Christmas

Content Guide

• When Christmas Sales Start
• Christmas Tree Deals
• Christmas Phone Deals
• Christmas Gift Guide
• After Christmas Sales
• FAQ

When Do Christmas Sales Start?

Black Friday falls on November 27, 2026, with Cyber Monday following on November 30. Most major retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, and Target, start rolling out early deals in the first half of November, so the official dates are really just the peak of a much longer promotional window.

The two to three weeks before Christmas Eve are the busiest for gift shopping, especially December 15–22, when last-minute shoppers rush to finish their lists. December 19, sometimes called Super Saturday, is typically the final big push for in-store deals before the holiday.

Once Christmas Day passes, a second wave kicks in. After Christmas sales are where the deepest discounts show up — retailers need to clear holiday inventory to make room for new stock, so decorations, cards, and seasonal items drop fast, sometimes all the way down to 90% off within the first two weeks of January.

Holiday Decor and Christmas Trees on Sale

Real and artificial trees see two very different shopping windows. Buying a tree at full price generally happens throughout December, in the weeks leading up to the holiday, while the best Christmas tree deals, alongside discounts on lights, ornaments, and wreaths show up right after Christmas, once retailers start clearing seasonal floor space.

Wreaths, garlands, ornaments, and outdoor inflatables follow a similar pattern: expect the steepest price drops from December 26 onward, with after Christmas deals deepening through the first weeks of January as retailers push to sell through remaining stock. Selection thins out fast, so shoppers hunting for a specific style or size tend to have better luck checking in the first few days after Christmas rather than waiting.

Christmas Phone Deals

Electronics stay competitive right through December, with carriers and retailers offering trade-in bonuses and bundled discounts on new phones in the weeks before the holiday. Christmas phone deals tend to run steadily through the month rather than spiking on a single day, so there's no need to rush if you're shopping mid-December.

Christmas Gifts Guide: What to Buy for Everyone on Your List

Finding the right Christmas gifts for everyone on your list gets harder every year: starting early, in November, is usually the difference between a relaxed shopping season and a last-minute scramble. Here's a breakdown by who you're shopping for, based on what shoppers are actually looking for each season.

• Beauty sets, cozy loungewear, and personalized jewelry are the categories that consistently top the list when it comes to Christmas gifts for women, especially across major retailers' own guides.
• For the men on your list, Christmas gifts for men tend to work best when they lean into tech accessories, grooming kits, or gear tied to an actual hobby.
• Self-care items, home fragrance, and sentimental keepsakes are usually the safest bet for Christmas gifts for mom, since they read as thoughtful without needing much guesswork.
• Tools, tech gadgets, and anything tied to a favorite hobby or sport are consistently the strongest pick for Christmas gifts for dad, especially when they're a step up from what he'd buy for himself.
• Age makes all the difference with Christmas gifts for kids: sensory toys work for toddlers, while tweens and teens are far more likely to appreciate gaming gift cards or tech.
• Trends shift every year, but Christmas gifts for teens consistently circle back to tech, skincare, and personalized accessories no matter what's currently popular.

If you're shopping close to the holiday, last minute Christmas gifts like gift cards, digital subscriptions, or same-day delivery items are the safest bet once shipping deadlines have already passed, typically in the days right before December 25.

For a more personal touch, DIY Christmas gifts (baked goods, photo albums, or handmade crafts) remain a popular alternative for shoppers who want something that doesn't rely on shipping windows at all.

Who Has The Best After Christmas Sales?

Each major retailer follows its own clearance rhythm once the holiday passes, so knowing the pattern helps you time your shopping.

Macy's after Christmas sale is one of the most anticipated events of the season. Unlike retailers that ramp up their discounts gradually, Macy's tends to roll out its best clearance prices all at once starting December 26, with markdowns that typically land somewhere between 50% and 80% depending on the department (home decor and winter apparel usually see the deepest cut).

typically includes clearance across categories such as apparel, home, beauty, and seasonal merchandise. Discount levels vary by year and department, so shoppers should compare the live sale with pre-Christmas prices rather than rely on a fixed markdown schedule.

The Target after Christmas sale follows a more gradual schedule: discounts usually start around 50% off on December 26, then increase in stages through the first weeks of January as retailers work through remaining stock. The exact pace shifts a bit from year to year, so it's worth checking back periodically rather than expecting a fixed date.

Walmart after Christmas sale discounts tend to focus on decorations, toys, and seasonal home goods, with markdowns rolling out gradually through late December and into the new year.

Amazon Christmas deals work differently since there's no single clearance event: discounts on electronics, toys, and gift categories appear throughout December, with additional markdowns often following Christmas Day on unsold seasonal inventory.

FAQ

• When do Christmas trees go on sale?

Artificial trees usually see the steepest discounts starting December 26, once retailers begin clearing seasonal inventory. Real trees don't typically go on sale after the holiday since they're no longer useful once Christmas has passed.

• Is it better to buy gifts before or after Christmas?

For gifts you plan to give that year, shopping in December is the only real option. But if you're stocking up on decorations, cards, or non-perishable items for next year, waiting for the post Christmas sales in late December and January will almost always save more.

• What stores have after Christmas sales?

Most major retailers run some form of post-holiday clearance, from big-box stores and craft chains to pharmacies and specialty decor shops (the discount depth and timing just vary by retailer and category).

• Does Amazon have Christmas sales?

It's common for Amazon to run additional promotional events in the two weeks leading up to Christmas, on top of its regular December deals, though these are usually shorter and more targeted at specific categories like electronics and toys.