Ask an Editor: When is the Best Time to Buy a Dishwasher?

Welcome to another Ask an Editor column, in which our knowledgeable DealNews staffers answer your questions about shopping, saving, and making the most of your hard-earned dollars! Check out our latest inquiry, which came to us via email, and then read the details below about how you can submit a question of your own!

Question: Is there a "best" time of year to buy a dishwasher? Is there a "second-best" time of year? -T

Response From Our Features Writer, Marcy Bonebright:

If DealNews were a Game of Thrones House, our Words would be "Black Friday is Coming." Many of us don't even bother making big purchases until November rolls around, because we know that's when prices will drop across the board. Do you see where I'm going with this?

Large appliances, dishwashers included, is one of the many, many product categories that sees its very best deals during the Black Friday season. On average, about 35% of Black Friday appliance deals are marked Editors' Choice — only 15% of deals see that distinction throughout the rest of the year. This means that your odds of finding an outstanding price drop on a dishwasher are much higher during the shopping holiday. Sears sees the most appliance discounts during Black Friday, followed by Home Depot, Walmart, and Amazon.

But let's say you can't wait for Black Friday. There is another shopping holiday that offers excellent large appliance sales: Labor Day! Last year Best Buy took up to 50% off large appliances during its Labor Day sale, and Sears took up to 54% off. Although Black Friday would ultimately offer a greater variety of appliance discounts of this calibre, last year's Labor Day deals blew every other holiday weekend out of the water.

Don't get me wrong; you can still find an amazing deal on an individual dishwasher before September or November. Waiting for a big shopping holiday certainly increases your odds of finding a bargain, but your best bet will always be to keep your eye on our large appliance deals for all the latest offers.

Note: This article is part of a series where we respond directly to reader questions about products and deals. Got a question about what computer you should buy, when to book a flight to Asia, or something else? Send it to us at letters@dealnews.com.