Cheapest Month to Buy Furniture: How to Score the Best Deals

Think you need to wait for Black Friday to grab cheap furniture? You might be in for a surprise. Furniture prices actually drop hardest in months you wouldn’t expect—right when stores need to clear out old stuff and make way for new collections. This has nothing to do with the holidays and everything to do with the furniture business calendar.

If you’re not set on buying right now, your wallet will thank you for holding off until the real discounts hit. Most big markdowns happen when warehouses get packed and retailers can’t move new stock in. That’s when you’ll see way better deals than those flash sales you see online every other weekend.

Knowing when these price dips actually happen (and why) beats guessing or scrolling endless ads. Ready to skip the hype and keep more cash in your pocket? Let’s talk timing and smart moves that make a real difference.

• What Drives Furniture Prices Down?
• Months With the Lowest Prices
• Shopping Tips for Bigger Savings
• Mistakes Shoppers Make
• Insider Tricks from Industry Pros

What Drives Furniture Prices Down?

If you’re hunting for the cheapest month to buy furniture, it helps to know why prices even drop in the first place. It mostly comes down to timing, leftover stock, and retailers trying to make room for something new.

Furniture stores work on regular cycles, just like fashion does. Most furniture brands roll out fresh collections twice a year—usually in February and August. That means a few weeks before those months, stores get itchy to offload last season’s stuff. They’ll lower prices to move bigger items like couches, dressers, and dining sets out the door.

Here’s what else pushes prices down:

• Stores start slashing prices in late winter and late summer, just before new shipments come in.
• If warehouses start bursting at the seams, stores offer extra deals just to clear space. This gets especially obvious for bulky items taking up a lot of room.
• Presidents’ Day (February) and Labor Day (September) often see big markdowns because they line up with new inventory cycles. But, the best discounts tend to show up a couple of weeks before or just after those events.
• After tax season in spring, and when kids go back to school in fall, fewer people are out buying. Retailers respond with better deals to drum up business.

Supply chain issues, demand spikes (think: everyone moving post-pandemic), and even local store closures can shake things up too. But, over the years, the timing of new collections and the need to free up storage space matter most. Keep an eye on those changeover months and you’ll catch the price drops without the crowds.

Months With the Lowest Prices

If you care about saving a chunk of cash, timing your furniture shopping matters a lot more than people think. The cheapest month to buy furniture isn’t random—it’s usually tied to when stores roll out fresh styles. Here’s the deal: for indoor furniture, the best deals show up in January and July. Why? New arrivals hit showrooms in February and August, so sellers need space and drop prices on last season’s stock big time.

If you’re after outdoor furniture like patio sets and grills, shop in August and September. That’s when summer’s almost done, stores have to get rid of leftover pieces, and the markdowns get serious. Think of it like getting swimsuits in September—nobody’s buying, so the prices dip hard.

Check out these trends from recent years, based on data from nationwide store discounts:

The big stores want inventory gone before new styles hit. You’ll notice the cheapest month lines up right before changeover season starts. Local shops often follow these trends, but check in person—sometimes they cut prices earlier just to beat the big chains. Mark the calendar as a reminder, and make your move during these sweet spots for the lowest prices instead of settling for so-so sales the rest of the year.

Shopping Tips for Bigger Savings

If you want to save big on furniture, timing is everything—but there’s more to the story than just the right month. You’ve got to stack different strategies to get the lowest number on that price tag, whether you’re after a sectional or a simple desk.

• Shop during clearance months: Retailers usually offer the best furniture discounts in January and July. New styles hit the showroom floor in February and August, so stores need to move older stock fast.
• Haggle, even in chain stores: Don’t be shy. Salespeople often have wiggle room, especially if items are on display or the season’s shifting. Just ask, “Is that the best you can do?” and you might land a surprise discount or free delivery.
• Look for floor models: These pieces are usually marked down, sometimes by 30-50%. Minor scuffs knock major dollars off.
• Price match like a pro: Loading up a competitor’s website on your phone while in-store can save you bucks—many stores will match (or even beat) a competitor’s lower price if you ask. Check store policy at the counter.
• Sign up for store alerts: It’s boring, but those sign-up emails and loyalty texts usually get you first dibs on flash sales and coupon codes.
• Shop holiday weekends cautiously: While Presidents' Day and Labor Day offer deals, don’t assume everything is a steal. Use sites like CamelCamelCamel (for online shopping) to track price history and make sure you’re getting an actual bargain.

