When Are White Sales in 2021?

We've all heard you shouldn't wear white after Labor Day, but what about shopping it? After the long holiday season — from Black Friday to the winter holidays, and all the sales that come with them — January might seem like a pretty boring month. But thanks to deep discounts in white sales, January is actually a prime opportunity to treat yourself to new and cozy soft goods.

If you're interested in buying new towels, sheets, pillows, and more, check out our guide below. We'll tell you when the white sales of 2021 will happen, and the discounts you can expect.

When Are White Sales?

White sales are mostly held in January. We've seen many appear during the first half of the month, and sometimes they start at the tail end of December. Once in a while, you'll see a white sale during the summer or another time of year, so keep an eye out throughout 2021.

What Is a White Sale, Anyway?

White sales offer discounts on household linens, especially bed and bath items. They date back to January 1878, when department store pioneer John Wanamaker held the first one as a way to sell excess bedding stock during a normally slow time of year.

Why did Wanamaker call his event a "White Sale"? All the linens were only sold in a basic shade of white!

That's not to say white sales are never called anything else. You may also see them referred to as "bedding and bath sales," or the linens deals could be part of a larger home sale. Whatever their name, here are the types of items you'll likely see at white sales:

• Sheets
• Bedspreads
• Duvets
• Towels
• Home decor
• Furniture

Those last two items may seem like they don't fit, but various home products do pop up at white sales, including lighting and kitchen supplies.

What Stores Have White Sales?

If a store offers home items, check to see if it has a white sale. Both brick-and-mortar and online-only retailers host white sales, and department stores are prime candidates. Here are some retailers that hold white sales:

• Bloomingdale's
• Home Depot
• JCPenney
• Kohl's
• Macy's
• Nordstrom Rack
• Overstock.com
• Target

What Discounts Can You Expect?

White sales encompass a wide range of discounts. On the lower end, retailers may feature a selection of items at 20% or 25% off; on the higher end, you'll see discounts of up to 70% off. That's what Macy's offered during its Bed and Bath Closeouts in January 2020, which included bedding sets, sheets, rugs, pillows, towels, and curtains, among other items. Most stores tend to offer from up to 40% off to up to 70% off select bedding, bath, and other items during a white sale.

SEE ALSO: How to Shop and Save on Target Bedding Sets

Look for additional savings opportunities, too. Use available coupon codes, and you may get an extra 15% to 25% off certain items, or your order as a whole. And with some coupons, you can get dollars or some percentage off if you spend a minimum amount.

How Low Do Prices Go During January White Sales?

While it's true that white sales can pop up any time of year, we also understand if you'd rather shop bedding and bath items once and just be done. If you're only interested in the savings that January will bring, here are the lowest prices you can expect for popular white-sale items.

What Deals on White-Sale Items Can You Get Outside of January?

If you want to get the best deals on bedding, bath items, and other white-sale products no matter what time of year it is, we're here to help with that, too. Check out our picks below for the top stores offering these products, the biggest discounts we saw them feature in 2020, and when they occurred.

Readers, which stores do you think have the best white sales? What are the best deals you've snagged during these events? Let us know in the comments below!