Last updated: March 2026
How Many Days Until Black Friday?
The countdown above shows the exact time remaining until Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving and the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season. Whether you are a deal hunter planning your strategy or a retailer preparing inventory, knowing exactly when Black Friday falls is essential.
Black Friday has become a global phenomenon, with online sales alone reaching nearly $10 billion in recent years. What started as a single day of in-store doorbusters has evolved into a week-long shopping event spanning both physical stores and online retailers.
About Black Friday
The term "Black Friday" was first used by Philadelphia police in the 1950s to describe the chaotic day after Thanksgiving when hordes of suburban shoppers and tourists flooded the city ahead of the big Army-Navy football game on Saturday. The term was decidedly negative, referring to heavy traffic and overcrowding.
Retailers later tried to rebrand the day with the explanation that it was when their books went from red (losses) to black (profits) for the year, though this origin story is more marketing folklore than fact. Regardless, the day became synonymous with massive discounts and has grown into the single largest shopping day in the United States.
The rise of e-commerce has transformed Black Friday. Cyber Monday, coined in 2005 by the National Retail Federation, extended the shopping event online. Today, many retailers begin deals on Thanksgiving evening or even earlier in the week. Mobile shopping has surged, with smartphones accounting for over half of all online Black Friday purchases. The event has also spread internationally, with retailers in the UK, Canada, Mexico, and beyond adopting Black Friday sales.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days until Black Friday?
The live countdown at the top of this page shows the exact time remaining until Black Friday, which always falls the day after Thanksgiving (the fourth Thursday of November). The countdown updates every second and calculates next year's date automatically.
When is Black Friday this year?
Black Friday is always the day after Thanksgiving, which is the fourth Thursday of November. Since Thanksgiving's date changes each year, so does Black Friday's. Our countdown calculates the exact date automatically each year.
Is Black Friday still worth it for deals?
Black Friday still offers significant discounts, especially on electronics, appliances, and clothing. However, many retailers now spread deals across the entire week (Black Friday Week) and into Cyber Monday. Studies show that some of the best deals are actually found on Thanksgiving evening and early Black Friday morning, while online deals peak on Cyber Monday.