August stands out as Walmart's top promotional month with 10 promo codes released in 2024, making it the peak shopping season
Black Friday 2025 is November 28 with dual-wave approach: November 10-16 (Wave 1) and November 24-30 (Wave 2)
September follows as another strong month with 8 promotional codes in 2024, continuing the late-summer shopping surge
42% of Walmart's promo codes are storewide, offering broad savings opportunities across the entire store
January-February deliver consistent activity with 4-6 codes monthly, driven by post-holiday clearance and winter sales
March-July 2024 showed zero promotional codes, revealing Walmart's strategic quiet period before peak season
Walmart's 2025 promotional calendar reveals a strategic approach to sales that maximizes savings opportunities throughout the year. With Black Friday dominating headlines and clearance cycles following predictable patterns, understanding when Walmart has sales can transform your shopping strategy and deliver substantial savings.
Our analysis of Walmart's promotional data from September 2023 through May 2025 shows clear patterns in when the retail giant releases its biggest discounts. From the highly anticipated Black Friday sale to lesser-known rollback schedules, this comprehensive guide maps out exactly when to shop for maximum value.
Walmart's biggest sales of the year: The ultimate shopping calendar
Understanding when Walmart has its biggest sales allows strategic shoppers to time purchases for maximum savings. Based on promotional data and confirmed sale dates, here are the premier shopping events that define Walmart's annual sales calendar.
Black Friday 2025: Walmart's crown jewel sale event
Courtesy of Walmart
When is Walmart Black Friday sale? Black Friday 2025 falls on November 28, but Walmart extends the shopping extravaganza across multiple events throughout November.
Black Friday Week 1 runs November 10-16, with online deals launching Monday, November 11 at noon ET for Walmart+ members (5:00 PM ET for everyone else). In-store deals begin Friday, November 15 at 6:00 AM local time.
Black Friday Week 2 encompasses the traditional Black Friday period from November 24-30. Online access starts Monday, November 25, giving Walmart+ members a crucial 5-hour head start at noon ET. The main in-store event kicks off Friday, November 29 at 6:00 AM.
Expect savings up to 70% off across electronics, toys, home goods, and appliances during both Black Friday waves. This dual-wave approach maximizes shopping opportunities and helps manage inventory across Walmart's massive retail footprint.
Cyber Monday: Digital deals domination
Cyber Monday follows on December 1, starting Sunday evening at 5:00 PM ET for Walmart+ members. This online-only event features some of the year's deepest discounts on technology, with TVs seeing markdowns that often exceed Black Friday pricing. Laptops, smartphones, and smartwatches headline the deals, with savings reaching 80% off select items.
Walmart holiday sale dates: The complete November-December calendar
November transforms into Walmart's busiest promotional month, with our data showing consistent promotional code activity. The holiday sale dates extend well beyond Black Friday:
October Holiday Deals Event (October 7-12, 2025): Walmart's answer to Amazon's October Prime Day
Black Friday Wave 1 (November 10-16)
Black Friday Wave 2 (November 24-30)
Cyber Monday (December 1)
December clearance events throughout the month
Summer savings surge: Back-to-school and seasonal sales
Back-to-School sales begin Saturday, July 12, 2025, extending through late August. While school supplies dominate the advertising, significant electronics discounts for students create substantial value. Pen+Gear supplies start at $0.25, while laptops and tablets see major markdowns.
The Holiday Deals Event (October 7-12, 2025) directly challenges Amazon's October Prime Day, with Walmart+ members enjoying a 12-hour early access window. Historical data shows remarkable discounts: luggage sets at 79% off, stick vacuums at 73% off, and cookware sets at 66% off.
When does Walmart have clearance sales? The markdown calendar revealed
Walmart's clearance schedule follows predictable seasonal patterns that savvy shoppers can leverage for maximum savings. Understanding when these markdowns occur helps you time purchases for the deepest discounts.
Post-holiday clearance: The year's deepest discounts
The most lucrative clearance opportunity arrives immediately after Christmas. On December 26, holiday items drop to 50% off. By January 1, 2026, Christmas decorations, trees, and lights reach 75% off. The magic moment hits January 6-8 when remaining holiday inventory plummets to 90% off, though selection becomes extremely limited.
