When Is the Best Time to Buy Kitchen Appliances?
With a little patience and planning, you can save big
Highlights
Holidays like Presidents Day and Labor Day are the best time to buy appliances.
Some retailers may offer end-of-month deals to meet quotas.
Ask about floor models or returned merchandise to save money.
Kitchen appliances cost $350 to $8,000 each, on average.
Whether your fridge is on the fritz or you’re just looking to refresh the look of your kitchen, buying kitchen appliances can be a big household expense—unless you know how to find the best deals. So, when is the best time to buy kitchen appliances? Fortunately, there are several times throughout the year that homeowners can score major savings on fridges, stoves, microwaves, and more kitchen essentials.
Best Time to Buy Kitchen Appliances
The best time to buy kitchen appliances includes during major holiday sales, after new models are released, and even at the end of each month when retailers and sales reps are trying to meet their monthly quotas.
Factors That Affect Kitchen Appliance Costs
Many factors can influence the cost of kitchen appliances. Knowing when to buy could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars, depending on how many appliances you are planning to purchase.
Holiday Sales
Shopping the holiday sales is one of the best ways to save big on kitchen appliances. While you may not find big discounts for Halloween, there are several holidays, such as Independence Day or Labor Day, when retailers offer big discounts. Retail holidays, like Black Friday, are also good times to score discounts.
The best time to buy kitchen appliances is during the following holidays and retail holidays:
New Year’s Day: January 1
Presidents Day: Third Monday in February
Memorial Day: Last Monday in May
Independence Day: July 4
Labor Day: First Monday of September
Veterans Day: November 11
Black Friday: Fourth Friday of November, or the day after Thanksgiving
Cyber Monday: Monday after Thanksgiving
Seasonal Deals
From winter holiday deals to summer sales events, retailers host sales throughout the year for various appliances. However, buying kitchen appliances may not come with the off-season deals that buying other appliances, like different types of dryers or furnaces, may have. Because kitchen appliances are in demand year-round, you may not see the summer or winter deals you could find for other household appliances.
End-of-Month Quotas
Some retailers, particularly smaller or locally owned companies, have monthly quotas for sales reps to meet. That means sales reps are trying to sell a certain number of appliances by the end of the month, and they may offer discounts and bundle deals to attract customers. This is a win-win: you can save on your appliances, and sales reps can meet their quotas.
New Model Releases
If you don’t mind having last year’s model rather than the latest release, you could save a lot of money by shopping right after new models are released. Typically, new kitchen appliance models start selling from September to December. Retailers will discount older models to make more room for the newer (and more expensive) models.
Floor Model or Open-Box Discounts
Floor models and open-box, or returned, merchandise can come with pretty significant discounts, especially if they have minor cosmetic damage. If you’re willing to purchase a used, but typically in great to excellent condition, appliance, could save you 15% to 50% of the cost of a brand new appliance.
Credit Offers
Don’t forget to browse your credit card benefits before you buy a kitchen appliance. Throughout the year, credit card companies may have various discounts or cashback offers for certain retailers to encourage larger purchases. Even if there aren’t cashback offers, buying appliances on credit can earn rewards points that will pay more in the long run.
The Worst Time to Buy Kitchen Appliances
The worst time to buy kitchen appliances is right after the newest model with all the newest technologies is released. If you can wait a few months or close to a year, you’ll be able to save more money.
Cost to Buy Kitchen Appliances
The cost of appliances ranges from around $350 to $8,000 on average, but costs vary by type of appliance. An oven may cost around $650 to $2,000, while a new fridge can range from $900 to $8,000. The more high-tech and feature-rich the appliance, the higher the cost will be.
DIY Appliance Installation vs. Hiring a Pro
Installing a kitchen appliance yourself will save you the labor costs associated with hiring a pro. But keep in mind that if you don’t have a well-stocked tool box, you could spend hundreds of dollars more for the equipment you need for proper installation, such as wrenches, screwdrivers, a power drill, pipes, plugs, vents, and more.
Professional appliance installation costs $125 to $300 per appliance on average, or around $550 for a bundle of appliances. Trusting a local appliance installer is a safer choice than trying to DIY, especially when handling heavy refrigerators, gas stoves, and wall-mounted microwaves or range hoods. Plus, leaving this job to the pros means you don’t have to worry about what to do with old appliances.
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be less expensive to buy kitchen appliances in a bundle compared to the price of buying each appliance at a separate store or on different occasions. That’s because some retailers offer discounts averaging around 10% to 20% for appliance bundles. Plus, you could increase the savings if you purchase appliances in a bundle during holiday sales or other discount events.
If you want to save money on the cost of kitchen appliances, opt for basic color options like black or white. Stainless steel is usually a mid-range option; prices have come down somewhat now that it’s so widely available. Expect to spend the most for custom or bold colors, like a pink fridge or a gold-toned stove.