Six checks before you pay
1. Question the "was" price
A crossed-out price only means something if the store really charged it. The Federal Trade Commission's guide on former price comparisons says the earlier price should be one the seller actually offered for a reasonably substantial period in its regular business. A price inflated just to make the discount look bigger makes the bargain a false one (16 CFR 233.1). A big percentage off a price nobody paid saves you nothing.
2. Compare the exact model number
Search the full model number at two or three stores. If the model numbers differ, you are not comparing the same product, even when the photos look identical.
3. Look at the price history
A price tracker shows what an item actually sold for over the past months. If the "deal" price matches the usual price, skip it.
4. Read the code's small print
Look for minimum spend, first order only, one use per customer, excluded brands and excluded sale items. Two real examples: Lowe's military discount can't be used on items that are already on sale, and Nike's military discount only covers the first $500 of a purchase. More in our Veterans Day military discount guide.
5. Check the return policy first
Sale items are often returned under stricter rules. Fire Sale Boxes, for example, says it can't accept returns on sale items. Read the policy on the product page before you pay, not after.
6. Trust only the checkout total
Stickers, banners and "extra 20% off" claims mean nothing until you see them in the cart. Apply the code, look at the final total including shipping and tax, then decide.
Black Friday codes on AvaCoup
We list Black Friday and Cyber Monday codes on AvaCoup Seasonal: Black Friday and Cyber Monday as stores issue them to us. Each code shows the date we last tested it at checkout. Here is how we test codes.
Dates and the Lowe's and Nike terms checked September 15, 2026. Fire Sale Boxes' return policy checked September 11, 2026.