Shopping early Black Friday sales is no longer a suggestion — it’s a must. I’ve been talking to trend forecasters, supply chain managers, economists and consumer behavior specialists for weeks, and they have one main piece of advice for shoppers: hurry. Experts say items will likely go out of stock quickly this year due to limited inventory, and while prices may not drop as low as usual due to tariffs, there’s plenty of worthwhile discounts out there. The sooner you shop, the more options you’ll be able to browse through, and the longer you can spend comparing prices across retailers, weighing shipping options and coupon hunting to stretch your budget.
This is my sixth year covering Black Friday for NBC Select, so I know how to find deals that are actually worth buying. I spent weeks combing through thousands of discounts to find the best early Black Friday deals— each one I recommend below is highly rated and 20% off or more. When possible, I ran deals through price trackers to make sure they’re at their lowest price in at least three months or the lowest price ever. I’ll frequently update this list leading up to Black Friday.
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Best early Black Friday deals
Lowest price ever
4.5-star average rating from 29,507 reviews on Amazon
NBC Select tech reporter Harry Rabinowitz says the Apple AirPods 4 are one of the best pairs of earbuds you can buy if you own an iPhone. “They have a semi-open fit, meaning no rubber eartips, so you can hear the world around you (and your music, of course),” he says. “They’re also small, lightweight and sync easily across all your Apple devices.” You get up to 30 hours of battery life with the included charging case, and Siri virtual assistant is built in, so you can change the song, adjust volume, make calls and send texts completely hands-free. These sweat- and water-resistant AirPods don’t include active noise cancellation, but an ANC model is available.
Lowest price ever
4.8-star average rating from 247 reviews on Amazon
The NBC Select staff agrees that Legos are one of the best gifts for all ages — it’s an engaging, screen-free activity, and once you’re done with a build, it becomes a piece of home (or desk) decor. This set comes with pieces to make three mini bonsai trees: a ginkgo, a black pine and a wisteria tree. Lego recommends it for those ages 18 and up, and one to three people can construct the trees together.
4.3-star average rating from 8,266 reviews on Amazon
Samsonite makes some of the most durable luggage I’ve ever used — no matter how much I beat it up while traveling, it still works perfectly and looks pristine. This set comes with two of the brand’s suitcases: a 19-inch carry-on and a 28-inch checked bag. They both have a scratch-resistant hard outer shell, 360-degree spinner wheels and internal organization systems. The carry-on bag comes with a built-in charging system, while the checked bag has a built-in TSA lock.
4.2-star average rating from 118 reviews at Nordstrom
The Hoka Gaviota 5 is currently discounted across retailers in men’s and women’s sizes, and it’s one of our favorite walking shoes and running shoes with arch support. It has a built-in stabilizing system that’s especially beneficial for those with flat arches, a thick layer of plush cushioning that absorbs impact to protect your joints and a rocker-shaped outsole to encourage smooth heel-to-toe transitions. You can remove the sneakers’ insoles to add orthotics.
4.2-star average rating from 4,184 reviews on Amazon
Upgrade your electric toothbrush with this rechargeable option from Philips, which has a built-in 2-minute timer and vibrates to scrub your teeth. It comes with a travel case and a charger.
Lowest price ever
4.8-star average rating from 21,193 reviews on Amazon
Yeti drinkware is a popular gift in my family, and I’ve personally received this tumbler because my loved ones know how often I take my iced coffee and smoothies on the go. The 42-ounce, dishwasher-safe cup is made from stainless steel and has double-wall vacuum insulation, which helps keep drinks hot or cold for hours, in my experience. The large handle makes the tumbler easy to hold, its base is cup holder-compatible and it comes with a straw lid that you can take apart for easy cleaning. I also appreciate that the exterior of the cup doesn’t produce condensation, so whatever surface I put it on stays dry.
4.9-star average rating from 13,274 reviews on Amazon
NBC Select editorial projects manager and former preschool teacher Rebecca Rodriguez says Magna-Tiles were the number one toy her students fought over. I’ve played with them myself while babysitting and can attest that they’re always a crowd-pleaser. This set comes with 32 magnetic blocks in square and triangular shapes, in a rainbow of colors. Kids can use them to make 3D and 2D structures.
4.9-star average rating from 1,219 reviews at Calpak
“I bring almost my entire bathroom with me while traveling, and this cosmetic case is one of the only ones that can handle my excess of products,” says Rodriguez. “When I first used it, I was dumbfounded by how much of my makeup and skin care fit inside. It also feels luxe with its faux-leather exterior and gold zippers.” Since the cosmetics case is clear, you can always see what’s inside and easily wipe it down to clean as needed. It also comes in tiny, small and large sizes, all of which are on sale.
Lowest price ever
4.2-star average rating from 30,826 reviews on Amazon
This robot vacuum cleans your floors for you. It gets rid of dust, dirt and pet hair with its powerful suction and multi-surface brushes, and maps your home to avoid obstacles like furniture and stairs. The appliance connects to the Roomba Home app so you can schedule cleans, get progress updates and view maintenance alerts. It also responds to voice commands. The Roomba comes with a charging base, which it returns to when its battery runs low, then resumes cleaning.