Winter apparel follows a predictable pattern throughout January and February:
January: Coats, boots, and scarves drop 30-50%
February: Final winter clearance reaches 50-70% off
Late February: Outdoor winter sports gear hits 80% off
Summer clearance cycles create outdoor bargains
The summer clearance cycle begins during July 4th week with initial patio furniture markdowns of 30-50% off. Mid-July through July 31 sees outdoor furniture, grills, and pool items drop 40-60% off. The peak opportunity arrives during Labor Day week (August 25 - September 1) when patio furniture hits its deepest markdowns of 50-60% off.
Our promotional data shows August 2024 had the highest code activity with 10 promotional codes, suggesting this month represents peak clearance season across multiple categories.
Seasonal clearance follows swift schedules
Halloween clearance moves rapidly:
November 1: 50% off all Halloween items
November 3-4: Costumes and decorations reach 75% off
November 6-7: Final 90% off clearance with limited selection
Easter clearance follows similar patterns starting April 21, 2025:
April 21: Initial 50% markdowns begin
April 24-25: Progress to 75% off
Early May: Final 90% off pricing on remaining merchandise
Walmart rollback schedule: Understanding the pricing rhythm
Walmart maintains up to 7,200 rollbacks per quarter across all stores, creating a complex but predictable pricing ecosystem. Most rollbacks last 1-2 weeks, though standard promotions run 3-4 weeks. Extended rollbacks can stretch up to 90 days, with rare instances lasting 6 months.
Monthly rollback evaluation patterns
Food items see the most frequent rollback activity with 1-2 week cycles, making them ideal for strategic stockpiling. Electronics rollbacks align with product launches and competitor pricing. Seasonal clothing experiences heavy rollback activity during transition periods.
The key insight: rollbacks undergo monthly evaluations with major decisions after 3 months, creating predictable windows for price changes.
Strategic rollback timing by season
Spring (March-May): Winter clearance rollbacks and patio furniture launch pricing
Summer (June-August): Aggressive back-to-school supply rollbacks
Fall (September-November): Halloween merchandise and early holiday prep rollbacks
Winter (December-February): Heavy toy rollbacks followed by post-holiday clearance pricing
Best time to shop Walmart deals: Category-specific timing guide
Different product categories follow distinct sale cycles at Walmart. Understanding these patterns helps you time purchases for maximum value across various merchandise types.
Electronics sale calendar
Super Bowl TV sales (January through February 9, 2025) offer the year's best television prices, with 85-inch models dropping to $699-$799. Memorial Day provides the second-best TV buying opportunity, while Back-to-school season (July-August) brings major laptop and tablet discounts.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday deliver the year's deepest electronics markdowns across all categories, making November the premier month for technology purchases.
Home goods and furniture timing
Presidents Day (February 17) launches the home goods calendar with up to 50% off mattresses and bedroom furniture. Memorial Day weekend brings 40-75% off patio furniture and outdoor items – the optimal time to outfit outdoor spaces.
Labor Day delivers the year's steepest indoor furniture discounts, with sofas and dining sets reaching up to 80% off.
Clothing clearance follows seasonal logic
Winter clearance peaks in January-February with 50-75% off coats and boots. Summer clearance accelerates in July-August with 40-70% off warm-weather apparel. The universal rule: seasonal clothing hits major clearance 6-8 weeks after peak season.
Grocery cycles offer consistent savings
Most grocery items follow 6-8 week sale cycles, allowing strategic stockpiling opportunities. Cleaning supplies peak in January (New Year cleaning) and March (spring cleaning) with 20-40% discounts. Holiday-specific patterns emerge around Super Bowl (snacks), Easter (baking supplies), and Thanksgiving (canned goods).
What Walmart's promotional data reveals about shopping strategy
Analysis of Walmart promotional codes from September 2023 through May 2025 provides valuable insights into the retailer's discount approach and optimal shopping timing.
