The best time to buy a TV (and how to save)
TV prices swing hundreds of dollars across the year. Two windows deliver the lowest prices — here's when and why.
- Pre-Super Bowl and Black Friday are the two lowest-price windows of the year.
- Spring model transitions clear last year's panels at steep discounts.
- Bigger isn't always pricier during sales — check price-per-inch.
- Open-box and last-year flagships beat this year's mid-range at the same price.
- Ignore the 'was' price — verify against real price history before buying.
The two annual low points
TVs hit their cheapest around Black Friday and again in the weeks before the Super Bowl, when retailers compete hard for big-screen buyers ahead of the game. Those are your two prime windows.
Black Friday brings the widest selection and doorbuster pricing; the pre-Super Bowl window is better for last-minute or larger screens. If you can wait for one of these, you'll rarely do better in between.
Ride the spring transition
New TV lineups usually arrive in spring, pushing the prior year's models to clearance. For most viewers, last year's flagship panel outperforms this year's mid-range at the same price — the specs barely changed.
If you don't need the newest processing or a brand-new panel technology, a spring-clearance TV delivers flagship quality at a mid-range price. Look up the outgoing model's reviews to confirm it fits your needs.
Watch the doorbuster trap
Some ultra-cheap holiday TVs are derivative models built specifically for the sale — stripped-down panels with a familiar brand name and a headline price. The discount is real; the TV just isn't the flagship it resembles.
Check the exact model number against reviews before buying a doorbuster, the same caution as our Black Friday strategy. A genuine last-year flagship on sale usually beats a made-for-sale doorbuster.
Buy open-box and refurbished
Open-box and manufacturer-refurbished TVs at retailers like Best Buy carry real discounts while keeping a warranty. For a large screen where a scuff on the box is irrelevant, it's one of the biggest savings available.
Confirm the condition grade and warranty, and inspect the panel in store if you can — our open-box guide covers what to check.
Stack a code on top
Even on a sale price, check for a coupon code, activate cash-back, and pay with a rewards card. Layering a code and cash-back on a Black Friday TV price is where the real savings compound.
Compare the same model across two retailers too — TVs are a heavily price-matched category, so a competitor's lower price can be honored on the spot per our price-matching guide.