What to Expect From 2024 Easter Sales

Finding rock-bottom deals in the spring can be a bit difficult, as there's a lack of big shopping holidays between Presidents' Day in February and Memorial Day in May. But one opportunity for sales comes around Easter. And surprisingly, these events include more than discounted candy and baskets.

Check out our guide on what to expect from Easter sales in 2024, including items and discounts we should see, and when sales begin.

Top Easter Sales

• Amazon: Up to 50% off dinnerware, toys, candy, and accessories, with deals starting under $5
• Barnes & Noble: Buy one, get 50% off a second kids' books
• Carter's: 40% off everything plus an extra 10% off via a coupon
• Etsy: Up to 60% off hand-made Easter gifts
• Target: Candy from $2, books from $5, gifts under $20
• The Children's Place: 60% off seasonal outfits, plus earn double or triple points on your purchase
• Walgreens: Candy, plastic eggs, baskets, and fillers under $5
• Walmart: Baskets, candy, fillers, toys, and more starting at just 50 cents

Top Easter Gifts

• Amazon: Candy, toys, dinnerware, baskets, fillers, and gift cards
• Barnes & Noble: Books, toys
• Books-A-Million: Books and toys, plus same-day delivery in select areas
• Macy's: Clothing, accessories, ready-made baskets, cookware, and more
• Target: Clothing, baskets, candy, and toys
• The Children's Place: Easter outfits
• Walgreens: Candy, toys, baskets, and egg dye
• Walmart: Clothing, baskets, candy, and toys

How to Save on Easter?

There are a number of ways to save on your Easter purchases, but without a doubt the best savings will come the day after. Unfortunately, unless you're planning a delayed Easter gathering, those savings won't help much then.

Shop the sales. Especially the week before Easter there should be plenty of seasonal items on sale from big-box retailers as well as grocery stores and even warehouse clubs. If you're looking for notable discounts ahead of Easter, this will be a good time to find the best Easter deals on everything from candy and gifts to traditional meal items.

Opt for a potluck Easter meal. It can be tempting to plan an entire Easter brunch or dinner yourself, but the truth is one of the best ways to save is by planning a potluck meal. Have a chat with your guests to decide who will bring what and it'll lessen the stress and cost for all involved.

Skip the new Easter attire. Some shoppers lean heavily into the tradition of buying new Easter attire for themselves and their children every year, but there's really no need to. Unless your child is going through a growth spurt, odds are good they have something perfectly suitable to wear for the Easter occasion. If you have the option, skip the outfits billed as Easter clothing to save some cash.

When Do Easter Sales Start?

Easter falls on March 31 this year, and we're already seeing themed deals and sales for it. Easter sales actually begin more than a month before the holiday itself. We saw the first Easter deal this year around February 20. More offers pop up closer to the holiday, with last-minute savings on candies and other Easter goodies dropping a couple of days before.

Of course, if you want the biggest discounts, watch for 50% off or more the day after Easter. That's when you can expect deep discounts on Easter candies and other themed items. But beware waiting too long; you may end up with only off-brand jelly beans to shop.

How Does Shopping Compare Online vs In-Store?

Ordinarily the biggest differences between shopping online and in-store come down to the extended time to receive an item and potentially having to purchase more than what you need compared to shopping in-store. Even with two-day shipping at some retailers, it can cut things a bit too close if you've procrastinated on your Easter needs.

If it's down to the wire and you need Easter items ASAP, it can be worth combining the two methods to cut down on the shopping hassle. That is, order your items online from stores like Target and opt for in-store pickup to make the process smoother. Just be sure to place your order with no more than a couple of days to spare as a lot of retailers will be inundated with last-minute shoppers and you'll want to give yourself some extra time to make sure you get everything you need.

What Else Should I Consider When Shopping Easter Sales?

There are certain categories that will make up the best Easter deals and should offer better discounts than other items that may get tossed in by retailers trying to entice shoppers into buying more. If you're wondering how to save on Easter this year, consider the categories and Easter deals 2024 to expect below.

Easter Candy

Some of the most popular Easter sales feature typical holiday items. For example, Easter-themed boxes of candy see discounts, and not just cheap packages of jelly beans either. In the past, we've seen Godiva Easter chocolates at Macy's for 20% off, as well as 30% off Frango chocolates.

Also expect Easter candy sales at stores like Target, as in the past they've offered a "buy one, get 25% off a second" offer for shoppers using same-day pickup. Target tends to have this deal for a variety of goodies throughout the year, so it'll likely return before Easter again.

Easter Eggs and Basket Items

Of course it's not all about the candy. You can score discounts on other traditional Easter items, as well. For instance, we've seen a 144-pack of plastic Easter eggs for just $20 on Amazon, and the retailer has also taken up to 79% off Easter dolls and playsets before as well. That latter deal seemed to apply to small items suitable for being gifted in baskets.

Furniture and Home Decor

Furniture and home decor may seem like a surprising category for Easter sales, but deals on these items can definitely pop up. Previously, we've seen the best Easter deals from sites such as Homary which offered up to 70% off a number of categories, including furniture, bath fixtures, and lighting. And they provided an additional coupon code so shoppers could take up to $50 off select orders, which has made these holiday savings even better.

The store At Home has also had its own holiday savings, offering up select Easter decor items for under $30 each. This particular sale occurred nearly a month before the holiday, though, so it can pay to shop early if you want certain Easter offers.

Clothing and Accessories

Another category of Easter sales that you might not expect to see is clothing. While getting new outfits for Easter Sunday is a popular tradition in the U.S. for children, that's not the case for all ages. But you may be surprised at what you can find.

SEE ALSO: How to Save During the Spring Deal Drought in March and April

In 2022, Macy's offered up a flash sale on men's suits, knocking up to 75% off in early April. And last year, the store took up to 80% off men's suits a month before the holiday. The retailer also took at least 70% off kids' clothing in the leadup to Easter, too, so Macy's was an ideal store for consumers wanting to complete more shopping in one spot.

Everything Else

As March and April bring a bit of a deal drought, some retailers can reach for any excuse to have a sale. Perhaps that's why we see silly novelty items like a bag of "bunny farts" — it's cotton candy — or even a Crayola 24-pack of markers for just $3. After all, these items are perfect to gift in Easter baskets.

It also may be a good time to shop for kitchen supplies. Last year we saw Sur La Table take up to 50% off in its Warehouse Sale in March, and up to 60% off cookware in its semi-annual sale in April. Both of these were great opportunities to pick up cookware and other kitchen items that would make cooking a big Easter meal easier.

While your furry friends probably won't thank you, there's a good chance you'll find pet outfits and other supplies on sale during Easter savings events, as well. This year, we've seen Petco offer a variety of pet gifts for under $15 each.

Ready to score Easter savings? Check out the best Easter deals available right now!