Best 20 Memorial Day Weekend Sales & Deals Worth Shopping This Year

Memorial Day weekend has quietly become one of the biggest shopping events of the year, right up there with Black Friday and back-to-school season. Retailers use the long weekend to clear out spring inventory and roll out early summer merchandise, which means shoppers can find genuine discounts on mattresses, grills, appliances, laptops, and outdoor furniture all at once. If you time your purchases right, you can save hundreds of dollars on items you were already planning to buy.

In this guide, we break down the best 20 Memorial Day weekend sales and deals across major categories, including home goods, electronics, apparel, and outdoor gear. You’ll also learn which categories historically offer the deepest discounts, how to spot a real deal versus a marketing gimmick, and a few tips to help you shop smarter this weekend. Whether you’re furnishing a new home, upgrading your tech, or just stocking up on summer essentials, there’s something here for you.

Why Memorial Day Weekend Sales Are Worth Your Attention

Memorial Day falls on the last Monday of May, marking the unofficial start of summer in the United States. Retailers know that shoppers are in a spending mood after a long winter, so they compete aggressively for attention. As a result, this weekend consistently ranks among the top shopping holidays for specific product categories.

Mattresses, for example, see some of their steepest annual discounts during Memorial Day weekend, often rivaling or beating Black Friday pricing. Grills, patio furniture, and outdoor power equipment also get major markdowns since retailers want to move seasonal inventory before summer demand peaks. In addition, many electronics retailers use the holiday to test pricing ahead of bigger summer sales events.

1. Mattress Sales: The Biggest Category of the Weekend

If there’s one category to prioritize this Memorial Day weekend, it’s mattresses. Brands like Purple, Nectar, Saatva, and Tempur-Pedic typically offer 20% to 40% off, plus free accessories like pillows, sheets, or adjustable bases.

• Purple Mattress: Look for bundle deals that include free pillows or bedding sets on top of a percentage discount.
• Nectar Sleep: Known for aggressive year-round discounting, but Memorial Day often adds extra bonus items.
• Saatva: Premium mattress brand that rarely discounts outside major holidays, making this weekend a smart time to buy.
• Casper: Frequently bundles discounts with free shipping and extended trial periods.

When shopping mattress sales, always check the trial period and return policy. A discount doesn’t matter much if you’re stuck with a mattress that doesn’t work for your sleep style.

2. Outdoor Furniture and Patio Sets

Patio season kicks off right around Memorial Day, and retailers know it. Big box stores and specialty outdoor brands slash prices on dining sets, sectionals, and lounge chairs to get ahead of summer demand.

• Wayfair and Overstock: Frequently offer 30% to 60% off outdoor seating and dining collections.
• Home Depot and Lowe’s: Bundle deals on patio sets plus umbrellas or fire pits.
• Target: Smaller-scale patio pieces and accessories at accessible price points.

If you’ve been eyeing a full patio set, this is typically the cheapest time of year to buy one, aside from end-of-season clearance in late August.

3. Grills and Outdoor Cooking Equipment

Nothing says Memorial Day like firing up a grill, and retailers lean into that. Weber, Traeger, and Char-Broil often see meaningful price cuts during this window.

• Weber Genesis and Spirit series: Discounts of $50 to $150 depending on the model.
• Traeger pellet grills: Bundled deals with pellets or grill covers included.
• Char-Broil and Cuisinart: Budget-friendly options frequently marked down 20% or more.

Buying a grill now, rather than waiting until July, usually means better selection and pricing before summer demand tightens supply.

4. Mattress Toppers, Bedding, and Linens

Beyond full mattresses, expect solid discounts on bedding essentials like sheets, comforters, and mattress toppers. Brands such as Brooklinen, Parachute, and Boll & Branch typically run 20% to 25% off sitewide promotions.

5. Major Appliance Sales

Memorial Day weekend is one of the best times of year to buy large kitchen and laundry appliances. Retailers like Best Buy, Home Depot, and Lowe’s often discount refrigerators, washers, dryers, and dishwashers by hundreds of dollars, especially on floor models and previous-year styles.

