What Time Stores Open on Black Friday This Year
Black Friday is November 28 this year. Most major retailers will be closed on Thanksgiving, then opening early Friday morning with deals aplenty.
Here's when stores open so you can plan your shopping strategy accordingly.
The Big Boxes
Walmart: Opens 6 a.m. local time. Closed Thanksgiving.
Target: Opens 6 a.m. local time. Closed Thanksgiving.
Best Buy: Opens 6 a.m., closes 10 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving.
The major retailers are all starting at 6 a.m. Coordinated? Probably. Convenient for comparison? Definitely.
Department Stores
Kohl's: Opens 5 a.m. local time. Closed Thanksgiving.
JCPenney: Opens 5 a.m., closing times vary by location. Closed Thanksgiving.
Nordstrom: Opens 8 or 9 a.m., closes 8 or 9 p.m. depending on location. Check Nordstrom.com for your specific store.
Belk: Regular stores open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Outlet stores open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving.
Kohl's and JCPenney are going for the 5 a.m. early bird crowd while Nordstrom is being slightly more civilized with their 8 or 9 a.m opening time.
Discount Retailers
TJ Maxx, Marshall's, HomeGoods: Most stores open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Hours vary by location, check websites. Closed Thanksgiving.
Burlington: Opens 7 a.m., stays open until midnight. Closed Thanksgiving.
Burlington's midnight closing time is aggressive. They're really committing to the full Black Friday experience.
Home Improvement
Home Depot: Normal operating hours, most stores open 6 a.m. weekdays. Closed Thanksgiving.
Lowe's: Opens 6 a.m. local time. Closed Thanksgiving.
Ace Hardware: Varies by location since stores are independently owned. Call your local store.
Outdoor and Sporting Goods
Bass Pro Shop and Cabela's: Open 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday. Also open Thanksgiving 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
REI: Closed both Thanksgiving and Black Friday.
REI is continuing their tradition of sitting out Black Friday entirely. They've been doing this for years, and they're not changing now.
Clothing and Accessories
American Eagle: Opens 6 a.m., closes 9 p.m. U.S. stores closed Thanksgiving (Canada stores open).
Victoria's Secret: Open with extended hours, varies by mall schedule. Closed Thanksgiving.
Sephora: Hours vary by location and mall requirements. Use store locator on their website.
Tech and Books
Apple Store: Hours vary by location. Check Apple.com store locator for your specific store.
Barnes & Noble: Hours vary by location. Check website for nearest store. Closed Thanksgiving.
Office Supplies
Office Depot and OfficeMax: Regular hours Friday. Closed Thanksgiving.
Staples: Opens 9 a.m., closes 8 p.m. Friday. Stores with earlier normal closing times follow standard hours. Closed Thanksgiving.
Pet Stores
PetSmart: Opens 7 a.m., closes 9 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving.
Petco: Hours vary, some open as early as 8 a.m. Closed Thanksgiving.
Other Retailers
IKEA: Regular hours Friday. Hours vary by location, check website or call.
Tractor Supply Company: Opens 6 a.m., closes 9 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving.
The Pattern
Most major retailers are closed on Thanksgiving. That's become standard in recent years after backlash about making employees work holidays.
Many stores are opening 5 - 6 a.m. on Friday. Early enough to catch deal hunters but not so early employees have to arrive at 3 a.m.
Hours vary by location more than you'd think. Mall stores follow mall schedules. Standalone stores set their own hours within company guidelines. Always worth checking specific store hours online before driving across town.
Other Shopping Days
Small Business Saturday: November 29. Shop local, support small businesses in your community.
Cyber Monday: December 1. Online shopping deals, no need to leave your couch.
Black Friday has expanded into a week-long event at this point. Many retailers start deals days before actual Friday. Some run sales through the entire weekend into Cyber Monday.
The Bottom Line
Black Friday is November 28. Most stores open between 5-7 a.m. Most close between 8-10 p.m. Check specific store websites or call ahead because hours vary by location more than corporate press releases suggest.
Plan accordingly. Know when your target stores open. Get there early if you want doorbuster deals. Or sleep in and shop online—Cyber Monday is three days later anyway.
Twenty years ago, people camped outside stores overnight for Black Friday. Now most retailers have moved their best deals online and spread them across multiple days. The frenzy has calmed somewhat, though early morning crowds still show up for specific items.
Whether you're hitting stores at 5 a.m. or waiting for Cyber Monday deals from your couch, Black Friday weekend offers plenty of opportunities to save money if you're strategic about it.
Just don't forget most stores are closed Thanksgiving. Plan that turkey-induced shopping coma accordingly.
Did you find this information useful? Feel free to bookmark or to post to your timeline to share with your friends.