Let’s get one thing straight: if you show up at Macy’s on Thanksgiving Day expecting to score a kitchen mixer, you’re going to be staring at locked doors.
Gone are the days when we all finished turkey dinner and rushed to the mall at 8:00 PM. Honestly, it’s probably better for everyone’s digestion. But the confusion is real because "Black Friday" isn't just a day anymore. It’s a month-long marathon.
When does Macy's Black Friday start for real?
If you want the short answer, the "Official" Macy's Black Friday sale almost always kicks off the Sunday before Thanksgiving. For 2025, that was November 23rd. If we look ahead to 2026, you can bet your favorite pair of boots that the main event will start on Sunday, November 22nd.
But that’s not the whole story. Not even close.
✨ Don't miss: Williams Sonoma Deer Park IL: What Most People Get Wrong About This Kitchen Icon
Macy's uses a tiered system that would make a military strategist sweat. They’ve basically turned November into a series of "mini" Black Fridays. It usually looks like this:
- Early November (The "Parade of Deals"): Usually starts around November 2nd. It’s mostly teaser stuff—home goods and small appliances.
- Early Access (The "Sneak Peek"): This typically hits around November 10th. It’s a 3-to-4-day window where Star Rewards members get first dibs on the "real" discounts.
- The "Starts Now" Wave: This bridge period happens in mid-November (around the 14th through the 22nd). It’s basically Macy’s saying, "We know you're bored, please come buy a coat."
- The Main Event: As mentioned, this starts the Sunday before the holiday. This is when the full ad is live and the website is firing on all cylinders.
The Thanksgiving Day Myth
Seriously, don’t go to the store on Thursday. Macy’s has been very vocal about keeping physical stores closed on Thanksgiving Day. They’ve held this line for years now, following the lead of other giants like Target and Walmart.
However, the website is wide open. Some of the most aggressive "limited-time" specials actually drop on Thanksgiving morning online. If you're a "pro" shopper, you're usually browsing the app under the table while your aunt argues about politics. It's just the world we live in now.
🔗 Read more: Finding the most affordable way to live when everything feels too expensive
What time do doors open on Friday?
For those who crave the adrenaline of the physical rush, Macy's usually opens its doors at 6:00 AM on Black Friday morning.
They typically stay open until 10:00 PM or 11:00 PM. It's worth noting that the "Doorbuster" window is the most critical time. In 2025, many of the best in-store-only doorbusters were only available until 1:00 PM on Friday. If you show up at dinner time, the $19.99 boots are probably gone.
What most people get wrong about the deals
Most people think everything is at its lowest price on Friday morning. That’s a trap.
💡 You might also like: Executive desk with drawers: Why your home office setup is probably failing you
Macy's is famous for their "Bonus Buys." These are specific items—usually jewelry, small kitchen gadgets, or bedding sets—that are marked down as much as 70% or 80%. These often appear during the Early Access window and sometimes disappear or go back up in price slightly before Friday actually arrives.
Take the cashmere sweaters or the legendary Style & Co. boots. Those prices are usually locked in for the entire "Black Friday Week" (Sunday to Saturday). If you see the price you like on Tuesday, buy it. Waiting until Friday just increases the chance that your size is sold out.
A note on the "One Day Sale"
Don't confuse Black Friday with the "Macy's One Day Sale." Those happen almost every month. Ironically, they often have better coupons (like $10 off $25) than Black Friday does. On Black Friday, Macy's usually restricts coupons on "Specials" and "Doorbusters," meaning the price you see is the price you get.
Real-world strategies for 2026
If you're planning for the next cycle, here is how you actually win.
- The $25 Free Shipping Threshold: During the peak Black Friday window, Macy’s often lowers their free shipping minimum from the usual $49 down to $25. This is huge for small gifts like fragrance samplers or toys.
- The Star Rewards Hack: Even if you don't want their credit card, join the "Bronze" tier of their rewards program. It’s free. You get "Star Money" back on purchases, and during Black Friday, they often run "earn double" events. It’s basically getting paid to shop for things you were going to buy anyway.
- The "July" Factor: Don't forget that Macy's does "Black Friday in July." I’ve seen winter coats cheaper in July than in November. If you can plan that far ahead, you'll save more.
- Download the App: It sounds corporate, but the app has a price scanner. When you're in the store on Friday and it's total chaos, use the scanner. Sometimes the shelf price is wrong, or there's an "app-only" extra discount you didn't see on the sign.
Actionable Next Steps
To make sure you don't miss out when the next season rolls around, here is your checklist:
- Check the Calendar: Mark the Sunday before Thanksgiving as your "Add to Cart" day. That is the true start of the heavy hitting.
- Verify Your Account: Log in to your Macy's account a week before to ensure your shipping address and payment info are current. Nothing kills a deal like a "transaction declined" because of an expired card.
- Monitor the "Last Act" Section: Throughout November, Macy's moves older inventory to "Last Act" (clearance) to make room for holiday stock. You can often find deeper discounts here that beat the advertised Black Friday specials.
- Set a 5:30 AM Alarm: If you want the in-store doorbusters, be in the parking lot by 5:45 AM on Friday. By 8:00 AM, the "easy" picks are picked over.