When and what is Black Friday 2018?

Black Friday is on 23 November 2018, so save the date if you're keen to do some serious shopping.

Black Friday falls on 23 November 2018. You can expect to see shops competing to bring you the best deals, and shoppers competing to get them in their trolley.

When is Black Friday 2018?

Black Friday will officially fall on 23 November 2018. However, in 2017, Black Friday online sales started from early November. 

Black Friday deals are likely to be promoted across all major retailers, from the likes of Amazon, Argos and Currys to John Lewis, Debenhams and House of Fraser.

There will be a whole host of deals on offer, so make sure you’re clued up on all things Black Friday before you hit the shops. 

Check out our top 10 shopping tips for Black Friday deals.

When is Cyber Monday 2018?

Cyber Monday is on 26 November. It follows Black Friday and continues the bargain-hunting frenzy.

It's a relatively new tradition, boosted by the popularity of online shopping. It started in 2005, when the National Retail Federation, an American trade association, noticed a spike in online sales on the Monday after Thanksgiving. 

Online deals can be a minefield if you don’t know what you’re looking for. We have thousands of product reviews designed to help separate the genuine bargains from dubious discounts. We test hundreds of products, from cut-price coffee machines to newly reduced tablets.

How did Black Friday begin?

Black Friday originated in the USA. As Thanksgiving always falls on the fourth Thursday in November, the following Friday is often observed as an unofficial holiday. 

Because many people are off work, shops drop prices, usually for one day only, to start the Christmas season. 

UK shops have since caught on to this trend and it was brought across the pond a few years ago. Between 2010 and 2013, Black Friday gradually built up momentum in the UK. In 2014, Black Friday was the peak pre-Christmas online sales day.

In 2015, 2016 and 2017, increasing numbers of retailers launched sales in the days leading up to Black Friday – extending the peak period further still.

Shops don't typically announce their Black Friday plans until fairly close to the big day, so we'll release news as we get it to tell you where the best deals are. 

Set your alarm early if you plan to shop on the high street this Black Friday – some UK stores opened their doors as early as 6am last year.

Get a great deal on Black Friday 2018

Amazon, Argos, Boots, Currys, Debenhams, Halfords, House of Fraser, John Lewis, Littlewoods, Morrisons, Tesco and Very have all offered Black Friday deals in the past and are likely to do so again.

Our research has shown that while Black Friday offers can look too good to miss, they don't always represent great bargains. Some discounted products aren't actually models worth buying, while others can be found for cheaper prices at other times of year.

Make sure you look at our reviews to find out how well products will work once you get them home.If you're still interested, look into the normal price for that model to make sure it's a good deal.

Armed with this knowledge, you'll be able to spot a real bargain when the discounts hit the shops – you don't want to be left with a cordless vacuum cleaner that only lasts five minutes or a mediocre TV that was discounted by only a few pounds. 

Find out more on how to check if a Black Friday deal is real.