When Is the Best Time to Buy Appliances?

The best time to buy appliances is during holidays, off-seasons, month or year-end, and new model launches. Capitalizing on these periods ensures significant savings. Since new appliances are a major investment, planning and making wise decisions is a good idea. This guide will show you the best times to buy appliances and specific dates you must watch out for and why.

1. On Holidays

If you plan to shop for appliances, watch for the best times during holiday sales. Retailers often provide significant discounts on shopping holidays such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

💡Pro Tip: During Cyber Week, 88% of the top 50 online retailers offer discounts, and the average discount rates in the U.S. are 30%. So, you can expect significant savings during this time.

In contrast, you should pay attention to other holidays like Memorial Day and Presidents Day. These are also great times to score some serious deals on appliances. Other holiday sales to mark on your calendar include:

• New Year Deals – January 2024
• Presidents’ Day Sale – February 19, 2024
• Memorial Day Sale – May 27, 2024
• Father’s Day Sale – June 16, 2024
• Fourth of July Sale – July 4, 2024
• Labor Day Sale – September 2, 2024
• Black Friday Deals – October to December 2024
• Holiday Season Sales – November to December 2024

Typically, stores hold sales throughout the entire weekend if the holiday falls on a Friday or Monday. Some stores offer additional benefits like gift cards, point rewards, free delivery, financing options, and steep discounts. These can let you buy the necessary appliances while sticking to your holiday budget. Nevertheless, if you’re eager and can’t wait for the next holiday weekend, you can discover appliance discounts at alternative times throughout the year.

2. During Off-season

Buying appliances during the off-season might be another smart strategy to consider. Many retailers offer discounts on air conditioners when winter is on the horizon, and most people are busy searching for heaters and furnaces. Similarly, heaters and boilers are usually cheaper during the summer when people are preoccupied with grills and coolers.

However, remember that shopping during the off-season can also mean that some items may be out of stock, so it’s best to plan accordingly. With a little planning, buying appliances during the off-season can save you a significant amount of money, so it’s worth considering.

3. At the End of the Month

Many retailers set monthly sales targets. Towards the month’s end, they might offer additional discounts to boost sales if they’re nearing their goals but haven’t quite reached them. Therefore, if you’re in the market for a new appliance, waiting until the month’s end could snag you a better deal.

💡Pro Tip: This is also the time when salespeople are more willing to negotiate prices to meet their quotas. Don’t hesitate to haggle or ask the salesperson for the final price. In a survey conducted by Consumer Reports, people who successfully negotiated when purchasing a large appliance saved a median of $140 at Best Buy and Lowe’s and $114 at Home Depot. It can’t hurt to try to bargain for a better price.

4. During the Year-end Clearance

Towards the year’s end, compact appliances like air fryers, blenders, and coffee makers often hit the sale racks as manufacturers clear space for new upcoming models. Usually, there is only very little difference between the previous and new models. Opting for a discontinued model frequently lets you secure an almost identical appliance at nearly half the cost.

Shop worry-free during clearance sales with Cushion. It simplifies money management by consolidating your finances, debt, and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) payments into an easy-to-understand dashboard. With a quick glance, you can see your spending patterns, making it easier to budget and freeing up funds for your big clearance sale investments.

5. On New Model Launches

Prices for year-old model appliances tend to dip around the release of a new model, making it the best time to buy appliances. This is a common trend observed across various markets, especially in electronics. Take the iPhone 13, for instance; those who queued immediately to get it likely paid more than those who waited.

💡Pro Tip: To save on costs, avoid buying a new appliance right after its release when demand is high. Opt for the previous year’s model, especially if you don’t require the latest model’s new features.

Best Time to Buy Kitchen Appliances

If you’re specifically looking to replace your kitchen appliances, here are some best times of the year to purchase these specific appliances:

Additionally, Consumer Reports suggests that February is an opportune time to save money on essential items for your kitchen. Retailers tend to offer numerous high-quality deals in the weeks leading up to Presidents Day, and these discounts often continue in the days following the holiday.

Best Time of Year to Buy Appliances from Specific Retailers

While there are general times of the year when you can score great deals on appliances, different retailers often have their own sale periods and discount events. Here are some of the most popular appliance retailers and the best times to buy appliances from them:

Best Time to Buy Appliances at Lowe’s

Lowe’s offers big discounts during holiday sales like the Presidents’ Day sale, Memorial Day sale, New Year deals, and seasonal promotions. For major appliances, September and October are the months to save. If you specifically need a new refrigerator, April and May are the months to keep an eye on. Additionally, capitalize on end-of-the-month deals, as stores may offer enhanced discounts to meet monthly sales targets and clear remaining inventory.

Best Time to Buy Appliances at Costco

May is ideal for refrigerator purchases at Costco, with sales also extending to various appliances. September and October reduce the prices of old models as manufacturers release new ones. Furthermore, capitalize on holiday weekends like Memorial Day, Presidents’ Day, Columbus Day, Labor Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Cyber Monday, and Black Friday for excellent Costco appliance deals.

Best Time to Buy Appliances at Home Depot

Secure cost-effective deals on air conditioners, heaters, boilers, and grills in off-season months. Purchase small appliances during Black Friday and year-end sales. Take advantage of heavily discounted old models during the release of new models, and reserve your purchase for the latest models during major sale holidays (Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and more).

Best Time to Buy Appliances at Sears

Sears offers hefty discounts during September and October. These discounts often come in double digits as the fall season welcomes new models and clears out older inventory. December is your chance to snag unique opportunities for significant savings during Sears’ year-end sales. Plus, keep an eye out for special promotions and discounts on various appliances during three-day weekends like Memorial Day, President’s Day, and Labor Day.

No matter when or where you decide to buy your home appliances, you can make the process hassle-free. By utilizing a money management app that organizes your bills and integrates your payment deadlines into your Google Calendar, you can streamline your financial commitments. This approach enables you to make well-informed decisions, particularly when investing in significant appliance purchases at the best possible times.

Related guide: When is the Best Time to Buy a TV?

Summary

You can capitalize on periods of significant savings by timing your big appliance purchases. Some of the best times to buy appliances include holiday sales like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, during off-seasons when retailers offer discounts on specific appliances, at the end of the month when retailers have monthly sales goals they have yet to meet, and during year-end clearance sales to make room for new stocks.