Countdown to Black Friday

Black Friday is the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season and one of the busiest retail days of the year, and the countdown above shows exactly how long you have until the deals begin. Falling the day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday has grown from a single in-store rush into a multi-day event spanning physical stores and online retailers worldwide.

For bargain hunters, Black Friday means doorbuster prices on electronics, appliances, clothing, and toys, while retailers treat it as a make-or-break moment for annual sales. Watching the countdown above helps you plan your shopping list, compare prices, and be ready the instant the discounts go live.

When is Black Friday?

Black Friday is always the Friday after Thanksgiving, which in the United States is the fourth Thursday of November. That places Black Friday on the fourth Friday of November in most years. Because the date moves each year with Thanksgiving, the countdown above tracks the next Black Friday for you. You can also see how the holiday weekend lines up by visiting our Thanksgiving countdown, or measure the time from today with the time until calculator.

The history of Black Friday

The term Black Friday was popularized in Philadelphia in the mid twentieth century to describe the heavy traffic and crowds that followed Thanksgiving. Later, retailers embraced a more positive explanation, saying the day pushed their accounts from the red into the black, meaning profitability. Over the decades the single day expanded into a weekend and then a week, with early-bird hours, midnight openings, and eventually online-first promotions that let shoppers skip the lines entirely.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Black Friday is now paired with Cyber Monday, which falls the Monday after Thanksgiving and focuses on online deals. Together they bookend a long shopping weekend, with Small Business Saturday in between. Many retailers blur the lines by running discounts across the entire stretch. To compare your local start time against stores in other time zones, the world clock can help you catch a sale the moment it opens.

Black Friday FAQ

When is Black Friday?

Black Friday is the Friday immediately after Thanksgiving, the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. The countdown above shows the time remaining until the next one.

Why is it called Black Friday?

The name originally described post-Thanksgiving crowds and traffic, then was reframed by retailers to mean the day sales pushed their books into the black, or profit.

What is the difference between Black Friday and Cyber Monday?

Black Friday traditionally centers on in-store deals the day after Thanksgiving, while Cyber Monday focuses on online discounts the following Monday.

Are Black Friday deals only in the United States?

No. Although it began in the United States, Black Friday is now observed by retailers in many countries, both in stores and online.

How can I prepare for Black Friday?

Make a list, set a budget, compare prices in advance, and use the countdown above to be ready the moment the discounts start.