The days of waking up at 4 a.m. to fight over a discounted blender are basically dead. Honestly, thank goodness for that. But even though we aren’t sprinting through sliding glass doors anymore, the "digital" version of the holiday rush has become its own kind of beast. If you've been wondering how long does Amazon Black Friday last, you aren't alone. It’s a moving target.
Back in the day, it was 24 hours. Simple. Now? It’s a marathon. For 2025, the official "Black Friday Week" on Amazon kicked off on November 20 and technically "ended" on December 1. That is a solid twelve days of refreshing your browser and hoping that the robot vacuum you want doesn't sell out while you're getting a glass of water.
The 12-Day Marathon Explained
Amazon has realized that cramming everything into one Friday is a logistical nightmare for their warehouses and a stress-fest for us. So, they’ve stretched it. The 2025 schedule was a perfect example of this "endurance race" strategy.
Instead of one big bang, the event followed a specific rhythm. It started with an "Early Access" phase on November 20. This is where they drop the first wave of deals, mostly on their own stuff—think Kindles, Fire Sticks, and Echo Dots. If you're looking for Amazon-branded tech, this is usually when you strike. You don't wait for Friday.
Then you hit the "Core Black Friday" period. This usually ramps up on the Tuesday or Wednesday before Thanksgiving. This is when the big-name brands like Apple, Sony, and Dyson start showing up. By the time Thanksgiving morning rolls around (November 27, 2025), the site is usually in full-blown chaos mode.
Why the Timeline Keeps Shifting
You've probably noticed that every year the "start" date seems to creep earlier into November. In 2025, we saw "Black Friday" deals popping up as early as November 10th through their "Haul" and "Bazaar" sections to compete with things like Singles' Day.
It’s all about the "three-stage rhythm."
- The Warm-up (Nov 20-25): High-ticket items and kitchen gadgets.
- The Peak (Nov 26-29): The "explosive" sales. Fashion, beauty, and small home goods.
- The Clean-up (Nov 30-Dec 1): Cyber Monday and clearance.
How Long Do Individual Deals Actually Last?
This is the part that trips people up. Just because the "event" lasts twelve days doesn't mean the discount on that specific pair of noise-canceling headphones will.
Lightning Deals are the biggest culprit here. These are the ones with the little progress bars that show "45% Claimed." They usually last for a maximum of 6 to 12 hours, but they often sell out in minutes. If you see something you actually need (not just want because it’s cheap), you’ve gotta move.
Then you have "Today’s Big Deals." These are supposed to last 24 hours, but inventory is finite. I’ve seen people wait until the evening to buy a discounted Lego set only to find the "Deal Price" gone because the allocated stock for that promotion was cleared out by noon.
The Cyber Monday Overlap
People often ask if Black Friday and Cyber Monday are different things on Amazon. Kinda? But mostly no.
In 2025, the transition was almost invisible. The banners on the homepage literally swapped from "Black Friday" to "Cyber Monday" overnight on Saturday, November 29. The sales don't stop; they just change focus. Cyber Monday (December 1, 2025) is usually heavier on software, digital subscriptions, and "office" tech. Think laptops, monitors, and those ergonomic chairs everyone realized they needed.
One thing to watch out for is the "Post-Event Hangover." On December 2nd, most of the major 40-50% discounts vanish. However, Amazon often leaves a "Holiday Deals Hub" active. The prices won't be as low as they were on Friday morning, but they’ll still be better than the MSRP you'll see in mid-January.
Survival Tips for the Long Haul
Since you’re looking at nearly two weeks of sales, you can’t just wing it. You'll burn out or, worse, overspend on stuff you don't need.
1. Use the "Watch this Deal" Feature
The Amazon app has a "Watch a Deal" button. Use it. It’ll ping your phone when the price drops. It’s way better than manually checking 50 times a day.
2. CamelCamelCamel is Your Best Friend
Before you click buy, copy the URL and paste it into a price tracker like CamelCamelCamel. It shows you the price history. Sometimes, that "Black Friday Deal" is actually the same price the item was in August. Don't fall for the fake urgency.
3. Check the "Other Sellers" Section
During the rush, the "Main" buy box might sell out, and Amazon will show a higher price from a third-party seller. Look at the "New & Used" link below the price. Sometimes there's still stock at the discount price hidden in there.
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4. The Sunday Sweet Spot
Everyone focuses on Friday and Monday. But the Sunday in between (November 30 in 2025) is often a weirdly quiet time where "leftover" Black Friday stock is still at the low price, but the Cyber Monday crowd hasn't arrived yet. It's a great time to snag items that were "Out of Stock" on Friday but got a small inventory refresh.
Practical Next Steps for Your Shopping List
If you're reading this while a sale is active, stop browsing aimlessly. It's the fastest way to blow your budget.
- Audit your cart right now. Move anything you don't actually need to "Save for Later." This keeps your cart clean so you can check out instantly when a Lightning Deal hits.
- Check your Prime status. A lot of the best "early" windows are Prime-exclusive. If you aren't a member, just grab the 30-day free trial on the Monday before Thanksgiving and cancel it in December.
- Set a "Hard Stop" price. Decide the maximum you'll pay for your big-ticket items (TV, Laptop, Console). If the deal doesn't hit that number, walk away. There's always the "Big Spring Sale" in March.
The reality of how long Amazon Black Friday lasts is that it’s more of a season than a day. It starts mid-November and breathes its last breath around the first week of December. Stay patient, use a price tracker, and don't let the countdown timers trick you into a panic purchase.