• Refrigerators: Save $100 to $500 on French door and side-by-side models.
• Washer and dryer sets: Bundle discounts frequently exceed 25% off list price.
• Dishwashers: Often discounted alongside free installation offers.

If your appliances are on their last legs, this weekend is a smart window to replace them before summer entertaining season.

6. Laptop and Electronics Deals

Electronics retailers use Memorial Day to preview pricing ahead of back-to-school season. Laptops, tablets, and TVs frequently see meaningful discounts, particularly on previous-generation models.

If you’re shopping for a new laptop, it’s worth comparing this weekend’s pricing against our roundup of laptop deals available right now, which covers everything from budget Chromebooks to premium ultrabooks.

• Best Buy: Deep discounts on Windows laptops and Apple MacBooks with trade-in bonuses.
• Amazon: Frequent lightning deals on tablets, monitors, and accessories.
• Dell and HP direct sites: Coupon stacking can push discounts beyond 30%.

7. TVs and Home Theater Equipment

TV prices dip noticeably around Memorial Day, especially on models from the previous year. Samsung, LG, and TCL routinely discount 55-inch to 75-inch models by $100 to $400.

8. Apparel and Footwear Sales

Clothing retailers use the long weekend to launch summer collections while discounting spring inventory. Expect sitewide promotions in the 25% to 50% off range.

• Nike and Adidas: Markdowns on running shoes and athletic wear, plus outlet-specific deals.
• Old Navy and Gap: Frequent buy-one-get-one promotions on summer basics.
• Nordstrom Rack: Designer clearance on shoes, bags, and swimwear.

9. Fitness Equipment and Home Gym Gear

Home gym brands like Peloton, NordicTrack, and Bowflex often offer bundled discounts around Memorial Day, including free accessories or reduced financing rates. Smaller equipment like adjustable dumbbells and resistance bands also see frequent markdowns at retailers like Dick’s Sporting Goods and Academy Sports.

10. Luggage and Travel Gear

With summer travel season approaching, luggage brands like Samsonite, Away, and Travelpro typically discount 20% to 40% during Memorial Day sales. This is a smart time to replace worn suitcases before peak travel months hit and prices climb.

11. Lawn and Garden Equipment

Lawn mowers, trimmers, and garden tools see some of their best pricing of the year right now. Retailers like Home Depot and Lowe’s often discount both gas and electric mowers, along with bundled deals on trimmers and leaf blowers.

12. Mattress-Adjacent Bedroom Furniture

Bed frames, nightstands, and dressers frequently get bundled into mattress sales or discounted separately at furniture retailers like Wayfair, Ashley Furniture, and Article. Expect 15% to 30% off on bedroom sets.

13. Smart Home Devices

Smart speakers, video doorbells, and smart thermostats from brands like Amazon, Google, and Ecobee often drop to their lowest prices of the season. These deals tend to overlap with tech sales at Best Buy and Amazon.

14. Outdoor Power Tools

Pressure washers, string trimmers, and cordless tool combo kits from brands like Ryobi, DeWalt, and EGO frequently see solid discounts, especially in bundle form with extra batteries included.

15. Air Conditioners and Cooling Products

As temperatures rise, window units, portable ACs, and fans go on sale to encourage early purchases before the summer rush drives prices back up. Buying before June often means better in-stock availability too.

16. Kitchenware and Small Appliances

Instant Pot, KitchenAid, and Ninja frequently discount stand mixers, blenders, and multi-cookers by 20% to 45% during Memorial Day promotions, often paired with free gifts like extra attachments.

17. Bikes and Outdoor Recreation Gear

Bicycles, kayaks, and camping gear see notable price cuts as retailers prepare for peak outdoor recreation season. Dick’s Sporting Goods, REI, and Academy Sports are worth checking for markdowns on bikes and camping essentials.

