107+ best early Labor Day sales to shop now — plus, which sales to skip, according to experts

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Labor Day is about a week away, but early deals are already here — and, not all of them are great. The best ones center around a few key categories, according to experts I talked to: summer-related products, mattresses , furniture, major appliances and warm-weather fashion.

If you’re browsing online or heading into stores leading up to the holiday weekend — which 73 percent of shoppers plan to do, according to a recent survey by RetailMeNot — that’s what you should focus on. And to help you get started, I curated a list of the absolute best early Labor Day deals across retailers like Amazon , Target , Old Navy , Brooks , Home Depot , REI and Ulta . I also answered all your saving and spending questions, including why you should avoid buying tech right now.

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Best early Labor Day deals 2026

All of the early Labor Day deals I recommend are at least 20 percent off, highly rated and from brands I’ve previously covered. The NBC Selected team also tested a handful of the products to share our firsthand experiences with them, and I consulted experts about the best categories to shop from the thousands of Labor Day sales to make sure my picks align — learn more about what to buy and skip in the FAQ section below. I’ll frequently update this list leading up to Labor Day as more sales begin.

Brooks Ghost Max 3

The Brooks Ghost Max is one of my favorite walking shoes for women and men due to its thick layer of soft cushioning that keeps my feet comfortable for hours whether I’m exercising, commuting or running errands around town. It’s also ideal to wear for casual runs and when you’re standing for long periods of time. The Ghost Max, which earned the American Podiatric Medical Association’s Seal of Acceptance , has a curved outsole that makes your heel-to-toe transitions as smooth as possible, as well as a wide, stabilizing base.

Kind Mini Snack Bars Variety Pack

According to RetailMeNot data , groceries is the number one category that shoppers are planning to spend on during Labor Day weekend, which is indicative of the economic pressure many are still facing as the cost of living continues to rise. Retailers are more focused on discounting summer clearance, mattresses, furniture and major appliances (which we have deals for below), but you can find grocery deals here and there, especially on bulk nonperishables, like these granola bars.

You get 30 gluten-free bars in total with this pack, which you can throw in the kids’ lunchboxes or keep in your car, desk drawer or everyday bag. There’s 10 of each flavor: caramel almond and sea salt, dark chocolate nuts and sea salt, and peanut butter dark chocolate.

Stanley Everyday Camp Cup

This 12-ounce, dishwasher-safe, stainless steel cup fits most car cupholders, so you can take it with you while traveling or commuting, or you can put it in the cupholder on a folding chair outside. It’s insulated to keep beverages hot or cold for hours, and it comes with a tightly-fitting sippy lid with a slider to prevent splashes when you’re not using it. Select colors are currently 40 percent off: Cream Gloss, Wisteria Shine and Gunmetal Shine.

Parachute for Target Casual Organic Cotton Sheet Set

You can find some of the best bedding deals during three-day holiday weekends like Labor Day, so if you’re in the market for new sheets , now is the time to buy. Parachute, a luxe linens brand, has an exclusive Target collection, offering lower-priced products that maintain the same high quality and overall feel it’s known for. The Casual Organic Cotton Sheet Set comes with a fitted sheet, a flat sheet and two pillow cases. The fabric feels soft and airy against your skin, and it’s ideal for hot sleepers, according to the brand. You can get it in queen and king sizes.

Old Navy EveryWear Crew-Neck T-Shirt

Retailers drop prices on summer clothing during their Labor Day sales to get rid of warm weather apparel and make room for fall styles, says Vipin Porwal, CEO and consumer savings expert at Smarty , a shopping and rewards platform. I use this as an opportunity to stock up on basics like this Old Navy T-shirt , which I add to my cart every time it’s on sale. I wear it while temperatures are still high and layer under sweaters once it’s chilly out. The shirt has a relaxed fix that’s not too tight or baggy, gets softer with every wash and hits right below my hips, so I can tuck it in if I want to. It fits true-to-size, too.

Shark Cordless Pet Stick Vacuum

Labor Day is typically known for its deals on major home appliances, but there are plenty of strong discounts on smaller ones, especially those that revolve around cleaning. Shark makes some of the best cordless vacuums , including this model, which has a 4.2-star average rating from more than 16,000 Amazon customers (at the time of publishing). The vacuum has LED headlights to help you spot dirt and pet hair, and powerful suction to get rid of it. It also senses the type of floor you’re cleaning to automatically adjust its settings accordingly.

You get 40 minutes of runtime on a full battery, according to the brand. You can convert the appliance to a handheld vacuum, letting you attach the included crevice and pet-multi tools when you want to clean stairs, windowsills or between couch cushions.

