What's the Best Time to Buy a Fridge?

Expect the best discounts to show up around big shopping holidays like Presidents' Day, but also watch for great individual deals throughout the year.

Published May 6, 2022

BY:
JULIE RAMHOLD

Senior Staff Writer/Consumer Analyst

Buying large appliances like refrigerators is a daunting task. After all, you don't want to spend a ton of money on a product, only to be plagued with issues once you bring it home. Doing research can help ensure you don't purchase a lemon, but once you find a reliable model — whether it's a smart fridge or a compact one — then you're stuck waiting for it to go on sale.

If you need to upgrade your current cooling contraption, you may be wondering about the best time to buy a refrigerator. Check out our guide below to learn about the holidays that have the greatest deals, as well as how to keep an eye out all year long.

The Best Times of Year to Buy a Refrigerator

Presidents' Day Sales

Presidents' Day is one of the first big shopping holidays after all the frenzy of the gift-giving season, but it's also a great time to make some big-ticket purchases. Large appliances like washers and dryers, and of course refrigerators, are part of the best discounts of the holiday.

Keep an eye out around Presidents' Day for sales that include refrigerators and other large appliances.

Keep an eye out for sales that include refrigerators and other large appliances from Home Depot, which took up to 30% off select appliances this past Presidents' Day; Wayfair, which knocked up to 70% off during its clearance event; Build.com, which took up to 40% off; and even brands like Samsung, which cut up to 37% off refrigerators to celebrate.

While the sales may provide bigger variety, don't forget to watch for individual deals, too. Ones we've seen have come from stores like Sam's Club and Amazon.

Memorial Day Sales

Memorial Day is another major shopping holiday, and while it includes deals on more than just big-ticket items, it's still a good time to watch for discounts on mattresses and large appliances. Look for offers from Best Buy, which tends to discount select models during its Memorial Day sale. We've also seen the electronics retailer offer savings on individual refrigerators, plus extra discounts on appliance packages if you want to upgrade more than just your fridge.

They're not the only store that offers savings, though. Sam's Club, Home Depot, Lowe's, and Wayfair often have appliance deals, as well.

Independence Day Sales

Much like Memorial Day, the 4th of July is a holiday that offers up a variety of deeply discounted items. While appliances might not be a major draw, especially compared to other holidays, some promotions are still worth checking out if you need a fridge upgrade.

Brands like Samsung may offer category-specific discounts. For instance, they took up to $1,100 off refrigerators last year. But Independence Day may also be bigger for individual deals rather than broad sales. In July 2021, we saw notable offers for specific refrigerators from Sam's Club and Target, so watch for them to have similar promotions again.

Labor Day Sales

Labor Day is the last big shopping holiday of the year that reliably has appliance sales, so if you need to upgrade, try not to wait any longer. The good news is that sometimes retailers offer more significant discounts around Labor Day compared to other shopping holidays. For example, last Labor Day, Home Depot offered up to 53% off large appliances during its sale.

While that was impressive, not all brands followed suit. Samsung only took up to 30% off for its Labor Day refrigerator sale in 2021; that's less than the maximum it offered earlier in the year. It did have a discount — up to $1,100 off — on its 4-door bespoke Flex refrigerators during September, but that wasn't part of the Labor Day event.

Labor Day can be great for individual offers, as well, so keep an eye out. We've seen Target offer mini fridges at a special discount, so if you're shopping for an appliance that's mostly designed for items like beverages, check out the sales at the bull's-eye retailer.

Black Friday Sales (Maybe)

While Black Friday is a prime time to shop for practically anything you can think of, when it comes to large appliances, it can be a bit of a toss-up. For instance, Samsung once again offered up discounts on refrigerators for Black Friday 2021, but only up to 30% off. And as for its premium bespoke line? Last November it only took up to $1,000 off — less than the maximum offered two months prior. These aren't bad deals by any means — they're just not as good as what we often see earlier in the year.

Black Friday might be the best time to buy a fridge if you're wanting one in the 'beverage refrigerator' category.

If you're not interested in Samsung, know that other brands go on sale around Black Friday. Plan to watch for Best Buy, Home Depot, and Lowe's to offer the most variety in terms of brands. Expect their discounts to usually be in the range of 30% to 35% off, but they can go higher. Last Black Friday, for example, Home Depot took up to 50% off appliances.

Black Friday might actually be the best time to buy a fridge if you're wanting one that falls into the "beverage refrigerator" category. Last year, Amazon took up to 46% off these appliances, while Wayfair offered them for as little as $46.

When You See a Great Deal Any Time of Year

These holiday sales may be reliable times to look for new refrigerators at great prices, but they're not the only opportunities to find significant savings. An excellent offer can pop up at any time, so it's good to always keep an eye out. That can be tedious, so we're here to help! Set up a deal alert with your preferred criteria, and you'll receive an email whenever we list a deal that matches. That way, you'll be able to jump on the offer before it sells out.

Can't wait for the next big sale? Check out the best refrigerator deals available right now!