Quick Answer: When Does Amazon Black Friday Start?

Short version: Amazon turns Black Friday into a multi‑day (sometimes multi‑week) event.

While exact dates change every year, here’s the pattern you can reliably expect if you’re in the U.S.:

• Early Black Friday deals: Typically start in early to mid‑November (often the first or second week of November).
• Main Amazon Black Friday event: Usually kicks off the Monday–Wednesday before Thanksgiving and continues through Black Friday itself.
• Black Friday → Cyber Monday window: Amazon treats this as one long sales stretch, from Thanksgiving Day (Thursday) through Cyber Monday (the following Monday).

So practically speaking, Amazon Black Friday “starts” at least a week before Thanksgiving, and the heaviest wave of deals hits between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday.

Takeaway: Don’t wait for actual Black Friday to start shopping on Amazon—you’ll already be late to some of the best early deals.

Why Doesn’t Amazon Just Start on Black Friday?

Because Black Friday isn’t a single day anymore; it’s a season.

Retailers (especially Amazon) learned that:

1. Starting early locks in your budget before you see competitors’ offers.
2. Spreading deals out reduces website crashes and inventory chaos.
3. A longer event means more chances to move inventory and test prices.

So Amazon leans hard into:

• “Early Black Friday Deals” (or “Holiday Deals”) in early November
• “Black Friday Week” in the days leading up to Thanksgiving
• “Cyber Monday Weekend” or similar branding after Black Friday

Takeaway: If you’re waiting for one magical 24‑hour window on Amazon, that era is over. Think Black Friday month, not Black Friday day.

Typical Timeline: Amazon Black Friday (U.S.)

Exact dates change every year, but this is the general structure Amazon has used recently. Use it as a template for future years.

1. Early November: “Early Black Friday” / “Holiday” Deals

When: Around November 1–15

What you’ll see:

• Site‑wide “Early Black Friday” banners
• Rotating deals in categories like electronics, home, toys, and fashion
• Solid discounts on Amazon devices (Echo, Fire TV, Kindles, etc.) start showing up

Are these the best deals?

• Sometimes yes for lower‑demand products or mid‑range items.
• For top‑tier electronics (premium TVs, latest consoles, big‑name laptops), the deepest discounts often appear closer to Black Friday / Cyber Monday.

Takeaway: Use early November for warm‑up purchases and items you’re not super picky about.

2. Week Before Thanksgiving: Black Friday Week Ramps Up

When: Generally the Monday–Wednesday before Thanksgiving

This is when Amazon starts pushing messaging like “Black Friday Week” or similar.

What to expect:

• More aggressive lightning deals and short‑term discounts
• Heavy promotion on giftable items: headphones, small appliances, toys, gaming accessories
• “Deal of the Day” offers that are close to Black Friday strength

This is also when:

• Popular colors/sizes start selling out.
• Some items hit their best price of the season early, then go out of stock before Black Friday even lands.

Takeaway: If you see a good price on something high‑demand (like a popular headset or toy) in this week, don’t wait “just in case.” It may not come back.

3. Thanksgiving Day & Black Friday: Peak Deal Window

When: Thanksgiving Thursday through Black Friday (Friday)

This is the core Amazon Black Friday period, even though deals started earlier.

What’s different about this window:

• Largest number of active deals at once
• Many of the season’s headline offers go live (big TV brands, popular laptops, premium headphones, gaming, etc.)
• Deeper cuts on Amazon devices and smart‑home bundles
• A rush of limited‑time Lightning Deals that sell out fast

Common move from shoppers: open the Amazon app/site Thanksgiving morning or Thursday evening and start checking:

• Today’s Deal page
• Lightning Deals (sorted by upcoming and active)
• Category‑specific Black Friday pages

Takeaway: Treat Thanksgiving + Black Friday as your main hunting ground for big‑ticket electronics and Amazon devices.

4. Weekend Through Cyber Monday: The Second Wave

When: Saturday–Sunday after Black Friday through Cyber Monday

Amazon doesn’t slam the brakes after Black Friday. Instead, it pivots into Cyber Weekend / Cyber Monday branding.

What typically happens:

• Some Black Friday deals continue unchanged.
• New Cyber Monday–branded tech deals appear (laptops, software, peripherals, smart home, etc.).
• Good chance to grab accessories and secondary items (mice, keyboards, extra controllers, chargers, etc.) at strong prices.

If you missed something on Black Friday:

• Sometimes the same or similar price will appear on Cyber Monday.
• But limited‑stock items (hot toys, special TV models) may already be gone.

Takeaway: Cyber Monday is especially good for tech and accessories, but don’t rely on it for must‑have products that were already low on stock.

So… When Should You Actually Start Shopping?

Let’s talk practical strategy instead of watching the calendar like a hawk.

