Black Friday Amazon Deals: What to Buy & What to Skip
Navigate Amazon's Black Friday sale like a pro. Learn which categories offer genuine savings, what to avoid, and expert strategies to stack discounts for maximum savings.
Black Friday remains one of the biggest shopping events of the year, and Amazon goes all out with deals across virtually every category. But not every "deal" is worth grabbing—some discounts are inflated, some products are made specifically for the sale, and some categories simply have better deals at other times.
This guide helps you separate the genuine bargains from the marketing hype.
When is Amazon Black Friday 2025?
Amazon's Black Friday event typically includes:
- Early Black Friday: Deals start 1-2 weeks before Black Friday
- Black Friday Week: The week of Thanksgiving
- Black Friday: The day after Thanksgiving (late November)
- Cyber Monday: The Monday following Black Friday
- Extended Cyber Week: Deals often continue through the first week of December
In recent years, Amazon has stretched Black Friday into nearly a two-week shopping event.
Do You Need Prime for Black Friday Deals?
Unlike Prime Day, most Black Friday deals are available to all Amazon customers. However, Prime members get:
- Early access to select deals
- Exclusive Prime-only deals
- Free two-day shipping (critical for holiday gifting timelines)
- Same-day delivery in many areas
What to Buy on Black Friday
These categories historically offer the best genuine discounts:
Toys (Up to 50% off)
Black Friday is arguably the best time to buy toys. Major brands participate heavily:
- LEGO sets (often 20-40% off)
- Fisher-Price and Mattel products
- Hasbro games and action figures
- Hot Wheels and Barbie
Why now: Retailers want to capture holiday gift buying before inventory runs low.
Expert tip: "A new twist is that toy deals will be dropping earlier this year because people are worried about how tariffs will increase prices," notes money-saving expert Andrea Woroch.
Electronics (20-50% off)
Big-ticket electronics see significant price drops:
- TVs (especially 55"+ models)
- Laptops and tablets
- Headphones and earbuds
- Smart home devices
- Gaming consoles and accessories
Specific 2025 highlights:
- MacBook Air M4: Up to $250 off
- Blink Mini 2K cameras: 50% off
- Echo devices: Up to 50% off
- PlayStation 5: $100 off all console versions
Small Kitchen Appliances (30-50% off)
Kitchen gadgets make great gifts and see genuine discounts:
- Air fryers
- Instant Pots and pressure cookers
- Coffee makers and espresso machines
- Blenders and food processors
- Stand mixers
Timing tip: In past years, kitchen gadgets have dropped even lower on Cyber Monday. If you're flexible, consider waiting until Monday for the deepest discounts.
Amazon Devices (40-60% off)
Amazon's own products always hit their lowest prices during Black Friday:
- Fire TV Sticks
- Echo speakers and displays
- Kindle e-readers
- Ring doorbells and cameras
- Fire tablets
Streaming Service Subscriptions
This isn't a physical product, but Black Friday brings exceptional streaming deals:
- Hulu has offered $0.99/month deals
- Disney+ runs similar promotions
- Amazon Music and Audible often have trial offers
Check streaming services directly—these deals sometimes aren't on Amazon itself.
What to Skip on Black Friday
Some categories have better deals at other times, or the "deals" aren't as good as they seem:
Winter Apparel
Skip: Hats, gloves, coats, and winter accessories
Since winter apparel is a quintessential holiday gift, retailers don't need to discount heavily yet. Better deals come closer to Christmas and especially in January clearance sales.
Mattresses
While mattress companies run Black Friday sales, the discounts aren't dramatically better than Presidents' Day or Memorial Day sales. Mattress prices are also notoriously inflated year-round.
Hot New Gaming Consoles
Every kid wants the latest console, but don't expect major markdowns on newly released hardware. The Nintendo Switch 2 and similar new releases will maintain full price through the holidays.
"Doorbuster" Electronics from Unknown Brands
Be skeptical of TVs and electronics from brands you don't recognize offering suspiciously low prices:
- These may be models made specifically for Black Friday with reduced features
- Quality and reliability may be lower
- Warranty support may be limited
How to verify: Check the model number. If you can't find reviews from before November, it may be a sale-specific model.
