What Is the Average Discount on Black Friday?

Typical Black Friday Discount Ranges

The average discount on Black Friday falls between 20% and 40% off retail prices, though this varies significantly by product category and retailer. Electronics, appliances, and toys often see the deepest markdowns, sometimes reaching 50% or more, while clothing and home goods tend to hover closer to the lower end of that range. These figures come from historical price tracking by consumer analytics firms and retail industry reports.

Where the Biggest Savings Hide

Not all Black Friday deals are created equal. The steepest discounts usually concentrate in a handful of categories:

• Electronics — TVs, laptops, and headphones frequently drop 30% to 50%.
• Toys and games — popular items are often marked down 40% or more.
• Appliances — major kitchen and laundry appliances can see 30% to 45% off.
• Small kitchen gadgets — deep discounts but on lower original prices.

Retailer Variation and Tactics

Big-box retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target typically lead with aggressive doorbuster pricing on a limited number of products, then spread moderate discounts across a wider catalog. Specialty and department stores may offer shallower overall discounts but deeper cuts on specific brand partnerships. Online retailers often extend Black Friday deals across a full week, blurring the line between the sale event and broader holiday promotions.

How to Judge Whether a Deal Is Real

Retailers sometimes inflate original prices before applying a Black Friday markdown, which inflates the apparent discount. Consumer advocates recommend checking price history tools in the weeks before the sale to establish a true baseline. A 20% discount off a stable, regularly promoted price is generally a better value than a 50% discount off a price that was already reduced weeks earlier.

Bottom Line

The average Black Friday discount sits around 20% to 40%, but the real savings depend on the category, the retailer, and whether the original price reflects fair market value. Focusing on historically deep-discount categories and verifying pre-sale pricing helps shoppers separate genuine deals from promotional noise.