Comfrt Dreamer Blanket

Comfrt’s Dreamer Blanket comes highly recommended by NBC Selected commerce editor Cory Fernandez , who says it’s just as soft and cozy as you’d hope (the brand sent him one to try). It’s covered in velvety fabric on both sides, and is semi-stretchy and machine-washable. The throw blanket is available in four sizes from medium, which covers one person, to XL Dreamer, which covers a king bed.

Rubbermaid Brilliance Tritan Plastic Food Storage Containers

September is when people get back to their routines, and for me, that includes meal prepping . I use these Rubbermaid containers to store food for easy work-week meals, as well as pack lunch, leftovers and freshly washed produce in them. They come in a pack of five, have a 3.2-cup capacity to hold a full one-person meal and come with tightly-fitting, leak-resistant lids. There are also vents built into the lids, so you can microwave food in the covered containers. They’re clear, letting me see what’s inside, stackable for easy storage, and safe to put in the microwave, dishwasher and freezer, according to the brand.

Samsonite 2-Piece Luggage Set

My Samsonite luggage is still in great condition after I’ve taken it on numerous trips, overstuffed it and beat it up in transit. This set comes with a carry-on suitcase and medium checked bag, both of which have hard, scratch-resistant exteriors, smooth spinner wheels, multiple handles and interior organization pockets. There’s also a TSA-approved luggage lock built into the checked bag.

Coleman Portable Camping Chair

In addition to summer apparel, retailers are putting outdoor gear on clearance, like this chair. It’ll serve you well at the beach next year, but for now, take it tailgating, camping and to kids’ sports games, or set it up on the patio or in the backyard at home. The cushioned chair has a four-can cooler, a mesh cup holder and a side pocket, as well as adjustable arms. It holds up to 325 pounds and folds up into an included bag for transport.

Verb Density Peptide Hair Serum

Ulta’s 21 Days of Beauty Event runs through Sept. 17, overlapping with Labor Day — it’s currently your best opportunity to save on skin, hair and body care, as well as makeup. Deals change daily, but some run for a full week, like Verb’s Density Peptide Hair Serum, which is on sale though Sept. 3.

“I have very fine hair, so I’ve used about a dozen hair serums to help it look thicker and fuller, and this is one of the most effective options for me,” says NBC Selected editor Mili Godio . “I massage it into my hair about three to four times a week and have noticed a big improvement in my baby hairs and growth. Plus, it doesn’t leave my hair looking greasy and weighed down like so many other serums do.”

DripDrop Electrolyte Powder Juicy Variety Pack

DripDrop’s electrolyte powder is an essential part of fueling for my long runs, and if you’re training for an upcoming race, I suggest keeping a case on hand for hydration support. This case comes with 32 single-serve packets in four flavors that actually taste good: fruit punch, grape, strawberry lemonade and cherry. I pour the powder into a full water bottle, put the lid on and shake it up to make sure it’s fully dissolved before taking a sip.

The best early Labor Day sales to shop right now

Here are the best early Labor Day sales to know about. Keep in mind, not every item from a brand is discounted as described below.

Best sales overall

Best clothing, footwear and accessories sales

Best mattress and bedding sales

Best home sales

Best kitchen sales

Best beauty sales

Frequently asked questions

The best Labor Day sales to shop this year are:

The Labor Day sales you should skip this year are:

There are comparable Labor Day sales online and in stores, especially at big box retailers, so you’re guaranteed to find strong deals wherever you shop. A few things to keep in mind while deciding whether to leave your couch:

Some early Labor Day sales have already started, but the majority of them begin between Tuesday, Sept. 1 and Friday, Sept. 4. Retailers typically consider the Friday before the official holiday, which lands on Monday, Sept. 7 this year, the start of the long weekend, so all sales will be live by Sept. 4.

Plan for most Labor Day sales to end on the holiday, Monday, Sept. 7. Some may extend longer into the week, but don’t plan on it — aim to get all your shopping done by Labor Day, but shop sooner if you can, says Carls. “Summer clearance is already working with fewer sizes, colors and models, so the thing you actually want can disappear before the promotion does,” she says. “The discount may hang around, but your exact patio set, for example, may not.”

All the experts I talked to agree that the best way to save the most money during Labor Day sales is to stack your savings. That means looking at the deal price as the starting point and combining it with additional offers to save even more, says Gerstley. For example, search for promo codes to lower prices further, shop through cash back apps and browsers to put money back in your pocket, and pay with credit cards that let you earn rewards as you spend.