It doesn’t feel quite right to call October the start of the holiday shopping season, but it's not uncommon to find some Black Friday-worthy prices during this month. With holiday sales beginning earlier and earlier each year, we’re already starting to see big price drops from many retailers. This October specifically is full of huge sales from Amazon, Wayfair, Target, and more! 

Here’s what our editors have their eye on this month:

Outerwear

a woman with dark hair wearing a sage green 3/4 length puffer coat against a grey background

October is a great time to buy a coat, because you’ll have the widest selection of the new season’s styles. You’ll also be able to shop last season’s styles at a hefty discount. Since retailers are stocking up on heavier winter coats, it’s a great time to buy lighter fall coats like fleece and denim styles.

Outdoor Furniture

a brown woven patio set with orange cushions on a patio in the daytime

Expect to see major markdowns on patio and outdoor living items as retailers start to liquidate the summer inventory that's still hanging around. Our editors recommend you keep your eyes on Wayfair, specifically. The home retail giant just announced they will be having a Way Day event from October 5th through October 7th. Way Day is typically the best time of year to get discounts on all things home at Wayfair. We expect their leftover outdoor furniture to be heavily discounted during this sale! 

Grills

a man wearing a black cowboy hat grilling on a Blackstone griddle in the woods

Since outdoor cooking tends to cool down along with the temperature, the prices of grills often follow. Expect to see big drops on brands like Blackstone, Pit Boss, and Traeger. We recommend keeping your eye on the Way Day Sale from October 5th-7th as well as the Walmart Holiday Deals sale, starting on October 9th, if you’re in the market for a new grill.

Apparel

a woman with brown hair wearing a orange colored long sleeve top in front of a light grey background

The month of October means, unfortunately, that summer is long gone. Now is the time to pick up great deals on summer clearance items that may still be hanging around. Summer clearance isn’t limited to patio and outdoor living, stores are likely looking to unload the last of their summer apparel items, which means you’ll be able to get them for a great price. It’s the perfect time to check the clearance sections of Macy’s, Kohl’s, and JCPenney, as they likely have reduced the prices of anything from last season.

Mattresses

a white mattress with two white pillows in front of a red brick wall

You gotta love a month with a three-day weekend! October has Columbus Day/Indigenous People's Day on October 14th. Not only does that mean an extra day off for you, it also means it’s a great time to upgrade your sleep game. Holiday weekend sales like these are typically the best times to buy mattresses. Expect online brands like Casper and Purple to be offering sales as well as brick-and-mortar mattress stores.

Halloween Candy & Costumes

a black cauldron filled with Reeses, Kit Kat, and Hershey bars in front of a lime green background

If you haven’t picked up your costume just yet, you’re in luck! We typically see the best price drops on Halloween costumes in the month of October. The closer we get to Halloween, the bigger the discounts will be. We expect to see some great deals around Columbus Day (if you can manage to wait that long!)

We’ll also see the best prices on Halloween candy as the 31st grows nearer. Our experts recommend stocking up on Amazon Prime Day on October 8th and 10th. We typically see the best deals on candy then, and you’ll be able to get it shipped well before Halloween if you're a Prime member.

Jeans

a person wearing light blue wide leg jeans with a striped crop top and beige loafers

Jeans are a quintessential item in any fall wardrobe, and October is a great time to buy them! Some retailers may offer sales to sell off extra stock from the Back-to-School shopping season during the month of October. Expect to see great apparel deals during Amazon Big Deal Days and Walmart’s competing Holiday Deals sale.