You’ve probably seen the videos. The chaotic 2 a.m. lines, the literal sprinting through sliding glass doors, and the frantic tug-of-war over a $150 television that honestly wasn’t even that good. But the reality of the walmart black friday start time has shifted so much in the last few years that if you’re still planning to camp out in a parking lot with a thermos of lukewarm coffee, you’re basically doing it wrong.
Everything is staggered now. Walmart doesn't just have a "start time" anymore; they have a rollout strategy that feels more like a military operation than a sale.
The Digital First Reality
Basically, the "real" start time happens on your phone or laptop days before the store doors actually unlock. For the 2025 season, which set the blueprint for how these things work now, Walmart split their deals into three distinct "events."
The first wave hit in mid-November. If you were looking for that specific walmart black friday start time for the main event, the online deals typically kicked off at 12 p.m. ET (noon) or 3 p.m. ET, depending on the specific wave. But here is the kicker: if you aren't a Walmart+ member, you're already behind.
Paid members get a five-hour head start. This isn't just a "nice to have" perk; for high-demand items like PlayStation consoles or specific Dyson vacuums, the inventory is often depleted before the general public even gets a chance to click "add to cart."
Breaking Down the 2025-2026 Schedule
- The Early Bird (October): Walmart now starts holiday "Deals" as early as October 7 to compete with Amazon’s Prime events. It’s not officially Black Friday, but the prices are often identical.
- Event 1 (Mid-November): Usually starts online on a Wednesday (around Nov 12-14) at 12 p.m. ET for members and 5 p.m. ET for everyone else.
- The Big Wave (Thanksgiving Week): Online deals drop Monday or Tuesday night of Thanksgiving week.
- The Store Opening: This is the one most people ask about. Walmart stores are closed on Thanksgiving Day. They have been for years now, and they don’t seem to be looking back.
When do the doors actually open?
If you’re a traditionalist who needs to feel the cold air and hear the hum of the industrial lighting, the walmart black friday start time for physical stores is 6 a.m. local time on Friday morning.
🔗 Read more: S\&P 500 YTD Return as of September 2025: Why This Rally Feels Different
Don't expect the 24-hour Walmart era to return. Most locations have settled into a 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. rhythm. Showing up at 4 a.m. might get you a spot at the front of the line, but since most of the "doorbusters" were already available online three days prior, the "line" is mostly people picking up their pre-orders or hunting for the random stuff that didn't sell out online—like oversized plushies or $5 pajama pants.
It's kinda weird how quiet the stores have become compared to 2015.
The Walmart+ Early Access Trap
You’ve gotta be careful with the membership thing. Walmart pushes Walmart+ hard during this window, often offering it for 50% off (around $49 for the year).
Is it worth it? Honestly, it depends. If you’re hunting for a "Special Buy"—those items Walmart buys specifically for Black Friday that aren't part of their normal stock—you almost have to have it. These items, like the $200 55-inch TVs or the $35 air fryers, are usually gone within the first hour of the member-only window.
But if you’re just looking for 20% off a LEGO set or some new towels, you can probably wait until the general start time and save your fifty bucks.
What to Watch Out For: "Special Buys" vs. Real Sales
One thing the experts—and I’m talking about people like the team at The Krazy Coupon Lady or RTINGS—always point out is the "derivative" model.
Often, that "insane" TV deal at 6 a.m. isn't the same model you’d find in the store in July. It might have one fewer HDMI port or a cheaper plastic casing. This is how they hit those bottom-barrel price points. Always check the model number. If it ends in a weird string of letters you can’t find a review for, it’s a Black Friday special.
Start Times by Category (Typical Pattern)
- Electronics/Gaming: Starts online the Monday before Thanksgiving.
- Home/Kitchen: Usually drops in the mid-November wave.
- Toys: Stays fairly consistent throughout November, but the "Top Toys" list goes live in October.
- Apparel: This is the bread and butter of the in-store 6 a.m. crowd.
Your Action Plan for the Next Sale
Stop thinking about Black Friday as a day. It’s a month-long endurance test.
✨ Don't miss: 1 Gram Gold Price in US: Why Small Bars Cost More Than You Think
First, download the Walmart app about two weeks before Thanksgiving. They have this "In-Store Savings" tool that literally lets you see a map of where the deals are hidden in your specific local store. It’s a lifesaver because they love to put the TVs in the garden center and the vacuums in the pharmacy aisle just to keep you walking.
Second, if you’re going for a big-ticket item, be logged in with your payment info saved by 11:45 a.m. ET on the day the online wave starts. Seconds matter.
Lastly, remember that "Cyber Monday" is now basically "Black Friday Part II: The Online Sequel." It starts Sunday night at 7 p.m. ET for members. If you missed the Friday morning rush, you usually get a second bite at the apple then.
Just don't expect to find any deals on Thanksgiving Day itself. Enjoy the turkey and stay off your phone until the Friday morning 6 a.m. alarm goes off. Or better yet, just buy it on Wednesday while you're sitting on the couch.
Set a calendar alert for November 10th. That’s usually when the official "Deal Maps" and finalized walmart black friday start time windows are confirmed via the corporate newsroom. Check your local store hours in the app the night before, as some rural locations might vary their opening times by an hour based on local staffing. Only buy what you actually need; a $100 discount on a $400 item you weren't going to buy anyway is still spending $300.