The Best Time to Buy Appliances (2024 Guide) (2024)

Note: This article is free of generative AI. All content was written and edited by humans.

All products and services featured are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

A new appliance is a major purchase. Knowing the best time of year to buy appliances can help you find deals without sacrificing quality. Below, we’ve gathered some shopping tips to help you maximize your investment.

Shop on Holidays and Retail Holidays

The best time to find deals on appliances is on major holidays, such as the following:

• Black Friday
• Cyber Monday
• Fourth of July
• Labor Day
• Memorial Day
• New Years
• Presidents Day
• Prime Day (for Amazon products)
• Veterans Day

Retailers put out their best deals around holidays to keep pace with their competitors. However, you’ll need to make sure you do your homework ahead of time and are ready to act quickly, as holiday deals typically sell out right away.

If you’re interested in looking at the appliances in person, it’s best to go before the sale. Ask an employee which models will be on sale to get an idea of your options and compare. That way, you’ll be ready to strike when the price is slashed.

Retail holidays such as Cyber Monday and Amazon Prime Day are also great times to look for sales if you’re willing to shop for appliances online. Review features and product specifications carefully, and read customer reviews if you plan on buying an appliance online without seeing it in-store.

Wait for New Models

Besides holidays, the best time to buy appliances is when new models come out. At these times, manufacturers will reduce the price of previous models to clear out inventory for the new products. As long as you’re willing to get a slightly outdated model, you could save big bucks.

Some manufacturers begin sales a month or two before the new models are available. For example, Maytag offers robust rebates on refrigerators during “May is Maytag Month.” You can use this rebate finder to find rebates on Energy Star-certified appliances.

Track Prices

You never know when a flash sale might pop up. For example, some manufacturers have deals at the end of the month as they try to hit specific sales quotas. If you’re willing to wait—and potentially miss out on the product if it goes out of stock—try tracking prices and acting when the cost goes down. Make sure to look at multiple retailers to see if they put the product you’re looking for on sale.

Ask About Floor Models

One easy way to save money on appliances is to ask the sales representative to sell you a floor or open-box model. While these items technically come with a “used” tag, they’re often heavily discounted, even for the most up-to-date models. Buying a floor model can save you as much as 15%, and the product won’t have any significant drawbacks other than fingerprints and a few potential scratches.

Here are some other ways to save in addition to the tips above.

Compare Various Retailers

It’s always wise to look up multiple retailers and compare prices. Even if you’ve seen a model in person and feel ready to buy, check online first to see if it’s being sold for less elsewhere. If you see the model you’re looking for listed for a cheaper price, you can attempt to negotiate with the salesperson to match it.

Shop in the Off-Season

If you know when the busy season is for your appliances, you can save by shopping at the opposite time, as prices are likely to go down when demand is lower. For instance, a new air conditioner may cost less in winter than summer, whereas a heater will be less expensive in summer than winter.

Check for Back-to-School Deals

The back-to-school season may seem like a strange time to look for appliances, but with new students moving into dorm rooms and apartments, retailers often have sales on items such as refrigerators and washer-dryer sets in August and September. Back-to-school is a particularly great time to look for small appliances such as minifridges, small microwaves, and portable washers.

Research Credit Card Benefits

Some credit cards provide benefits for buying from certain retailers or brands. Alternatively, some cards may offer cashback or other reward points that could save you money, even if not directly on the appliance.

Where to Shop for Appliances

Here are some of top retailers to look at when buying appliances:

• AJ Madison
• Amazon
• Appliance Connection
• Best Buy
• Costco
• The Home Depot
• Lowe’s
• P.C. Richard and Son
• Sears
• Walmart
• Wayfair

You can also buy the appliance directly from the retailer. For example, Samsung’s online store has its entire collection of appliances available to ship. You can also look for appliances at your local appliance store, which may be more willing to cut a deal than a big-box store.

The Best Appliances to Buy

Using the methods listed above, you’re all but guaranteed to find a great deal on home appliances. However, you still need to ensure you’re buying a high-quality product. Use the buying guides below to find the best products.

• Best Built-In Microwaves
• Best Dishwashers
• Best Electric Stoves
• Best Oven Ranges
• Best Refrigerators
• Best Top-Load Washers
• Best Washer-Dryer Sets

How We Chose the Top Appliances

Over the years, our team has vetted thousands of products to help you select the best appliances for your home. We update our data points and review content regularly to account for shifts in customer consensus, product availability, new releases, and overall quality.

To steer the product selection process, our reviewers conduct detailed research that focuses on several key factors:

• Brand research: We cast a wide net by first looking at the latest, most reputable models available through trusted retailers.
• Ratings: We then scope our list down to products with a high number of verified-buyer reviews and average customer rating between four and five stars.
• Expert and consumer insights: Next, we look at what independent product testers, subject matter experts, and other publications have to say about each model we review.
• User needs: Finally, we compare each item’s features, specs, and warranty information to find a best-in-class option for every type of consumer and price point.