Black Friday 2025 Deal Timelines Revealed: When to Buy Appliances, Electronics, Toys and Travel

Shoppers across the U.S. are being warned: if you wait until Sunday to hunt for a discounted refrigerator or the latest Samsung TV, you might miss out entirely. Black Friday 2025 arrives on Friday, November 28, and retail analysts are revealing precise, category-by-category windows when the best deals drop — and when they vanish. With inflation still biting households earning under $75,000, while high-income families drive spending, the stakes have never been higher. The difference between a $500 savings and a $500 loss? Timing. And according to experts, it’s not just about the day — it’s about the hour.

Appliances: Show Up Before the Doors Open

For refrigerators, washing machines, and kitchen gadgets, the smartest move is to be in line before sunrise. Deborah L. Weinswig, CEO of Coresight Research, headquartered at 55 Broadway in New York, New York 10006, says in-store promotions this year will be more aggressive — and more exclusive — than ever. "We expect to see lots of promotions that are unique to in-store purchases at retailers like Home Depot and Lowe's," she told CBS News. Those deals? They won’t appear online. And they won’t last.

Inventory is tight. Home Depot, based at 2455 Paces Ferry Road in Atlanta, Georgia, and Lowe's, headquartered at 1000 Lowe's Boulevard in Mooresville, North Carolina, are using real-time pricing algorithms that adjust every 15 minutes based on foot traffic and local stock levels. That means a dishwasher discounted to $499 in a suburban Ohio store might be $649 in a nearby town by noon. Weinswig’s team forecasts $9.8 billion in appliance sales over the Black Friday weekend — up from $8.9 billion in 2024 — but only if shoppers act fast. "Arrive 30 minutes before opening," she advises. "If you’re not there, someone else is."

Electronics: Wait for Cyber Monday — But Not Too Long

Here’s the twist: for TVs, laptops, and soundbars, Black Friday isn’t the best day. It’s the next one. Vivek R. Pandya, senior analyst at Adobe Digital Insights — the analytics arm of Adobe Inc. in San Jose, California — says Cyber Monday, December 1, 2025, will deliver the deepest discounts on electronics, with ranges of 10% to 28%. That’s up from last year’s average of 15.3%.

Specific models expected to see the biggest drops include the Samsung QN90C, Sony X90K, and LG C3 OLED TVs. But here’s the catch: these deals go live at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on Cyber Monday and often sell out within hours. "Don’t assume the deal will still be there at lunchtime," Pandya warns. "We’ve seen 30% of top-tier TVs disappear in the first 90 minutes."

And don’t confuse Cyber Monday with Black Friday sales. Adobe’s data shows that 41% of consumers who bought TVs on Black Friday last year paid 12% more than those who waited until Monday. The lesson? Patience pays — but only if you’re ready to click the moment the sale starts.

Toys: The Race Is On — And It’s Already Started

If you’ve got a kid who’s been eyeing a Lego System A/S set or a Labubu doll made by Hong Kong’s Tatsukawa, you’re already behind. Circana, the Chicago-based market research firm led by retail advisor Marshal Cohen, tracked 2024’s toy sales and found that 78% of the hottest items — including these two — sold out within 48 hours of Black Friday morning.

"These aren’t just popular toys," Cohen says. "They’re cultural moments. Parents are buying them as gifts, but also as collectibles."

Tatsukawa’s Labubu dolls, with their surreal, expressive faces, became viral on TikTok last year. Lego’s new 2025 sets, themed around space exploration, are already being pre-ordered by collectors. Retailers like Target and Walmart will have limited stock — and no restocks. If you see it on sale, buy it. Even if it’s not your child’s top pick. You might not get another chance.

Travel: The Window Is Narrow — And Closing Fast

Here’s where things get confusing. While most assume travel deals come on Black Friday, Adobe’s Pandya says otherwise. "Most companies will try to get ahead of the competition by launching sales by the morning of Black Friday at the latest," he said. "So don’t wait until late Tuesday to look for a great travel deal."

"Late Tuesday" means December 2, 2025 — the Tuesday after Cyber Monday. That’s the absolute cutoff. Travel deals — flights, hotel bundles, vacation packages — will vanish by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time that night. Airlines and booking platforms like Expedia and Booking.com use dynamic pricing based on demand spikes. Once the post-holiday lull begins, prices rebound. Last year, round-trip flights to Orlando jumped 47% between December 2 and December 5.

Why This Matters More Than Ever

The 2025 shopping season isn’t just about savings. It’s about survival. Economic data from the U.S. Census Bureau, shared with Adobe Digital Insights since 2020, shows households earning under $75,000 spent 18% less on non-essentials in 2024 than they did in 2022. Meanwhile, households earning over $100,000 increased spending by 12%. That gap is widening.

"Retailers know who’s spending," says Cohen. "They’re not discounting for everyone. They’re discounting for those who can afford to buy — and they’re pricing out those who can’t."

That’s why comparison shopping isn’t optional — it’s essential. Cohen’s Circana survey found that 42% of 2024’s "lowest price" ads required a hidden coupon code, loyalty points, or an in-store rebate to match the advertised rate. "Don’t trust the ad," he says. "Trust your phone. Open three apps. Compare. Then buy."

What’s Next: The New Rules of Black Friday

The old model — sleep on the floor, fight over TVs — is dead. In 2025, Black Friday is a digital-physical hybrid with micro-timelines. Here’s the new playbook:

• November 28, 6:00 a.m. ET: Head to Home Depot or Lowe’s for appliances. Bring a list. Bring cash. Bring patience.
• December 1, 12:01 a.m. ET: Be ready to buy electronics. Set alarms. Don’t refresh — click.
• November 28–December 1: Snag toys immediately. No second chances.
• December 2, 11:59 p.m. ET: Last call for travel deals. After that, prices rise.

And remember: real-time pricing means what’s true at 8 a.m. might be false at 8:15. Check in-store inventory apps. Call ahead. Ask for the manager. Sometimes, they’ll hold a deal for you — if you’re polite.

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