Memorial Day vs Labor Day Sales: Which Is Better for What

Memorial Day (Monday, May 31, 2027) and Labor Day (Monday, September 6, 2027) are the two biggest summer sale weekends for mattresses, appliances, grills, and outdoor gear. Mattress deals are similar on both. Labor Day tends to be the better weekend for appliances, grills, and patio furniture because stores are clearing out the season and older models. Memorial Day is better when you want the item for the summer ahead and selection matters more than the last few dollars.

Why these two weekends matter

Both holidays create a three-day weekend that kicks off or closes out summer, and retailers treat them as anchor events. The categories overlap a lot, but the reasons behind the discounts are different.

Memorial Day sales are about the start of the season. Stores want to sell grills, patio sets, and air conditioners while demand is rising, and mattress brands use it as one of their biggest promotional weekends of the year.

Labor Day sales are about the end of the season. Summer inventory needs to go, and in several categories new models are arriving in the fall. That changeover is what produces the deeper markdowns on outgoing stock.

Mattresses: close to a tie

Mattress companies, especially online brands, run promotions on nearly every holiday. Memorial Day and Labor Day are two of the biggest, and the pricing on each is usually similar. Many mattress lines are refreshed in spring or early summer, so Memorial Day can bring good prices on outgoing versions, but that pattern varies by brand.

The bigger issue is how mattress discounts are framed. Percentages are often calculated from a list price the mattress rarely sells at. A "40% off" mattress may be at the same price it was over Presidents Day and the Fourth of July. That is fine if the price is fair, but it means there is little reason to rush on either weekend. Compare against what the same model sold for over recent holiday weekends.

Appliances: Labor Day usually has the edge

Both weekends bring appliance sales from the big home improvement and electronics retailers. Labor Day often comes out ahead for one reason: many manufacturers introduce new appliance models in the fall, so stores discount the current models to clear space. If you are flexible on model year, an outgoing washer or refrigerator that is functionally the same as its replacement can be a strong buy.

Memorial Day appliance deals are still worth checking, especially for air conditioners and freezers ahead of summer demand. Just don't assume they are the year's low.

Texas runs a sales tax holiday on Energy Star and WaterSense products over Memorial Day weekend, covering items like certain appliances, air conditioners, and water-efficient products. If you're in Texas, that can stack with a retailer's sale. Check the Texas Comptroller's site for the current list of eligible items and any price limits before you shop.

Grills: Labor Day for price, Memorial Day for timing

Grills follow the season. Around Memorial Day, demand is high and stores have full stock, so you get the best selection but the discounts are usually moderate. By Labor Day, retailers want the floor space back for fall and holiday products, and grill markdowns tend to be deeper. Clearance can continue into September as stores sell through what's left.

If you want to grill all summer, Memorial Day is the practical choice. If you can wait a season, Labor Day and the weeks after it usually win on price, with thinner selection.

Outdoor and patio furniture: Labor Day and after

Patio sets, umbrellas, outdoor rugs, and planters follow the same pattern as grills, but more strongly. End-of-season clearance often starts before Labor Day and runs into the fall. Expect the steepest cuts late in the season, along with picked-over inventory and floor models.

Quick comparison

• Mattresses: similar on both. Buy when you need one and the price matches recent holiday lows.
• Appliances: Labor Day often better because of fall model changeovers. Memorial Day fine for air conditioners and urgent needs.
• Grills: Memorial Day for selection, Labor Day for price.
• Patio furniture: Labor Day and the weeks after for the deepest markdowns.
• Summer clothing: clearance tends to be well underway by Labor Day.
• Lawn and garden: discounts appear on both weekends, with end-of-season clearance in late summer.

How to check whether a holiday weekend deal is real

The trick on both weekends is the same. A discount looks big because it is calculated from a high reference price, not from what the item normally sells for. Three checks cover most cases.

First, look at the price history for the exact model. If the "sale" price is where it sat most of the spring, it is not a sale. The price history tracking guide walks through how to read a price chart.

Second, compare across stores. Appliances and mattresses often carry retailer-specific model numbers, which makes direct comparison harder. Match the specs and look for the manufacturer's base model.

Third, count only the value you would use. Free delivery, haul-away, and installation can matter a lot for appliances. Bundled pillows or a gift card may not.

Scanning a product or searching it in Priced shows the street price across sellers, the unit price where it applies, and where the current price sits against its recent range, so you can tell whether a Memorial Day or Labor Day markdown is low or just normal.

Model-year timing, in plain terms

For appliances and some mattresses, the best deals come from the gap between old and new models. When a new version arrives, stores need to clear the previous one, and the previous one is often nearly identical. Fall is a common window for appliance changeovers, which is why Labor Day and the following weeks tend to look good.

The tradeoff is selection. Clearance means limited colors, sizes, and configurations, and occasionally floor models. If you need a specific finish or capacity, buying earlier at a moderate discount may beat waiting for a deep one that never comes in your configuration.

For a full year view, see the sales calendar.

Common questions

When are Memorial Day and Labor Day in 2027?

Memorial Day 2027 is Monday, May 31, and Labor Day 2027 is Monday, September 6. Many retailers start their sales a week or more before each holiday.

Is Memorial Day or Labor Day better for a mattress?

They are usually similar. Mattress brands run comparable promotions on most holiday weekends, so the better choice is whichever weekend matches when you need the mattress, as long as the price matches or beats recent holiday pricing.

Is Labor Day a good time to buy appliances?

Often, yes. Many manufacturers release new appliance models in the fall, so stores discount current models around Labor Day and in the weeks after. If you are flexible on model year, that can be one of the better times of the year.

When is the cheapest time to buy a grill?

Grill prices tend to be lowest at the end of summer, around Labor Day and into September, when stores clear seasonal inventory. Selection is better earlier in the season, around Memorial Day.