Everyone loses their minds over Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day, camping out (virtually or literally) for deals that might save them $50. Meanwhile, Presidents Day—the third Monday in February—is quietly offering some of the best sales of the entire year, and most people are completely ignoring it because they’re too busy celebrating, uh, presidents? (Let’s be honest, most people just know it as a random three-day weekend.)

Here’s the truth: Presidents Day sales rival Black Friday for certain categories, the crowds are way smaller, and retailers are desperate to move winter inventory before spring arrives. It’s the perfect storm of actual deals without the chaos, and you’re missing out if you’re not paying attention.

Why retailers go hard on Presidents Day

February is retail purgatory. The holiday rush is over, Valentine’s Day brought a small bump, and now stores are stuck with winter inventory that nobody wants because everyone’s already thinking about spring.

The result: Aggressive sales to clear out space for new seasonal merchandise. Retailers would rather discount heavily than warehouse winter stock, so they’re actually motivated to give you real deals—not the fake “sale” prices you see other times of year.

What actually goes on sale (and what doesn’t)

Not everything’s discounted, so you need to know where the real deals are.

The best Presidents Day deals:

Mattresses (the MVP of Presidents Day): Every mattress company goes absolutely wild with sales. We’re talking 30-50% off, sometimes more. Online brands like Casper, Purple, and Tuft & Needle stack discounts on top of already competitive prices. Traditional stores like Mattress Firm and Sleep Number match or beat online deals. If you need a mattress, this is your moment.

Furniture: Winter furniture is being cleared for spring collections. Couches, dining sets, bedroom furniture—all heavily discounted. Expect 20-40% off at stores like West Elm, Crate & Barrel, and even IKEA (which rarely does major sales).

Appliances: Major appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers) see significant discounts, often 30-40% off. Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Best Buy compete aggressively. If you’re renovating or your appliance is dying, wait for Presidents Day.

Winter clothing and gear: Retailers are desperate to move coats, boots, and cold-weather gear. You’ll find 50-70% off at places like REI, North Face, Columbia, and department stores. This is when you buy your coat for next winter.

Technology (sometimes): Laptops, tablets, and TVs sometimes get decent discounts, though these deals aren’t as predictable as mattresses or furniture. Worth checking, but not guaranteed.

What’s NOT on sale:

Spring clothing (it’s new), outdoor/patio furniture (wrong season), most luxury goods, and groceries (obviously). Don’t waste time looking for deals in these categories.

How Presidents Day compares to other sale holidays

Black Friday: Better for electronics, toys, and small appliances. More crowded, more chaotic, more “fake deals” that aren’t actually discounts.

Presidents Day: Better for big-ticket items like mattresses, furniture, and appliances. Less competitive (fewer people know about the deals), so inventory lasts longer and you can actually think about purchases instead of panic-buying.

Memorial Day: Similar to Presidents Day but focused on outdoor/summer items. If you’re buying furniture or mattresses, Presidents Day is actually better because retailers are more desperate.

Amazon Prime Day: Good for random Amazon stuff, terrible for quality furniture and mattresses. Don’t compare—different purposes entirely.

The strategic approach to maximizing savings

Do your research early: Know what you want and what it normally costs. Check prices in January so you can recognize a real deal in February. Use tools like CamelCamelCamel for Amazon price history or Google Shopping price tracking.

Stack discounts: Many stores offer email signup discounts (10-15% off) that can stack with Presidents Day sales. Sign up a week before the sales start, get your coupon code, then use it on already-discounted items.

Price match policies: If you find a better price elsewhere during the sale period, many retailers will match it. Best Buy, Target, and most furniture stores have price-matching policies—use them.

Negotiate on big purchases: Especially for furniture and appliances, floor models and slightly damaged items can be negotiated even lower during sales. Ask what else they can do on the price—salespeople have more flexibility during clearance events.

Use credit card rewards strategically: If you’re making a big purchase you were planning anyway, use a cash-back credit card (and pay it off immediately). Chase Freedom and Discover sometimes have rotating 5% cash-back categories that include home improvement or department stores—check if February qualifies.

What to actually buy (and what to skip)

Buy if you actually need it:

  • A mattress you’ve been putting off replacing
  • Furniture that’s genuinely needed (not just wanted because it’s on sale)
  • Appliances that are breaking or inefficient
  • Winter gear for next year (if you actually live somewhere cold)

Skip if:

  • You don’t have room for it
  • You’re buying just because it’s on sale
  • You can’t afford it even with the discount
  • It’s an impulse purchase disguised as “investment”

The biggest mistake people make is buying things they don’t need just because the discount is good. A 40% off couch you don’t have room for is still a waste of money.

The timeline strategy

Sales typically run Thursday through Monday (the long weekend), but the best deals often appear early or late.

Thursday/Friday: Some stores start early to beat competitors—check online deals starting Thursday evening.

Monday: Final day often brings additional markdowns on items that didn’t sell. If you’re flexible on color/style, wait until Monday afternoon for deeper discounts.

Week after: Some sales extend or transition into “End of Sale” clearances. Stragglers can find additional deals, though selection is limited.

The bottom line

Presidents Day is the sleeper hit of savings holidays. While everyone’s waiting for Memorial Day or Prime Day, smart shoppers are getting incredible deals on big-ticket items without fighting crowds or dealing with sold-out inventory.

If you need a mattress, furniture, or appliances this year, put Presidents Day on your calendar. Do your research in advance, know what you’re looking for, and be ready to pull the trigger on genuine deals.

And if you don’t need any of those things? Don’t buy them just because they’re on sale. The best deal is always the one you don’t waste money on.

But if you’ve been sleeping on a garbage mattress for three years telling yourself you’ll replace it “eventually”—this is your sign. Presidents Day is eventually. Your back will thank you, and your wallet won’t hate you for it.