18. Home Improvement and DIY Supplies

Paint, flooring, and hardware often go on sale alongside major appliance promotions at Home Depot and Lowe’s. If you’ve been planning a home refresh, this weekend can shave meaningful money off a renovation budget.

19. Beauty and Personal Care Deals

Sephora, Ulta, and Target frequently run Memorial Day beauty promotions, often stacking percentage discounts with gift-with-purchase offers on skincare and haircare lines.

20. Mattress Protectors, Pillows, and Sleep Accessories

Rounding out the sleep category, pillows, mattress protectors, and cooling sleep accessories from brands like Coop Home Goods and Slumber Cloud typically see 20% to 30% markdowns alongside the bigger mattress promotions.

How to Find the Best Memorial Day Weekend Deals

With so many sales happening simultaneously, it helps to have a strategy. Here’s how to separate real savings from inflated discount claims.

Compare Prices Before You Buy

Use browser extensions or price-tracking tools to check a product’s price history over the past few months. A A 20% off tag doesn’t mean much if the price was inflated the week before the sale started. Historical price data helps you confirm whether a deal is genuinely competitive or just marketing dressed up as a bargain. This is especially important for electronics and appliances, where list prices can fluctuate weekly.

Sign Up for Retailer Emails and Text Alerts

Many of the best Memorial Day deals are released early to email subscribers or app users before they’re advertised publicly. Signing up a week or two ahead of the holiday weekend can get you access to exclusive discount codes, early sale windows, and sometimes better markdowns than what’s shown in-store. Retailers like Target, Best Buy, and Wayfair are known for rewarding loyal subscribers with first access to doorbuster-style pricing.

Use Cashback Apps and Browser Extensions

Cashback platforms and browser extensions can automatically apply coupon codes at checkout and alert you when a lower price is available elsewhere. Stacking a cashback percentage on top of an already-discounted mattress, appliance, or laptop purchase is one of the easiest ways to squeeze extra value out of a Memorial Day sale without any additional effort.

Check Return Policies Before Purchasing

Big-ticket purchases like mattresses, furniture, and appliances often come with extended trial periods, but the fine print varies by retailer. Before buying, confirm the return window, whether restocking fees apply, and who covers return shipping. A great discount isn’t much of a win if you’re stuck with an item that doesn’t fit your space or needs.

Time Your Purchase Strategically

Some categories, like mattresses and appliances, tend to have their deepest discounts early in the sale window, while apparel and home goods often get marked down further as the weekend winds down and retailers try to clear inventory. If you’re not in a rush, watching prices from Thursday through the following Tuesday can reveal whether a better deal shows up before the sale officially ends.

Watch Out for Fake Urgency Tactics

Countdown timers, “only 3 left in stock” banners, and flashing “deal ending soon” messages are designed to push you toward impulse purchases. While some inventory constraints are real, many are recycled marketing tactics used across multiple sales events throughout the year. Take a breath, compare the price against your research, and only buy if the deal still makes sense without the pressure.

Stack Coupons With Credit Card Rewards

If you have a credit card that offers category bonuses on electronics, home goods, or department store purchases, Memorial Day weekend is a great time to use it. Combining a retailer’s sitewide discount with a card’s cashback or points multiplier can meaningfully increase your effective savings, especially on larger purchases like laptops or appliances.

Consider Open-Box and Refurbished Options

For electronics and appliances, open-box and manufacturer-refurbished items often carry even steeper discounts than the standard Memorial Day markdown, while still including a warranty. Best Buy, Amazon Renewed, and manufacturer outlet stores are worth checking if you’re comfortable with a device that’s been lightly used or inspected and repackaged.

Read Reviews Before Committing to Big-Ticket Items

A steep discount on a mattress, grill, or piece of furniture is only a good deal if the product itself holds up. Spend a few minutes reading recent customer reviews, paying close attention to comments about durability and customer service responsiveness, before finalizing a big purchase just because the price looks attractive.

