When is Black Friday 2024? Is it today?

11/15/2024 07:45 AM

BLACK Friday is just around the corner – and early deals are already pouring in.

The annual sale event is now a global affair, with brands and retailers covering all categories taking part – so keep reading to find out answers to questions like ‘when is Black Friday’ and what deals to expect.

• Amazon Black Friday sale – shop here
• John Lewis Black Friday sale – shop here
• Simba Black Friday sale – shop here

Black Friday is a major fixture on the shopping calendar around the world, and for 2024, the event will take place on 29 November.

Previously just a one-day event, Black Friday has now morphed into a month-long onslaught of discounts and deals for consumers to take advantage of.

Shoppers can expect everything from Amazon Fire TV Prime member deals to Black Friday Advent calendars and Christmas gift sets.

High street staples like Argos and Boots will be joining luxury brands like Canada Goose and Harrods in the discounting spree.

For many savvy shoppers, Black Friday is a particularly good time to snap up savings when shopping for Christmas and New Year – whether stocking up on gifts for loved ones, or prepping the home for the busy festive season.

As always, we recommend shopping around and comparing prices during the sales to ensure you are getting the cheapest possible deal.

Is it Black Friday today?

No, today is not Black Friday.

The shopping event is on the 29th of November this year, which is unusually late.

However, many brands have already released their Black Friday deals, so there’s no need to wait for the day itself. We’ve picked out some of our favourite deals below.

You can check out all the amazing deals as they drop in our best Black Friday deals guide, which we will be updating regularly throughout November.

Early Black Friday deals

Whether you're eyeing the latest tech, cosy home goods or beauty must-haves, these early deals are ready to kickstart your savings spree.

Take a look at our top picks from the Black Friday sale so far:

Oodie Original Hooded Blanket

Original Hooded Blanket, £65 £26 from Oodie

Save yourself from putting on the heating this winter, and invest in an Oodie instead.

These giant cosy hooded blankets may not be the most stylish thing you’ve ever seen, but they certainly know how to keep you warm.

Usually selling for £65, a handful of Original Oodie’s have been slashed by 60% to just £29 ahead of Black Friday.

We’ve tested one out and loved it, you can read our Oodie review here.

Emma Elite Black Friday bundle deal

Emma Elite Black Friday bundle deal, £2,540 £1,270 from Emma (double size)

Get ready to upgrade your sleep game!

The Elite Emma Black Friday deal is here, and it's a snooze-worthy steal.

This dreamy package includes the luxurious Elite mattress (choose from four sizes), the cloud-like Emma Premium Microfibre Pillow, a trusty mattress protector, and the cosy Emma 4-Seasons Duvet — all for just £1,270 for the double.

Down from £2,540, that's half off for double the comfort!

Whether you're a night owl, early bird, or a perpetual napper, this bundle is your ticket to blissful Zzz's.

Snag it before it's gone, and turn your bedroom into the sleep sanctuary you deserve.

Or if you want to get an idea of how Emma mattresses perform, check out our Emma Premium Mattress review first.

GV2 Milan Swiss Quartz Diamonds Silver Dial IPYG and Stainless Steel Watch

GV2 Milan Swiss Quartz Diamonds Silver Dial IPYG and Stainless Steel Watch, £2,995 £201.45 from Debenhams

Get ready to flex your wrist in style because Debenhams is offering a deal so dazzling, we thought it was a glitch at first.

Originally a whopping £2,995, the GV2 Milan Swiss Quartz Diamonds Watch is discounted by an incredible 93% – taking it down to just £201.45.

Yes, you read that right!

This showstopper features a sapphire crystal face and stainless-steel bracelet that screams luxury.

With twinkling diamonds embedded in the square-shaped dial, it’s the kind of bling you’ll be able to wear for years to come.

‘Beautiful heavy watch, oozing quality. Absolutely delighted.

‘Would make a wonderful Christmas present,’ writes one impressed shopper.

If you're looking to upgrade your timepiece game without emptying your bank account, now's the moment.

Bush 50 Inch 50UT24SB Smart 4K UHD HDR LED TiVo Freely TV

Bush 50 Inch 50UT24SB Smart 4K UHD HDR LED TiVo Freely TV, £269.99 £229.99 from Argos

Big screen dreams but on a budget?

Argos has you covered with this early deal you won't want to miss.

The Bush 4K Ultra HD frameless TV Powered by TiVo is now just £229.99, down from £269.99.

That's a whole £40 saved, to spend on your favourite snacks for binge-watching marathons.

This beauty comes packed with ultra-crisp 4K resolution and HDR magic for those ‘wow’ moments in your living room.

And the Smart TV features mean you can browse the internet, use voice search and access apps including disney+, Netflix, Amazon Prime and YouTube.

‘Perfect TV if you wanna go fancy on a budget. Love it!’ writes one shopper.

Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau de Toilette

Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau de Toilette 30ml, £52 £39 from John Lewis

John Lewis has launched its Black Friday sale early, with scores of deals on electricals, beauty and fragrance and more.

We’ve dived straight into the fragrance deals, as there’s up to 20% off some of the most luxurious of scents: perfect for early Christmas shopping!

If you’ve been longing for the fresh, floral scent of Marc Jacobs’s Daisy – or know someone who’d love to receive it in their stocking – now's your chance to grab it for a steal.

John Lewis is offering the iconic perfume for just £39 for the 30ml size, down from £52.

It’s also reduced in both the 50ml and 100ml bottles, with savings of up to £19.80.

