Black Friday remains the dominant shopping event despite the rise of alternative sales like Amazon’s Prime Day. This year, with Thanksgiving falling on November 27th, Black Friday is on November 28th, creating a compressed timeline for holiday shopping. However, retailers have already begun rolling out “early Black Friday” deals weeks in advance, blurring the lines between distinct sale periods.
The reality is that Black Friday is no longer a single-day event; it’s a weeklong or even month-long shopping spree extending into “Cyber Weekend,” encompassing Cyber Monday on December 1st. The shift reflects changing consumer behavior, with shoppers seeking deals earlier and longer, forcing retailers to adapt.
Here’s a breakdown of key retailers and their 2025 Black Friday plans:
Best Buy: Early Deals and Extended Sales
Best Buy launched early holiday deals as early as Halloween, with “doorBOOsters” dropping weekly. Their main Black Friday sale will run from November 20th through November 29th, both in-store and online. Cyber Sunday and Monday (November 30th and December 1st) will offer up to 50% off select tech, alongside limited-time deals.
Best Buy stores will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time on Black Friday, with a ticketing system potentially in place for crowd control. They will be closed on Thanksgiving. Best Buy offers a Holiday Price Match Guarantee and an Extended Holiday Return Policy (until January 14, 2025).
Walmart: Phased Rollouts and Early Access
Walmart’s Black Friday sales kicked off November 14th, with Walmart+ members receiving early access. The next phase runs online from November 25th to November 27th, followed by the official Black Friday sale in stores and online from November 28th to November 30th. An online-only Cyber Monday sale will follow on December 1st.
Walmart+ members gain early access starting November 24th at 7 p.m., with Cyber Monday deals available starting November 30th at 7 p.m. Walmart does not offer a price match guarantee, but has an extended return policy through January 31, 2026.
Walmart stores will operate from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. local time on Black Friday, closed on Thanksgiving.
Target: Immersive Shopping Experience
Target launched holiday savings on November 6th, with early deals on décor and toys. Their official Black Friday event runs from November 23rd to November 29th, with savings up to 50% off. Exclusive deals will drop from November 27th to November 29th, with early access for Target Circle 360 members. Cyber Monday deals will run online from November 30th to December 1st.
Target is enhancing the in-store experience with product launches and giveaways: the first 100 shoppers at each store will receive a holiday tote, and ten lucky shoppers will win prizes up to $350. Target no longer offers a price match policy but retains a holiday price match on its own prices through December 24th.
Target stores will open at 6 a.m. local time on Black Friday, closed on Thanksgiving, as per their permanent company policy since 2021.
Amazon: Black Friday Week
Amazon is hosting a “Black Friday Week” event from November 20th through Cyber Monday (December 1st), with banners shifting to Cyber Monday deals on November 29th. Amazon does not offer price matching, but often provides competitive pricing.
Amazon will also broadcast a Black Friday NFL game on Prime Video (Chicago Bears vs. Philadelphia Eagles on November 30th at 3 p.m. ET) with simultaneous shopping opportunities via “Shop the Game.”
Conclusion: Black Friday 2025 is no longer a single-day event but a prolonged shopping period. Retailers are rolling out deals earlier, blurring the lines between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Consumers should plan accordingly, leveraging early access programs and return policies to maximize savings.