Peak promotional months deliver maximum value
Our data shows distinct patterns in Walmart's promotional code releases:
Highest activity periods:
August 2024: 10 promotional codes (peak activity)
September 2024: 8 promotional codes
February 2024: 6 promotional codes
January 2024: 5 promotional codes
Moderate activity periods:
October, November, December consistently show 4-5 codes
Recent months (2025) average 2-4 codes per month
Quietest periods:
March-July 2024: 0 promotional codes (strategic quiet period)
This pattern reveals Walmart's strategic approach: concentrated promotional activity in late summer/early fall, followed by sustained holiday season promotions, then reduced activity during spring and early summer.
Storewide vs. item-specific promotions
Walmart's promotional strategy shows balanced targeting:
42% storewide codes: Offer broad savings across entire store
40% item-specific codes: Target particular products or categories
18% other types: Include member-only, minimum purchase, and specialty offers
This balance means shoppers can expect both broad savings opportunities and targeted deals throughout the year. The high percentage of storewide codes (42%) distinguishes Walmart from competitors who focus primarily on item-specific promotions.
Recent promotional examples reveal discount patterns
Analysis of current promotional codes shows Walmart's diverse discount approach:
Storewide offers:
"20% Off Storewide at Walmart"
"10% Off (Storewide) at Walmart"
"$10 Off Storewide at Walmart"
Member-exclusive deals:
"$10 Off Grocery Items (minimum Order $50) (members Only)"
"$10 Off Select Items (Minimum Order: $100) Members Only"
"$15 Off Storewide (Must Order 01) New Customers Only"
Category-specific promotions:
"$15 Off Buy Firts 4 Online Grocery (Minimum Order: $75)"
"$150 Off Level Smart Lock at Walmart"
"$15 Swivel Portable Outdoor Chair, Red or Blue, Free In-Store Pick-Up"
Month-by-month Walmart shopping strategy for 2025
Based on historical data, promotional patterns, and confirmed sale dates, here's your strategic shopping calendar for maximizing Walmart savings throughout 2025.
January: Post-holiday clearance goldmine
Promotional activity: Moderate (4 codes in 2025)
Key opportunities: 90% off holiday items, winter apparel clearance, Super Bowl TV sales begin
January delivers exceptional clearance opportunities as holiday merchandise reaches final markdown phases. Winter clothing hits major clearance periods, while electronics begin Super Bowl promotional cycles.
February: Presidents Day and promotional peak
Promotional activity: Moderate (2 codes in 2025, but historically strong with 6 codes in 2024)
Key opportunities:Presidents Day furniture sales, Super Bowl TV deals climax, frozen food month
February historically shows strong promotional activity and includes major furniture sales around Presidents Day. The month caps Super Bowl TV promotions and features grocery-focused deals.
March: Strategic quiet period
Promotional activity: Light (3 codes in 2025, 0 in 2024)
Key opportunities: Spring cleaning supplies, final winter clearance
March represents a transitional month with limited promotional activity, making it ideal for spring preparation purchases but not major acquisitions.
April: Pre-summer positioning
Promotional activity: Very light (1 code in 2025, 0 in 2024)
Key opportunities: Easter clearance, spring merchandise arrivals
April shows minimal promotional activity, suggesting strategic positioning before summer sales events. Focus on Easter clearance and spring transition items.
May: Building toward summer
Promotional activity: Light (2 codes in 2025, 0 in 2024)
Key opportunities: Memorial Day patio furniture deals, early summer prep
May begins building toward summer with Memorial Day sales, though promotional code activity remains limited compared to peak months.
June-July: Summer sales acceleration
Promotional activity: Historically quiet (0 codes in 2024)
Key opportunities: Back-to-school preparations, July 4th sales, summer clearance begins
Despite limited promotional code activity, these months feature significant seasonal sales events and back-to-school preparations.
August: Peak promotional season
Promotional activity: Highest (10 codes in 2024)
Key opportunities: Back-to-school peak, Labor Day prep, summer clearance acceleration
August emerges as Walmart's most active promotional month based on our data, coinciding with back-to-school season and summer clearance peaks.
September: Sustained high activity
Promotional activity: Very high (8 codes in 2024)
Key opportunities: Labor Day furniture blowout, fall merchandise transitions, back-to-school continuation
September maintains high promotional activity from August, featuring major furniture sales and seasonal transitions.