Lowest price ever
4.3-star average rating from 1,720 reviews on Amazon
This lightweight, travel-friendly hot tool dries and styles your hair with interchangeable attachments. You can twist the base into two positions: one lets you use it as a blow dryer with the included concentrator, and the other turns it into a hot air brush and curler with the included auto-wrap curlers and oval brush. The FlexStyle measures heat as you use it to maintain consistent air temperatures and prevent hair damage, according to the brand. This set comes in a limited-edition copper color and you get a neoprene storage bag.
4.3-star average rating from 12 reviews at Hanna Andersson
I like to think of myself as somewhat of a pajama set connoisseur, and out of all the options I own, Hanna Andersson’s are my all-time favorite. I’ve bought them for adults and kids in my life, especially if I’m struggling with a gift idea, and there are lots of options if you’re looking for matching holiday pajamas the whole family can wear. This set is made from lightweight, buttery soft, moisture-wicking fabric and the top and bottoms both have a relaxed fit with piping detail. They fit true to size, in my experience.
4.7-star average rating from 1,500 reviews at REI
You can wear this long-sleeve shirt on its own or layer it to stay warm, especially during winter outdoor activities like skiing and hiking. The shirt has a slightly oversized fit, and it’s made from merino wool, a comfortable, odor-resistant, breathable and thermal-regulating material, according to the brand. It’s also made with flat seams to reduce chaffing.
Best early Black Friday sales
Here are the best early Black Friday sales to know about. Keep in mind, not every item from a brand is discounted as described below.
- Amazon: Up to 60% off select deals now, and save even more during Amazon’s Black Friday Week from Nov. 20 to Dec. 1
- Walmart: Up to 50% off site- and store-wide, plus get 50% off a Walmart+ membership
- Target: Up to TK% off sitewide through Dec. 24 with new deals dropping every Sunday. Target is offering a new Deal of the Day through Dec. 24
- Best Buy: Up to 50% off online and in stores, with new limited-time deals constantly added
- REI: Shop discounts site- and store-wide during the REI Holiday Sale through Nov. 24
- Home Depot: Shop discounts site- and store-wide through Dec. 3
- Lowe’s: Up to 50% off major appliances, plus an additional 25% off when you bundle major appliances
- Nordstrom: Up to 60% off sitewide and up to 40% off designer clearance through Nov. 19
- Ulta: Up to 40% off sitewide through Nov. 22 with new deals dropping weekly
- Samsonite: Up to 40% off sitewide
- Land’s End: Up to 60% off sitewide
- Macy’s: Up to 75% off sitewide during the Black Friday Early Access Sale with new deal drops every Friday
- Alo: Up to 30% off sitewide exclusively for members during the Singles Day sale
- Great Jones: Up to 50% off sitewide
- Our Place: Up to 35% off sitewide
- Aura: Get $50 off Aura’s Walden Frame with code WALDEN50 at checkout
- Calpak: Up to 60% off select items and 20% off sitewide
- Cadence: Up to 30% off sitewide
- Sleepy Tie: 20% off sitewide
- Foreo: Up to 50% off sitewide with code BLACKFRIDAY
- Peace Out Skincare: 30% off sitewide through Dec. 2
- Sleep Number: Up to 50% off smart beds, mattresses, bedding and more
- Hanna Andersson: 40% off sitewide
- Larq: Up to 30% off sitewide
- Bombas: 25% off sitewide
- Billie: 20% off sitewide through Dec. 5
- Cozy Earth: Up to 25% off sitewide
- Bearaby: Up to 30% off sitewide
- T3: 30% off sitewide
- Gap: Up to 60% off limited-time deals
- Raymour & Flanigan: Up to 30% off furniture through Nov. 26
- Chirp: Up to $100 off products sitewide
- Boll & Branch: 25% off sitewide, and up to 50% off select styles on orders $299 or more, with code CYBER25
How I found the best early Black Friday deals
All of my recommendations above are based on NBC Select’s previous coverage and reporting, including products the NBC Select staff tested firsthand. I vetted each deal to ensure it’s 20% off or more and highly rated, with an average rating of 4.0 or higher from hundreds of reviews. When possible, I ran deals through price trackers like CamelCamelCamel to prioritize highlighting products that are at their lowest price in at least three months or the lowest price ever.
I also wrote about every deal in this article and worked with NBC Select editors to finalize the live list, which I frequently update throughout Black Friday to reflect the latest prices. For more information on our editorial team and how we choose products, check out this page.
Why trust NBC Select?
I’m a reporter at NBC Select who has covered Black Friday and Cyber Monday since 2020. I wrote NBC Select’s histories of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and put together our 2025 shopping guide about what to buy v.s. skip. I also cover the best deals during all major shopping holidays throughout the year. To write this article, I sorted through early Black Friday sales to find worthwhile discounts you should know about.
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