Here’s how major retailers stack up in their clearance cycles and typical average discounts:

Finally, don’t just focus on brand new items. Check out local classifieds, Facebook Marketplace, or neighborhood apps for gently used furniture. Sometimes people sell nearly-new stuff for half price just because they’re moving or redecorating.

Mixing a little patience with the right moves gets you way more than just clipping coupons. If you’re hunting for the cheapest month to buy furniture, stack these tips to make sure you’re getting every last bit of savings.

Mistakes Shoppers Make

Plenty of folks miss out on the lowest cheapest month furniture deals because they fall into the same traps. Let’s break down what not to do if you want to save serious money—and avoid major headaches.

First up: shopping on impulse. New models or flashy sales signs can make us forget that big discounts often show up right after those eye-catching launches. Waiting just a few weeks after new stock arrives almost always leads to better prices.

Another misstep is thinking that only holiday weekends have real deals. According to Consumer Reports, "The best time to buy indoor furniture is usually in the months right after new styles hit the showroom floor, when retailers slash prices on last season’s pieces."

Here’s a quick rundown of common mistakes:

• Not checking floor models. These often go for a fraction of the new price, especially when stores update inventory.
• Ignoring local furniture stores. Smaller outlets run deep discounts during clearance months—not just big chains.
• Falling for zero-percent financing. It sounds good, but folks often pay the original price when bigger mark-downs are available with cash.
• Skipping price tracking. Many websites let you follow prices and alert you to drops. Use them!
• Paying for delivery without asking about free options. End-of-season deals sometimes come with free or cheap delivery—don’t leave savings on the table.

If you’re curious about how common some of these mistakes are, check out this mini-table based on data from the American Home Furnishings Alliance in 2024:

Knowing these pitfalls makes it easier to dodge them and get a much better deal. Patience and a bit of timing boost your chance of landing furniture that looks good—and costs less.

Insider Tricks from Industry Pros

Ever wonder how seasoned shoppers grab crazy furniture deals before they sell out? People who work in the business have learned ways to score bargains regular buyers rarely hear about. And here’s the good news: most of these tricks are simple and anyone can use them—no smooth-talking or secret handshake required.

• Ask about floor models and clearance rooms. Most stores clear space twice a year—not just to rotate stock but because new designs are rolling in (January/July). Managers are sometimes desperate to move out old displays and give extra price cuts on what’s already discounted. Don’t be shy about asking what’s negotiable or if they’ll throw in free delivery.
• Browse at the end of the month. Sales staff may have monthly targets. If they’re close but not quite there, you can sometimes talk them down further on the sticker price, especially for big-ticket items like sofas or beds.
• Join email lists and loyalty programs. No one loves extra emails, but stores send exclusive coupons or timed flash-sale alerts to subscribers, especially around the cheapest month when traffic is slow. It’s a sneak peek most customers miss.
• Shop smaller stores. Big chains have set prices, but local shops can wheel and deal. Chances are, if you see a small scratch or lower price from a competitor, a local owner will slash the price even more to get your business.
• Don’t trust big “SALE” signs blindly. Pros know the real deal is on last season’s models quietly marked down in the back—or even on the website where overstocked items get moved for fast clearance.

Here’s a side-by-side look at when stores typically make room for deep discounts (for most categories):

One last thing: many buyers miss out by waiting only for big holiday sales. Those have decent deals, sure—but the best steals are when no one’s talking about buying furniture. Use these tricks, shop smart in the slow months, and you’ll beat the crowd (and save a chunk of cash).