When Is The Best Time To Buy Appliances?

Buying a new appliance shouldn’t be a spur of the moment decision, especially if your household relies on it every day. As such, it’s important to plan ahead, do your research, and purchase a home warranty plan if you’re looking to save as much money as possible when you have to buy or replace an appliance. 

Best Times of Year to Buy Appliances (Seasonal Deals):

Spring (May–June): Retailers often discount refrigerators and other big electronics in late spring. For example, new fridge models usually roll out in summer, so older models go on sale around May. Memorial Day sales (May) are a prime time for appliance deals, this even coincides with “Maytag Month,” when washers and dryers often have rebates or discounts.

Fall (September–November): This is generally the best time for large appliances like washers, dryers, dishwashers, and water heaters. Many new models are released in the fall, so retailers mark down older stock around September–October. Look for big discounts over Labor Day weekend in early September, and even bigger sales in late fall as Black Friday (late November) approaches. In fact, Black Friday sales on appliances have expanded into multi-week events with steep price cuts on nearly all major appliances. (Even Veterans Day and the October Columbus Day weekend often feature decent appliance sales, though they may be overshadowed by Black Friday.)

Winter (December–February): Year-end and winter months are good for specific categories. You’ll see more promotions on ranges and ovens during the holiday season (as people upgrade kitchens before Thanksgiving/Christmas). It’s also an off-season for air conditioners, making winter a smart time to buy an A/C unit when demand (and prices) are low. Additionally, after the winter holidays (late December into January),some stores hold clearance sales – often called “white goods” sales – to clear out floor models and last year’s inventory, which can yield bargains on large appliance.

Holiday Weekends & Special Sale Events: It’s no secret that long weekends and major sale events bring significant markdowns on appliances. Besides those mentioned above, other notable times include Presidents’ Day (Feb),Fourth of July, and New Year’s Day, when many retailers run sales on home goods. Amazon Prime Day (typically mid-July, with a second event some years in October) is now a major online sale for appliances and gadgets, often offering 30–60% off select items.  
Cyber Monday (the Monday after Thanksgiving) also features big online deals on appliances, especially smaller kitchen gadgets. The key is to plan ahead for these events and compare prices to ensure the “sale” is truly a good deal. 
 

Worst Times to Buy a New Appliance: 

During an Emergency: The worst time to buy is when an appliance has broken unexpectedly and you’re desperate to replace it immediately. In a rush, you’ll have little leverage to shop for sales or compare models, and you might end up paying full price out of necessity. It’s often a budget hit because you can’t wait for a better price.

Right After a New Model Launch: Buying a brand-new model the moment it’s released is risky and expensive. Early in a product’s release, the price is at its highest and there are no customer reviews yet to verify the manufacturer’s claims. It’s usually smarter to wait a few months until any initial bugs are worked out and the model (or previous generation) goes on sale. Manufacturers tend to discount last year’s model when a new one comes out – for instance, prices on year-old models drop around the time new models hit showrooms (often in the fall or post-holidays). In short, patience can save you money and help you avoid unwelcome surprises with untested products.

Pro Tip – Plan Ahead: Keep track of the age and condition of your current appliances. Every appliance has a finite lifespan, so if you know (for example) your washer is 10 years old (approaching typical end-of-life),you can start looking for deals before it fails. 

This way, you won’t be forced to buy at a bad time. Maintaining a “sinking fund” – savings set aside for appliance replacement – is also wise, so you’re financially prepared when a good sale comes along.

The worst time to buy a new appliance is when you’re desperate and don’t have the luxury of waiting for a sale or shopping around. It can also be bad to buy a new appliance during its first release, as it won’t have customer reviews to back up its marketing claims. To avoid surprises later, we recommend keeping track of all your appliances’ ages. 

Approximate Appliance Lifespans

Even the best-made appliances have a finite lifespan, so it can be a good idea to maintain a sinking fund for approximately the cost of replacing each appliance as its lifespan nears the end.

Buy New Appliances on Holiday Weekends

It’s no secret that retail stores launch significant sale events on holiday weekends. Black Friday is often considered the best time to shop for appliances, but deals can be had on several holiday weekends. Some notable sales holidays include:

• New Year’s Day
• Presidents’ Day
• Memorial Day
• The Fourth of July
• Labor Day
• Columbus Day

However, consumers should still pay careful attention to the sticker price, even when retailers advertise low prices. Some sellers markup the price at a sale event but slap on a sticker that advertises 25% off. You may think you’re getting a steal, but you’ve been misled.

Pro Tip: If you anticipate a purchase, keep tabs on appliance prices throughout the year. Pick a few models and retailers. Note the MSRP or the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, and compare it to each retailer’s sticker price. Then, when the item goes on sale during a holiday weekend, you’ll have a good idea of whether or not the advertised price is a good deal. 

Buy After A New Release––Typically in the Fall

While holiday weekends and sales events can offer competitive prices, many experts say the deals start around July and get better until they peak a few weeks before Black Friday, when new releases hit the market. 

If you are expecting a big-ticket appliance purchase in the next calendar year, start your research now, begin saving, and prepare to purchase two to four weeks after Labor Day weekend for the best deals. Similarly, you can subscribe to manufacturers’ and Big Box newsletters. You may get a great deal on the last model year after the new one debuts.

Hold Out Until The End of the Year for Small Appliances

Small appliances, like toasters, coffee makers, and microwaves, tend to go on sale right after the holidays as Americans begin their home improvement and organization projects. If you anticipate one of your appliances malfunctioning later in the year or you’ve held out on purchasing until now, buying at the end of the year can preempt more expensive purchases. 

Maximize Savings With a Home Warranty for Appliances

One of the best ways you can protect your budget––and your sanity––is with a home warranty. While home warranties aren’t free, purchasing an annual plan can spread your payments into reasonable monthly installments. When you file a claim, you’ll have to pay a service call fee, but after that, many of the costs to repair or replace your appliance will be covered up to the limit outlined in your policy.  Our Appliance Guard and Total Home Guard plans cover up to $2,000 per item, significantly reducing your costs and stress when an unexpected breakdown happens due to normal wear and tear.

Request a custom quote to learn more about our coverage options.