When Is the Best Time to Buy Appliances?
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If you’re in the market for a new appliance, chances are you’re also looking to score a good deal without having to compromise on quality. Maybe it sounds too good to be true—or maybe it sounds like a smarter way to shop! And with so many sales holidays that happen throughout the year, you want to make sure you’re waiting for the right time to buy your appliances so you get the best price possible. Is Black Friday really worth waiting for if you’re in the market for a large appliance? Are there any tricks to track the appliance you’re looking at to see when it’ll be at its greatest discount? We’re breaking all of this down and more to help you save big.
So, when is the best time to buy these big-ticket appliances? Luckily, you’re not limited to one day out of the year to score a great deal. We created this guide to help narrow down when and where to find the best deals on the most highly-rated appliances. Maybe you’re shopping around so you can start renovating your kitchen, or maybe your washing machine just broke and you need a replacement ASAP. Depending on what time of year you’re looking to buy, there are some gold-star time periods to go shopping. Based on our research of previous years’ sales, and some expert insight into yearly sales, these are the very best times to buy appliances, broken down by season and month.
Best Times to Buy an Appliance At a Glance
Winter: Holiday Sales and End-of-Year Discounts
December: Year-end sales (typically starts December 26)
January: New Year’s Day (January 1)
February: Presidents Day (February 17, 2025)
Spring: Memorial Day Deals and Rebate Promos
May: Memorial Day (May 26, 2025) and Maytag Month (an annual rebate month-long promotional sale from Maytag)
Summer: Mid-Year Holiday Promotions
July: Independence Day (July 4, 2025) and Prime Day (usually in July)
August: Labor Day Weekend sales (August 30–September 1, 2025, though these can run from end of August into September)
Fall: New Model Rollout and Clearance Sales
September: Labor Day (September 1, 2025)
October: Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples’ Day (October 13, 2025)
November: Veterans Day (November 11, 2025) and Black Friday (November 28, 2025, however these sales can last longer, from October through December)
More Tips to Get the Best Discounts
- Wait until a new model is released: When retailers release a new model of an appliance, the older models will drop in price to make room for the new inventory. If you can wait it out until the newest version of your appliance is out, then you can get a great discount on the previous one.
- Ask for price matching: Many big-box stores and local appliance shops will price match other stores in the area. When you go in-store to shop, simply pull up the lower price from another retailer’s site (just make sure it’s the exact same appliance and model you’re shopping for), and politely ask the store clerk if they offer price matching. That way, you know you’re getting the best price possible.
- Consider buying lightly used or open box: If you don’t mind a lightly used appliance, then this is a fantastic way to save on cash. Sometimes, you bring an appliance home and it doesn’t fit, it doesn’t match your other appliances, or something else just isn’t what you pictured it to be. In these cases, these lightly used models are taken back to the store to return, but are then offered at a discounted price because they’d already been opened. You can rest easy knowing that it’s still working properly and in great condition, just priced 15% to 50% lower than a brand-new, unopened appliance!
- Buy off-season: Buying an appliance off-season is another great hack to score your appliance for less. For example, shopping for an air conditioner in the winter may have better pricing since folks are more likely to be shopping for water heaters and furnaces. And vice versa—furnaces and boilers will likely be less expensive in the summer months since people will be buying things like grills and air conditioners.
What month are appliances the cheapest?
According to US News Money, retailers will often price appliances lower at the end of the year or end of the month to make way for new inventory and boost sales revenue. However, promotional holiday weekends (like President’s Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Veterans Day, and Black Friday/Thanksgiving) will also have the largest sales on appliances.
According to BankRate, the best time to buy refrigerators and large electronics is in the spring (May and June specifically); the best time for washers and dryers, dishwashers, and water heaters is in the fall (September, October, and November); and the best time to buy ranges, ovens, and air conditioners is in the winter (December and January).
What is the best sale of the year for appliances?
Black Friday sales are usually where you’ll find the biggest discounts on large appliances like washing machines,dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers, ovens, and ranges. But you can start to see major discounts as early as September as retailers get ready to release new models ahead of the new year.
What is the best time of year to get a good deal on a refrigerator?
You’ll find that deals on refrigerators will be the best in the fall and early winter, from September through December, but there are also holiday weekends in the middle of the year with some serious sales to take advantage of like Memorial Day, and the Fourth of July, which is also when many retailers roll out new models.
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