What to Avoid Buying on Memorial Day Weekend

Not every category sees genuine discounts during this sale window. Knowing what to skip can save you from paying inflated prices under the guise of a holiday promotion.

Back-to-School Supplies

While some early markdowns appear on backpacks and school essentials, the deepest discounts on this category typically arrive closer to July and August. If you’re planning ahead for the school year, it’s worth comparing what you see this weekend against our guide to the best back to school deals before committing to anything now.

Brand-New Tech Releases

Newly launched smartphones, laptops, and gaming consoles rarely see discounts during their first few months on the market. If a specific new release is on your list, it’s often smarter to wait for a bigger shopping event later in the year, such as Black Friday, when markdowns on flagship tech tend to be more substantial.

Holiday Travel and Airfare

Flights and hotel rates tend to spike, not drop, around Memorial Day weekend due to high travel demand. If you’re looking for travel savings, it’s better to book well in advance or wait for a slower travel period rather than expecting holiday-weekend discounts on airfare.

When Do Memorial Day Sales Typically Start and End?

Most major retailers begin rolling out Memorial Day promotions about one to two weeks before the holiday itself, with pricing gradually improving as the weekend approaches. The deepest discounts usually appear from the Thursday or Friday before Memorial Day through the Monday holiday, with many sales extending a day or two afterward to catch shoppers who didn’t get to finish their purchases over the weekend. Mattress and appliance retailers, in particular, often keep pricing steady through the following Tuesday or Wednesday.

Memorial Day Deals vs. Other Major Shopping Events

Memorial Day weekend kicks off the summer shopping season, but it’s not the only major sales event worth planning around. Mattresses, appliances, and outdoor furniture tend to hit their best prices of the year right now, while categories like electronics and laptops often see even steeper markdowns later during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. If you’re shopping for a new computer and can wait, it’s worth comparing what’s available this weekend against our roundup of the best laptop deals available right now to see whether current pricing already meets your budget or if patience will pay off later in the year. Similarly, shoppers stocking up on general household goods, electronics, or apparel may want to keep an eye on our broader Black Friday deals guide once autumn approaches, since some categories see their true rock-bottom pricing during that event instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Memorial Day a good time to buy a mattress?

Yes. Mattresses are one of the strongest categories during Memorial Day weekend, with many brands offering their best pricing of the entire year alongside free accessories like pillows, sheets, or adjustable bases.

Do Memorial Day sales include free shipping?

Most major retailers offer free shipping on Memorial Day purchases, especially for orders over a certain dollar threshold. Furniture, mattresses, and appliances sometimes include free delivery and installation as part of the promotion as well.

Are Memorial Day deals better than Black Friday deals?

It depends on the category. Mattresses, patio furniture, and appliances tend to be discounted more heavily around Memorial Day, while electronics, laptops, and gaming products typically see their deepest discounts during Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Can I return items purchased during a Memorial Day sale?

Yes, standard return policies generally apply to Memorial Day purchases, though some retailers may have modified return windows for clearance or final-sale items, so it’s worth checking the specific policy before you buy.

What is the single best category to shop during Memorial Day weekend?

Mattresses and outdoor furniture consistently rank as the strongest categories, offering some of the deepest and most reliable discounts of the entire year during this particular sales weekend.

Final Thoughts

Memorial Day weekend has evolved into one of the most reliable shopping events of the year, offering genuine savings across categories ranging from mattresses and appliances to outdoor furniture and tech. The key to making the most of it is preparation: track prices ahead of time, sign up for early access alerts, and focus your budget on the categories known for their steepest markdowns rather than getting distracted by every promotional banner you see. Whether you’re finally replacing an old mattress, upgrading your patio setup, or snagging a discounted appliance before summer entertaining season kicks off, a little research goes a long way toward turning this holiday weekend into meaningful savings. For even more options worth comparing before you check out, take a look at our companion roundup of Memorial Day weekend sales and deals to make sure you’re not missing a better price elsewhere.