The Cheapest Days to Shop Online

How many times have you scrolled through the promotions in your inbox and purchased something you thought was a good deal — only to find out the next day that the price has gone down? 

While giving in to impulsive purchases may feel good at the moment, you’re probably not making the most of the various deals and bargains the internet offers — which feels especially important now, with the prices of everything from food to electronics going up. By being more mindful of how and when you buy, you can ensure you get the most bang for your buck. Here’s what experts have to say about the best days and times to score a deal.

The Best and Worst Days To Shop Online

According to a 2025 study by data-gathering company SmartProxy — which analyzed the prices of items on 40 different retailers’ sites every four hours for more than a month — the least expensive day to shop online is Tuesday, and the most expensive day to shop is Friday. That’s because sales tend to be slower at the beginning of the week, so retailers drop prices to tempt customers to buy. By the end of the week, when more people are buying, retailers raise prices again.  

Experts told GoBankingRates that the weekends are the worst time to shop online, particularly Saturdays, because online demand drives prices upward. They suggest shopping toward the middle of the week instead, when retailers have more product and demand is lower.   

If you’re looking to score great coupon discounts, however, the advice changes. In that case, you may want to do your online shopping on Fridays. An analysis of 75 million coupon code tests by SimplyCodes, a coupon code-testing website, showed that for most of the week, the median observed discount sits at 10%. But on Fridays, that median rises to 15% due to flash sales and codes that are valid for only a limited time. According to their research, Saturday is the worst day of the week to score a discount, because coupon codes from during the week are old and Friday’s coupons have expired. If you need to shop on the weekend, they suggest waiting until Sunday. 

But it’s not just the day you shop that matters — what time you do so can also affect what you pay. SmartProxy found that prices tend to be cheapest between 6 a.m. and noon (especially on Tuesdays). According to the experts consulted by GoBankingRates, it’s best to shop early in the morning or late at night.

Make the Most of End-of-Season Sales

The best time to buy bathing suits for cheap is in the fall, when stores are looking to get rid of the rest of their stock. Most retailers follow this kind of seasonal sale schedule, which means that the best way to get a good deal on something like clothes is to buy the season after those clothes would be necessary. If you’re really looking for a seasonal deal, wait for major three-day and holiday weekends for the biggest discounts. 

Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday

While you can get good deals year-round, two major online shopping holidays offer massive discounts: Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Historically, Black Friday offered in-store deals while Cyber Monday was an online alternative for people who didn’t want to make those trips. Now, however, experts say the two shopping days are simply peaks in a longer shopping cycle, and one likely won’t offer deeper discounts than the other. So, if something you want is on sale, snap it up. 

That said, you may score deals on different things, depending on which day you shop. Look for big-ticket items — think TVs, mattresses, and large appliances — on Black Friday, and smaller electronics, as well as clothing and beauty deals, on Cyber Monday.  

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This story originally ran in 2023. It has been updated for 2026.