When does Amazon Black Friday start? As we head into the 2025 holiday shopping season, Amazon’s Black Friday deals are already underway with a mix of early-access offers, rolling discounts, and pre-Black Friday sales across many departments. The timing this year reflects a flexible, multi-phase strategy aimed at giving shoppers more options before the traditional Black Friday rush.
In 2025, Amazon appears to be embracing an extended sales window rather than a single-day event. Early deals began several days before Thanksgiving. As of this date, many Black Friday–labeled discounts are live — but major price cuts in high-demand categories are still rolling out through late November and into early December.
Here’s your complete guide to when Amazon Black Friday starts, how the sale is structured this year, and what to watch out for if you plan to shop.
Table of Contents
📅 The 2025 Amazon Black Friday Timeline: More Than a Day
Unlike the old days when Black Friday meant one crazy shopping day, Amazon’s 2025 Black Friday uses a tiered timeline to stretch savings across a broader span. This approach gives shoppers flexibility and allows Amazon to manage demand while still offering deep discounts.
🗓️ Sale Phases
| Phase | Approximate Period | What’s Happening |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Black Friday (Early Deals) | Early to mid-November | Initial discounts, promotional bundles, and early access deals to kick off holiday shopping. |
| Black Friday Prime Offers | Late November (around Thanksgiving) | Larger discounts, lightning deals, and special offers — often labelled “Black Friday.” |
| Black Friday Weekend & Cyber Week | Black Friday through Cyber Monday (and sometimes a few days after) | Broadest range of deals: electronics, gadgets, home goods, clothing, gifts; many limited-time offers. |
| Post-Black Friday / Clearance Deals | Early December | Clearance items, restocks, leftover stock discounts, and final holiday-season markdowns. |
Because of this stretched schedule, “when does Amazon Black Friday start” can mean different things depending on what you’re shopping for. For some items, the sale started early in November. For others, the best deals may still be coming later this week or during Cyber Week.
🛍️ What’s Happening Right Now — Late November 2025
As of today, several Amazon Black Friday deals are already live. Shoppers are reporting good discounts across many categories. Early-access deals and pre-Black Friday promotions helped stir early interest.
Some of the ongoing highlights:
- Popular electronics are receiving markdowns and limited-time “lightning deals.”
- Home appliances and kitchen gadgets are discounted for holiday-ready kitchens.
- Toys, games, and giftable items for children are seeing steady reductions — ideal for early holiday shopping.
- Clothing, footwear, and seasonal apparel deals are also available, often with bundled savings or multi-item discounts.
At the same time, Amazon seems to be holding back some of its most aggressive discounts for Black Friday weekend and Cyber Week. This suggests there’s still time — and potential — for big savings, especially on high-demand items.
🔎 Why Amazon Uses a Multi-Phase Sale Strategy
Amazon has shifted Black Friday smartly over the past few years. The 2025 strategy reflects several advantages for both the retailer and shoppers:
- Demand management: Instead of a single spike in traffic, sales are spread out. This reduces server load and helps Amazon manage inventory effectively.
- Flexibility for shoppers: People shopping for gifts, early planners, or those with busy schedules can still find good deals without racing to shop on one day.
- Sustained interest: Rolling deals keep holiday shoppers engaged over weeks — increasing chances for purchases across many categories.
- Clearance & restocks: Post-Black Friday clearance offers and restocked merchandise give last-minute shoppers another shot at discounts.
This structure effectively answers the question “when does Amazon Black Friday start” with a more useful framing: the moment the early deals go live — but with ongoing opportunities throughout the season.
✅ Smart Shopping Tips for 2025 Amazon Black Friday
If you want to make the most of Amazon Black Friday 2025, these strategies will help you maximize savings and avoid common pitfalls:
- Start early — Browse early deals now, especially if you’re shopping for gifts, essentials, or items with plenty of stock.
- Use watchlists / wishlists — Add items you want to a wishlist or “save for later.” Some deals go live later, or items may restock during sale phases.
- Monitor lightning deals and time-limited offers — Amazon often rolls out short-lived deals post-Black Friday that can offer great value.
- Compare across categories — Don’t just hunt for gadgets. Home goods, kitchen appliances, toys, and clothing often deliver strong discounts too.
- Check stock and shipping times — For popular or bulky items, fast-selling deals can get snapped up quickly or run into shipping delays.
- Use early-bird price tracking — If you track prices in advance, you’ll know when you’re truly getting a deal vs. a modest discount.
- Be ready during Cyber Week — Some of the deepest discounts tend to appear during the days after Black Friday, especially online-only promos.
🎯 What’s Usually Worth Watching on Amazon Black Friday
Based on prior patterns, certain categories tend to deliver the best returns during Amazon’s Black Friday. This holds true again in 2025:
- Large electronics & entertainment gear — TVs, laptops, headphones and smart home devices often get big markdowns.
