What is Black Friday?
Black Friday is the unofficial start of the Christmas shopping season. Since 2005, it's been the US's busiest shopping day. Many retailers offer extra sales and special offers, while people storm the stores and websites. Every year many people are seriously injured or even die due to shootings or getting trampled to death. Before Black Friday 2022, the death toll was 17 dead and 125 injured. Please remember it's just shopping — calm down, and don't help to increase those numbers anymore.
When is Black Friday?
Black Friday always falls on the day after Thanksgiving in the United States — the fourth Thursday of November. It marks the informal beginning of the holiday shopping season. In 2024 it falls on November 29th; in 2025 it falls on November 28th.
Why is it called Black Friday?
The term "Black Friday" originated in Philadelphia, where police used it to describe the chaos that erupted on the day after Thanksgiving — when huge crowds of shoppers and tourists would descend on the city. It later evolved into a positive metaphor for retailers who, after operating "in the red" all year, finally turned a profit ("went into the black") on this day.
Is Black Friday worth it? Things to check before shopping
Research suggests that around 87% of popular items may be found at a cheaper price at another time of the year. Retailers often artificially inflate the original price weeks before Black Friday just to make the "discount" look bigger. Here's what to check:
- Track prices beforehand — use price-tracking tools to see the item's price history over the past few months.
- Compare across stores — the best deal isn't always where you think it is.
- Read the fine print — bundle deals may include items you don't need.
- Check return policies — some Black Friday sales are final.
- Budget in advance — decide what you can spend before you start browsing.
How to not get caught by marketing tricks
Retailers pull out all the stops on Black Friday to lower your guard. Common tricks include:
- Fake "original" prices — inflated to make the discount appear larger.
- Doorbuster deals — only a handful of units available, designed to draw you in.
- Bundled products — you pay for things you didn't want.
- Countdown timers — artificial urgency to force hasty decisions.
- Lightning deals — time-pressure discounts that cloud judgment.
The antidote? Research extensively, use our Black Friday calculator, and shop with your head — not your emotions.
Black Friday Deal Types — Explained
% off (simple discount)
The most straightforward deal: a percentage is taken off the original price. Example: -35% off shoes means you pay 65% of the original price.
% off on the second product
Also known as "Buy one, get second X% off". Example: Buy a T-shirt, get 40% off the second. The discount applies to the second item's price.
% off on the third product
Two items come at standard price; only the cheapest one (the third) receives a reduction. Example: Buy two bottles of wine, get 70% off the third bottle.
2 for 1 (BOGOF)
Buy one item, get a second for free. If the prices differ, the cheaper item is the one you get free. Maximum effective discount is 50% (when both items cost the same).
3 for 2
Buy three items, pay for two. The cheapest item is free. Maximum effective discount is 33.3%.
4 for 3
Buy four items, pay for three. The cheapest item is free. Maximum effective discount is 25%.
Double discount
An offer like "50% + 30%" does not mean 80% off. It means the first discount (50%) is applied, then the second (30%) is applied to the already-discounted price. The effective discount is: 1 − (1 − d₁) × (1 − d₂). For 50% + 30%, this gives an effective discount of 65%, not 80%.
Triple discount
Similar to double discount, but applied three times in sequence. Formula: 1 − (1 − d₁) × (1 − d₂) × (1 − d₃).
Discount on multiple units (bundle deal)
Deals like "Buy 5 chocolate bars for $11 instead of $2.39 each". Our calculator shows total savings, savings per unit, and — optionally — the price per kilogram (metric) and per pound (imperial) so you can compare products by weight.
Verdict: Is the deal real?
After calculating, our Black Friday calculator gives you a verdict based on the effective discount:
- < 5% — Barely a deal. Check other prices first.
- 5–15% — Modest deal. Worth shopping around.
- 15–30% — Good deal!
- 30–50% — Great deal!
- > 50% — Exceptional — but always verify the original price wasn't inflated.