October-December: Holiday season consistency
Promotional activity: Consistent (4-5 codes per month)
Key opportunities: October Holiday Deals Event, Black Friday preparation, holiday shopping climax
The final quarter shows consistent promotional activity leading to Black Friday and holiday shopping peaks.
Walmart+ membership: Strategic advantage for sale access
Walmart+ membership at $98 annually provides substantial advantages during major sales events that can justify the cost through early access alone.
Early access windows change the shopping game
Walmart+ members receive significant head starts on major sales:
5 hours early for Black Friday events
3 hours early for Cyber Monday
12 hours early for October Holiday Deals Event
These early access windows often mean the difference between securing deals and finding items sold out.
Year-round benefits compound savings
Beyond early access, members save 10¢ per gallon at 14,000+ fuel locations year-round. Free delivery with no minimums, mobile Scan & Go rewards, and priority flash sale access create continuous value. Most members reach break-even through fuel savings alone, making the membership essentially free while providing crucial sale access.
Strategic shopping calendar: When to shop Walmart deals in 2025
January-February: Focus on post-holiday clearance (90% off holiday items), winter apparel, and Super Bowl TV sales. Strong promotional code activity makes this an excellent shopping period.
March-May: Limited promotional activity suggests waiting for better opportunities unless immediate needs arise. Memorial Day provides good patio furniture values.
June-July: Back-to-school sales begin, July 4th promotions, and summer item clearance starts. Despite limited codes, seasonal necessities offer good value.
August-September: Peak promotional season with highest code activity. Ideal for major purchases, furniture (Labor Day), and back-to-school needs.
October-December: Consistent promotional activity builds to Black Friday climax. October Holiday Deals Event, Black Friday waves, and Cyber Monday create year's best shopping opportunities.
Insider intelligence: Maximizing every Walmart shopping trip
The markdown progression at Walmart follows predictable patterns: initial markdowns at 25-30%, progressing to 50% by weeks 2-3, then 70-75% by weeks 4-5, with final 90% off clearance after week 6. Yellow clearance stickers ending in '5' or '0' indicate one of the deepest discounts.
Store-level variations create opportunities for dedicated bargain hunters. Each location manages clearance independently, with timing varying by 1-3 days. Rural stores often maintain longer clearance periods, while urban locations see faster inventory turnover.
Early morning shopping (6-10 AM) on Tuesdays catches fresh clearance updates, while Mondays and Thursdays see markdown processing. The Walmart app reveals unmarked clearance prices through scanning, providing an edge over in-store shopping alone.
Your complete Walmart shopping strategy for 2025
Walmart's 2025 promotional calendar reveals three prime savings windows: post-Christmas clearance in January, peak promotional season in August-September, and the Black Friday season in November. Understanding when Walmart has sales allows strategic timing that can yield savings of 30-80% across categories.
For maximum value, align purchases with category-specific timing: Super Bowl for TVs, Memorial Day for outdoor furniture, Labor Day for indoor furniture, and end-of-season for clothing. Track the 6-8 week grocery cycles for household staples, and leverage the 42% of promotional codes that offer storewide savings.
Most importantly, Walmart's competitive positioning creates additional savings opportunities throughout the year, particularly during the October Holiday Deals Event and the dual-wave Black Friday approach. With Walmart+ membership providing crucial early access and year-round fuel savings, strategic shoppers can transform routine purchases into sophisticated savings opportunities throughout 2025.
How we get this data: Promo code data is sourced from ShopGraph, our proprietary knowledge system that continuously monitors 400,000+ stores. Every code is verified through our dual AI and community testing process.
Looking for current Walmart deals? Find verified Walmart promo codes here

by Sean Fisher
Sean Fisher is an Editor at SimplyCodes, where he creates engaging, informative content for the SimplyCodes blog. With expertise in online shopping trends and consumer finance, Sean delivers valuable insights on saving money and finding the best deals. Sean's goal is to empower readers with the knowledge to make smarter shopping decisions and stretch their dollars further. Previously he worked at GOBankingRates and WebMD. He has a bachelor's degree from University of California, Santa Barbara.