- Home appliances and kitchen essentials — Air fryers, blenders, coffee makers, humidifiers, kitchen gadgets, and small appliances.
- Gifts & toys — Great for holiday shopping: kids’ toys, games, puzzles, hobby kits, and holiday bundles.
- Clothing and seasonal apparel — Jackets, winter gear, shoes, activewear, and everyday clothing.
- Home essentials and décor — Bedding, storage, décor, lighting — often discounted to help prepare for holiday hosting and home refreshes.
- Budget gifts and small gadget deals — Affordable accessories, small electronics, and daily-use items make ideal stocking stuffers or gifts under modest budgets.
💡 Example Planning Scenarios — Who Should Buy When
🏡 Scenario A: Early Holiday Shoppers
If you like having gifts done early, browsing pre-Black Friday and early deals helps you avoid last-minute stress. Use early discounts for small gifts, home essentials, and holiday prep.
👨👩👧 Family & Kids Gifts
Toys, games, kids’ gear and clothing often see steady discounts early — but you might find better bundle deals or restocks during Cyber Week or Black Friday weekend.
💻 Tech & Gadget Seekers
For high-demand electronics and hot gadgets, target the main Black Friday weekend or Cyber Week. Use watchlists and alerts to catch lightning deals — that’s where the biggest savings often land.
🏃♂️ Last-Minute Shoppers
If you wait until the final days — Cyber Week or early December — you may find clearance deals or restocked items at low prices. Good for budget buyers or spontaneous shoppers.
🔄 What’s Changed This Year (2025) — Compared to Past Amazon Black Fridays
Amazon Black Friday 2025 reflects the evolving nature of holiday sales. Here’s what stands out this year:
- Extended sale period — From early November through Cyber Week and beyond; not just a one-day sprint.
- More online-first and mixed deals — Many offers launch online first, with some store-limited or in-person options varying by region.
- Focus on variety and budget tiers — Not just big-ticket items. Amazon seems to be pushing deals across wide price ranges.
- Improved user experience — Easier browsing, better deal tracking, clearer labeling of “Black Friday” specials and lightning deals.
- Broader participation across categories — Deals not limited to tech and big items; home goods, clothing, toys, and budget gifts get prominent discounts too.
This broader approach acknowledges the diverse needs of holiday shoppers: families, individuals, tech fans, bargain hunters, and last-minute gift buyers.
🧑💻 How to Track Amazon Black Friday 2025 — Tools & Strategies
To stay ahead and catch the best deals, consider using these tools and tactics:
- Amazon Watchlists or Wish Lists — Add items you want now, then monitor for price drops or discounts as the sale progresses.
- Price-tracking tools and browser extensions — Some apps or extensions alert you when price drops hit or when a sale starts.
- Subscription Alerts & Deal Notifications — If you have Amazon accounts set for deal alerts, make sure notifications are on.
- Check Daily Deal Pages or “Today’s Deals” Section — Amazon often rotates lightning deals; frequent checking increases odds of finding deep discounts.
- Compare listings from third-party sellers vs Amazon itself — Discounts and shipping times vary. Prefer listings with good ratings and reliable delivery timelines.
- Plan shipping/delivery times carefully — Especially for bulky or high-demand items during peak sale periods.
✅ Wrapping Up — What 2025 Means for Shoppers
If you’ve been asking “when does Amazon Black Friday start,” the short answer is: it started already. With early deals live in November and deeper discounts unfolding through Black Friday weekend and Cyber Week, Amazon’s 2025 Black Friday sale is more flexible and accessible than ever.
There’s never been a better time to plan ahead, shop smart, and take advantage of discounts across many categories — from home essentials and gifts to gadgets and décor. Whether you buy early, wait for lightning deals, or hunt last-minute bargains, the opportunities are wide open.
Feel free to leave a comment below — what deal are you watching most closely this season?
FAQ
Q: Does Amazon still start Black Friday on a single day?
No. In 2025, Amazon spreads Black Friday across multiple phases: early deals, main sale around Thanksgiving, Black Friday & Cyber Week, and post-sale clearance.
Q: If I miss early deals, will there still be good items later?
Yes. Historically, Amazon posts new discounts, restocks, and clearance items even after the main Black Friday weekend — especially during Cyber Week and early-December.
Q: Are biggest discounts online only or can they appear in stores too?
Most of Amazon’s Black Friday deals are online. Some offers may reflect third-party sellers or region-specific stock. Always check delivery/shipping and review seller reliability before ordering.
When does Amazon Black Friday startDisclaimer
This article is based on publicly available information about Amazon’s Black Friday 2025 sale schedule and promotional plans as of the date of writing. Sale dates, discounts, product availability, and deal details may change at any time without notice. Readers should verify offers on Amazon’s official website before purchasing.