Your Ultimate Guide to Black Friday 2019—Plus Deals You Can Shop Now

PSA: You have one less week to shop this year.

By Braelyn Wood

November 01, 2019

Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.

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Athletes have the Olympics. Actors have the Oscars. Shoppers have Black Friday. Easily the biggest shopping holiday in the United States (sorry, Prime Day), Black Friday kickstarts the frantic rush to find the perfect holiday gift for all of your friends and family—and maybe even a few gifts for yourself, too.

Like any *major* event, you should never go into Black Friday unprepared. It’s a rookie mistake that could lead you to miss out on some of the year’s best deals—which are likely to include massive savings on Fitbits, Vitamix blenders, AirPods, and more. That’s why we’ve decided to create the ultimate guide to Black Friday 2019, including everything you need to know about the mega-sale event, how to score the best Black Friday deals, and pre-sales you can shop right now.

Since we’ve compiled everything you need to prepare for Black Friday in one place, we recommend bookmarking this page as your go-to resource and checking back for updates as the big day gets closer. So pull up a chair and grab a warm cup of your favorite beverage—we’re about to reveal everything you need to know this holiday season.

(Read our other editor-curated Black Friday roundups here to find the best fitness deals on Amazon, the best Black Friday deals at Walmart, and the best activewear deals from your favorite brands.)

When Is Black Friday 2019?

Black Friday is always the day after Thanksgiving, a.k.a the last Friday of the month. This year, Black Friday is on November 29, 2019, and launches the annual rush to find the perfect gift for everyone on your holiday shopping list.

Unfortunately, Thanksgiving falls on the calendar a bit later than usual this year, which means there’s one less week between Thanksgiving and Christmas (and less time to shop the year’s best deals!). But don’t fret—many major brands are expected to start sales in late November, ahead of Black Friday. You’ll still find some of the best deals on Black Friday, but you can also expect to see plenty of deals available before Thanksgiving. In fact, you can even start scoring great savings now. You know what they say: the early bird gets the worm.

When Will Walmart Black Friday Ads Come Out?

We’ve still got almost a month before the big day, but Walmart, one of the biggest retailers in the game, already dropped its first set of deals last week on October 25, 2019. The super early release date will likely influence other major brands like Best Buy, Target, and Amazon to start sharing their own price cuts. Historically, many retailers start releasing their Black Friday deals in early November, with most sales advertised at least a week prior to Thanksgiving. However, Walmart’s super early Black Friday launch means we’re likely to see even more early deals in the coming weeks.

Who Has the Best Black Friday Deals?

The best part of Black Friday is that you’ll likely find savings for all of your favorite brands—whether it's a massive retailer like Target or a direct-to-consumer company like Alo Yoga. Black Friday is easily the biggest shopping event in the U.S.—it *really* goes for a full weekend, not just one day—so it makes sense that so many brands want to get in on the action and offer loyal customers the best savings.

While Black Friday sales used to happen primarily in stores, most brands now offer their deals online—and many times, they’re even better than the in-person savings—with prices slashed through the weekend to Cyber Monday. The online availability means you’ll find plenty of companies price-matching their items against competitors (which is a major win for shoppers). All this to say: You’re going to find deals everywhere. The other great part of online shopping on Black Friday? No driving in traffic to the biggest stores, waiting in chaotic lines, and running the risk of your favorite items selling out before you get to them—instead, you don't even need to leave your couch to save money on your wish-list items.

The best markdowns we saw in 2018 came from major retailers like Walmart, Amazon, Nordstrom, Zappos, Macy’s, and Target. Plus, activewear brands like Old Navy, Alo Yoga, Gaiam, and Sweaty Betty all offered great discounts on unbelievably cute gear.

What Are The Best Black Friday Deals?

During Black Friday, you can save tons of money on big-ticket items you’ve been waiting to splurge on—including workout equipment, fitness trackers, electronics, and expensive kitchen appliances. You can expect some of the biggest retailers, like Walmart and Amazon, to set the price for this year’s hottest items (think: Apple AirPods, the ultra-popular Instant Pot pressure cooker, and Vitamix blenders).

We’ve also seen super low prices on Nordic Track treadmills, Fitbits, Apple Watches, and even some of the most coveted skin-care brands.

What Are The Best Pre-Black Friday Deals?

Good news: You don’t have to wait until Black Friday to start shopping! Here, the best online deals you can already take advantage of now—and maybe even cross a few names off your holiday shopping list.

Best Deals on Headphones and Electronics

Apple AirPods with Charging Case, $144, ~~$159,~~ walmart.com

Apple Watch Series 3 GPS + Cellular, $199, ~~$379,~~ walmart.com

Bose SoundSport Wireless Sports Bluetooth Earbuds, $129, ~~$149~~, walmart.com

Best Leggings and Activewear Deals

ULTRACOR Reversible Sprinter Tie Dye 7/8 Legging, $150, ~~$215~~, bandier.com

Zella Body Chase Me Sports Bra, $24, ~~$39~~, nordstrom.com

KORAL Lustrous High-Rise Leggings, $56, ~~$80~~, zappos.com

Best Skin-Care and Beauty Deals

DERMAFLASH Glow in a Flash Set, $128, ~~$22,~~ nordstrom.com

Perricone MD Skin Perfecting Serum, $59, ~~$90~~, sephora.com

T3 SinglePass Curl Professional Ceramic Curling Iron, $119, ~~$160,~~ ulta.com