‘This is my favourite perfume at the moment… The lovely floral scent is phenomenal,’ writes one shopper.

‘The price is super affordable for a big bottle. This is definitely a must-have in your collection!

What is Black Friday?

Black Friday is the name given to one of the biggest shopping dates of the year when retailers offer a range of highly-promoted sales.

It is one of the busiest days in the retail calendar, and typically marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping period.

What was once just a one-day event from the US that followed Thanksgiving celebrations has ballooned into a month-long influx of deals and discounts to take advantage of before Christmas.

Fast-forward to 2024, and Black Friday sees tens of thousands of brands and retailers around the world taking part.

When is Black Friday 2024?

If you’re wondering ‘when is Black Friday in the UK?’, it always falls on the Friday after the annual US Thanksgiving holiday – which is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.

This year, Black Friday will officially take place on Friday, November 29.

However, over the last few years the trend to extend the Black Friday sale throughout the month has become more commonplace.

Many retailers and brands opt to launch sales at the beginning of November, offering shoppers an extended period of promotions and offers that end at midnight on Cyber Monday.

When do Black Friday 2024 sales start?

Many major UK retailers have started their Black Friday deals already, stretching out the sales period of the event.

It’s worth signing up for newsletters, joining mailing lists and social media accounts of your favourite brands to get instant alerts of when their deals start.

The likes of Boots and John Lewis have kicked off their deals early, giving shoppers plenty of time to shop and compare deals.

Since most brands and retailers will be competing for our custom, bargain hunters will have plenty of price-matched offers to choose from during the event.

And consumer tools such as PriceSpy and CamelCamelCamel make it easy for shoppers to track price changes of products over time.

Nowadays, shoppers have swapped their shopping carts for virtual online baskets, choosing to spend their hard-earned cash from the comfort of their sofa during the event.

When do Black Friday 2024 sales end?

Officially, Black Friday is just one day – however, many brands will roll deals out throughout November.

Midnight on Cyber Monday – which was traditionally the date when online deals launched – usually marks the end of the Black Friday sales period.

And if you’re wondering ‘when is Cyber Monday?‘, this year, it falls on 2 December.

What will the best Black Friday UK deals be in 2024?

Black Friday has always been a great time to pick up discounted tech and electricals – especially from coveted brands like Amazon, Apple and Samsung.

But the popularity and scope of the sale means the best Black Friday deals in the UK can be found in a multitude of places.

Mega-retailers like Boots, John Lewis and Argos will price match during the sales as they compete for our coins.

Last year, household appliances and accessories featured heavily in price cuts, with offers such as £70 off a popular Ninja air fryer and 40% off the Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser being snapped up by bargain-hunters.

Online retail giant, Amazon, rolled out incredible deals for Prime members, including a robot vacuum cleaner for £100.

While fashion fans were able to snap up discounts from Kim Kardashian’s popular Skims line and half-price or better deals from high street favourites like Arket, Mango and Dr. Martens.

There were also big discounts at Canada Goose and Farfetch for designer gear.

This year, we expect home and tech to remain popular categories with shoppers, with big-spend items from major brands such as Ninja, Shark, Dyson and Apple getting the most attention.

Elsewhere, we expect gifting related items to also fly off the shelves, with major toy brands, fashion, beauty and jewellery categories also being popular with consumers making a start on their Christmas shopping.

During the Black Friday sales, online shoppers can also maximise their savings by signing up to a cashback site.

Sites like Quidco and TopCashback.co.uk are free to join and offer money back on purchases made at hundreds of retailers, across all categories.

Shoppers can also check voucher sites for codes that offer extra money off discounts or free delivery during the sale too.

Top brands to look out for this Black Friday

There’s nothing like scoring a Black Friday deal on a high-end brand – and this year’s sale is bringing the goods from all the big names!

Keep an eye on tech titans like Apple and Samsung for jaw-dropping discounts on gadgets you didn't know you needed.

For fashion lovers, the likes of ASOS and Zara are ready to bring the heat to your wardrobe – without burning your budget.

For the best deals on home, don't miss Dyson and Shark for those life-changing cleaning gadgets, or Emma and Simba for dreamy sleep deals.

Meanwhile, beauty lovers will want to stalk Sephora and Boots for sparkling savings on must-have products.

Why trust The Sun this Black Friday?

We have a dedicated Shopping team who are committed to scouring the web to find you the very best deals and highlight any duds.

The team has been working on Black Friday for over 6 years, so we know all the tricks of the trade, including how to spot which deals are worth your money and those that aren’t.

We’ve also personally reviewed hundreds (if not thousands) of products and therefore will only highlight products that we genuinely believe are worthy of your hard-earned cash.

Why is it called Black Friday and where did it come from?

Black Friday was given its name as it is often the day that shops “move into the black” – meaning they have enough money to cover their costs, while reducing prices.

The sale falls on the weekend after the US’s Thanksgiving holiday.

Thanksgiving is a federal holiday in the United States that originated as a harvest festival and has been celebrated on and off since 1789.

Many non-retail employees and schools have Thanksgiving and the following Friday off, creating a four-day weekend and increasing the number of potential shoppers.

The weekend traditionally marks the beginning of the holiday season ahead of Christmas and New Year.

The Friday after Thanksgiving came to be associated with shopping in the 1950s, though didn’t gain the name Black Friday until later.

The tradition has spread elsewhere in recent decades, and is now marked in the UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden, and a growing list of other countries.

We’ve put together a guide on the Black Friday meaning and name, where you can read more about its origins.