1. For Big‑Ticket Electronics (TVs, Laptops, Consoles)

Best time to watch closely:

• Week before Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday

What to do:

1. Add items to your cart / wishlist by early November.
2. Use price‑tracking tools or browser extensions to watch for drops.
3. Check for deals daily from the Monday before Thanksgiving onward.

If you see your target item hit a price that looks like a serious discount (especially if it’s flagged as a Black Friday Deal or Deal of the Day), buy it rather than waiting for a hypothetical extra $10–20 savings.

2. For Gifts, Toys, and Household Items

These are more vulnerable to going out of stock than to huge extra discounts later.

• Start seriously shopping as soon as early Black Friday deals launch in November.
• If the price looks reasonable and you need it by the holidays, grab it.

3. For Amazon Devices (Echo, Fire TV, Kindle, Ring, etc.)

Amazon loves cutting prices on its own hardware multiple times:

• Prime Day (summer / fall)
• Early Black Friday period
• Thanksgiving–Cyber Monday

If you’re strictly optimizing price:

• Watch during Black Friday week and Cyber Monday—those are often the lowest prices of the year for Amazon devices.

Takeaway: Start planning in early November, but be on high alert the week of Thanksgiving for maximum savings.

How to Know the Exact Start Date This Year

Amazon changes the exact start date of its Black Friday event every year, and it usually announces details in a press release or on its homepage in early November.

Here’s how to get the precise dates for the current year:

1. Check Amazon’s homepage in early November.
   • Look for banners like “Black Friday Deals Start [Date]” or “Early Black Friday Deals”.
2. Search online for “Amazon Black Friday [year] dates”.
   • Major outlets and deal sites recap the official announced window.
3. Watch your email/app notifications.
   • If you’re opted in, Amazon will push “Black Friday Is On”–style alerts.

Takeaway: Use the patterns in this guide for planning, then confirm exact dates once Amazon posts its official announcement each year.

Pro Tips to Survive (and Win) Amazon Black Friday

A few ways to stack the deck in your favor.

1. Build Your List Before Deals Go Live

Treat this like meal‑prepping, but for your wallet.

• Create wishlists or save items for later in your cart.
• Note your must‑haves vs. nice‑to‑haves.
• That way, when deals hit, you’re checking specific items, not doom‑scrolling the entire site.

2. Use Filters and Deal Pages

During Black Friday week, Amazon will have:

• A main Black Friday deals page
• Category‑specific pages (Electronics, Home, Toys, etc.)
• Filters for discount percentage, price range, and brands

Use them. Otherwise you’ll drown in 40 pages of “meh” discounts.

3. Watch Lightning Deals and “Deal of the Day”

• Lightning Deals: Limited time and limited quantity.
• Deal of the Day: Usually a strong discount good for that calendar day.

If something you actually want appears as either of these, move quickly—especially during the Thursday–Monday window.

4. Compare vs. Other Retailers

Even in Black Friday season, Amazon is not automatically the cheapest.

• Check prices at Best Buy, Walmart, Target, Costco, or brand websites.
• Factor in shipping, rewards, and return policies.

Sometimes Amazon is best on price; sometimes another retailer wins with bundles or gift cards.

Takeaway: Don’t let the “Black Friday” label hypnotize you. A bad deal with a fancy banner is still a bad deal.

FAQ: Common Amazon Black Friday Questions

Does Amazon Black Friday start at midnight?

Not in a neat, one‑time “switch flips at 12:00 a.m.” way.

• Deals roll out in waves, often starting at specific times depending on your time zone.
• You’ll see new deals go live throughout the days leading into Thanksgiving and Black Friday, not just at midnight.

Is Black Friday or Cyber Monday better on Amazon?

It depends what you’re after:

• Black Friday (and Thanksgiving): Often better for big electronics, TVs, Amazon devices, and hot items.
• Cyber Monday: Strong for laptops, PC gear, software, and accessories.

Many deals overlap both days, but some are day‑specific, especially Lightning Deals.

Can I return Amazon Black Friday purchases?

Amazon usually extends its holiday return window for items bought in November and December (for example, returns allowed through early or mid‑January). The exact dates change year to year, so always check the return policy on the product page when you buy.

Final Take: When Should You Care About Amazon Black Friday?

If you remember nothing else, remember this:

• Start paying attention in early November.
• Turn on deal‑hunting mode the week before Thanksgiving.
• Expect the biggest wave of deals from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday.

Amazon’s Black Friday doesn’t have a single official “start” moment like a rocket launch. It’s more like a rolling storm of discounts—and if you know the pattern, you can step in right when the prices are best for the things you actually want.

Plan early, set alerts, make a list, and future‑you (and your bank account) will be very, very grateful.