Seasonal sales calendar: when things are cheapest
Last checked November 2026. Offers and rules change: confirm with the provider before you rely on them.
Most things are cheapest just as their season ends: winter coats in January, garden furniture in late summer, Christmas goods on Boxing Day. If you can plan a purchase a few months ahead, buying out of season is one of the simplest ways to save.
How to use this calendar
This is a guide to typical patterns in UK shops, not a promise. Retailers change their sale dates from year to year, and a "sale" price is only a bargain if it beats what other shops are charging on the day. Before buying, compare prices using our price comparison guide.
The year at a glance
| Month | Typically reduced |
|---|---|
| January | Winter clothing, bedding and towels, furniture, Christmas cards and decorations, calendars and diaries |
| February | Last of the winter stock, heaters and winter bedding as the season ends |
| March | Winter coats and boots on final clearance; spring cleaning products on offer |
| April | Easter chocolate straight after Easter; home improvement and furniture offers around the bank holidays |
| May | Bank holiday furniture and DIY offers; plants are plentiful at garden centres |
| June | Summer clothing sales begin at many retailers |
| July | Summer clothes and sandals; online retailers' summer sale events |
| August | Garden furniture, barbecues, fans and summer clothing on clearance |
| September | End-of-season garden and outdoor goods; perennial plants; some outgoing car models |
| October | Summer holiday items; early offers on winter goods before demand peaks |
| November | Electrical goods and technology around Black Friday |
| December | Sales starting on or before Boxing Day: clothing, electricals, gift sets, Christmas food and decorations |
Month by month
January and February
The winter sales are the longest-established of the year. Coats, knitwear and boots are reduced while there are still weeks of cold weather left to wear them. Department stores traditionally discount bedding, towels and linens, and furniture retailers run prominent sales. It is also the time to buy next December's Christmas cards, wrapping paper and decorations at a fraction of the price, along with the current year's calendars and diaries. See slippers and footwear and heated throws and electric blankets for what to look for.
March to May
Final winter clearance in early spring can bring the deepest cuts, if your size is left. Easter eggs are heavily reduced from Easter Monday. The spring bank holidays are a traditional time for offers on furniture, beds, kitchens and DIY goods, though furniture retailers run promotions for much of the year, so an "ends Monday" notice should never hurry you. Gardeners will find the widest choice of plants now, but not the lowest prices. See DIY and garden discounts for age-related offers.
June to August
Summer clothing sales typically start in June and deepen through July. By August, shops are making room for autumn stock and marking down garden furniture, parasols, barbecues, fans and paddling pools for the grandchildren. Large online retailers also hold their own summer sale events, with short-lived offers on electrical goods. If you are thinking about garden tools, late summer and autumn clearance is a good moment.
September and October
Garden centres clear outdoor furniture and reduce perennial plants, shrubs and spring bulbs as the season moves on. Buy winter goods such as heaters, thermal clothing and draught-proofing now, before the first cold snap pushes demand up; our guide to keeping warm for less has ideas. New car registration plates arrive in March and September, and dealers may be more willing to negotiate on outgoing stock around then.
November and December
Black Friday falls on the Friday after the fourth Thursday in November and has spread into weeks of promotions. It can be a good time for televisions, tablets, phones and small appliances, but consumer groups have repeatedly found that many "deals" were available at the same price or less at other times of year. Decide what you want and what it normally costs beforehand. Our guides to tablets and other technology explain what features matter.
The winter sales now tend to begin online on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day and in shops on Boxing Day. Christmas food, crackers and gift sets are reduced immediately afterwards.
Things that follow their own timetable
- Fresh fruit and vegetables are cheapest and best when in season in the UK: asparagus in late spring, strawberries in early summer, apples and root vegetables in autumn.
- Holidays cost least outside school holidays. If you are free to travel in term time, May, June and September often combine good weather with lower prices. See holiday discounts for over-60s.
- Insurance and broadband are cheapest when you compare and negotiate before your renewal date, whatever the month; see the haggling guide.
- Older models of televisions, phones and appliances are often reduced when a replacement model is launched, at any time of year.
- Supermarket seasonal lines, from school uniform to Christmas puddings, are cleared quickly once their moment has passed.
Your rights in the sales
Sale goods carry exactly the same legal rights as full-price ones: they must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described. The exception is a fault that was pointed out as the reason for the reduction. Shops may, however, tighten their own goodwill returns policy on sale items, for example exchange only, so ask before buying if you are unsure about size or colour. Online purchases keep the 14-day right to change your mind. See returns and refunds.
Common questions
When is the best time to buy a winter coat?
Typically January and February, when the winter sales are under way and there is still cold weather to come. The widest choice of sizes is at the start of the sale.
Is Black Friday really the cheapest time to buy?
Sometimes, but not reliably. Compare the offer with prices at other retailers and, if you can, with what the item cost earlier in the year.
When is garden furniture cheapest?
Usually late August and September, as shops clear summer stock. Choice is more limited by then.
Can I return something bought in a sale?
If it is faulty, yes, exactly as with any purchase. If you have changed your mind, it depends on the shop's policy for in-store purchases, while online orders keep the 14-day cooling-off period.