Expert Shopping Strategies
Verify Deals Are Real
Not every Black Friday "deal" is genuine. Here's how to check:
Use CamelCamelCamel: This free tool shows price history for almost every Amazon product. Before buying, check if the current price is actually near the historical low.
Check model numbers: Some electronics sold on Black Friday are lower-spec versions made specifically for the sale. Verify features match what you expect.
Read recent reviews: If a product suddenly has many reviews from November, it may be a Black Friday-specific item with less testing.
Understand Deal Types
Lightning Deals: Best prices, but very limited time (sometimes just minutes). Have the app ready and be prepared to check out immediately.
Spotlight Deals: Featured deals that last longer but may sell out.
Deals of the Day: Good for 24 hours with better inventory.
Stack Your Savings
Single discounts are good; stacked savings are better:
- Start with the sale price
- Add a clippable coupon if available on the product page
- Use a cashback credit card (Amazon Prime Visa gives 5% back)
- Apply cashback browser extensions (Rakuten, Honey)
- Use promotional credits from no-rush shipping or trade-ins
Use the Amazon App
The app provides advantages over desktop:
- See Lightning Deals before they go live
- Get notifications when watched deals become available
- Faster checkout for time-limited deals
- Create deal watchlists
Join Waitlists
If a Lightning Deal shows "100% claimed," don't give up:
- Click "Join Waitlist"
- Items not purchased within 15 minutes return to inventory
- You'll be notified if you get a spot
Price Matching and Comparisons
Amazon isn't always the cheapest. During Black Friday:
Compare prices at:
- Best Buy
- Walmart
- Target
- Costco
- Manufacturer websites
Many retailers price-match Amazon during Black Friday, so you might find the same deal with better shipping or return options elsewhere.
Returns and Price Protection
Return Policy
Most Black Friday purchases follow Amazon's standard return policy (30 days), but this extends through January for items purchased during the holiday season.
Check: Some electronics and luxury items have different return windows. Verify on the product page before buying.
Price Drops After Purchase
If an item drops in price after you buy it, Amazon doesn't automatically refund the difference. However:
- You can return the item and rebuy at the lower price
- Contact customer service—they sometimes issue courtesy credits
Timeline: When to Shop
| Timeframe | What to Do |
|---|---|
| 2 weeks before | Build wish list, research prices, set alerts |
| 1 week before | Check early deals, compare competing retailers |
| Black Friday week | Monitor Lightning Deals, buy toys and electronics |
| Black Friday | Shop doorbusters, compare across retailers |
| Cyber Monday | Best for kitchen appliances, tech accessories |
| Cyber Week | Catch extended deals, buy anything you missed |
Red Flags to Watch For
Be cautious when you see:
- "List Price" savings: Amazon's list prices are sometimes inflated
- Unknown brands: Especially on electronics
- Model numbers you can't find elsewhere: May be sale-specific
- Pressure tactics: "Only 2 left!" can be manufactured urgency
- Deals that seem too good: Verify before buying
FAQ
Are Black Friday deals better than Prime Day?
It depends on the category. Amazon devices and some electronics often hit their lowest prices on Prime Day. Toys and general merchandise tend to have more selection on Black Friday.
Should I wait for Cyber Monday?
For kitchen appliances and some tech accessories, yes—prices sometimes drop further. For toys and high-demand electronics, buy on Black Friday to ensure availability.
Is Amazon's Black Friday sale real?
Yes, but not every deal is great. Use price tracking tools to verify savings. Genuine discounts of 20-50% are common on popular categories.
How do I get notified of deals?
- Download the Amazon app and enable notifications
- Use the "Watch this deal" feature
- Set up CamelCamelCamel alerts for specific products
- Follow deal sites like ValidSave
Shop Smart This Black Friday
The best Black Friday shoppers come prepared. Build your list now, research prices, and know what genuine deals look like so you can move fast when the sales start.
For verified Amazon deals throughout the year, check ValidSave for daily updates.