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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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’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.

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.

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.

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.

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’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

1. Amazon: Up to 60% off sitewide through Sept. 7
2. Best Buy: Up to 45% off select major appliances (plus free delivery), as well as discounts on other devices
3. Crate & Barrel: Up to 60% off sitewide through Sept. 9
4. Crate & Barrel Kids: Up to 60% off sitewide through Sept. 9
5. Cozy Earth: Up to 20% off sitewide
6. Dyson: Up to $350 off Dyson home and beauty appliances
7. GE: Up to 41% off major home and kitchen appliances
8. Home Depot: Up to 60% off appliances, tools, grills, furniture and more through Sept. 9
9. LG: Up to 40% off large home and kitchen appliances, TVs and monitors
10. Lowe’s: Up to 50% off major appliances, outdoor supplies and tools, patio furniture, home improvement products and more
11. Macy’s: Up to 65% off sitewide
12. Mattress Firm: Up to $700 off mattresses, adjustable bases, pillows and more through Sept. 29. Also, get a king mattress for the price of a queen (or a queen for the price of a twin).
13. REI: Up to 50% off select clothing, footwear, outdoor sports equipment and more through Sept. 7
14. Shark Ninja: Up to 30% off home, cleaning, kitchen, beauty and outdoor appliances
15. Stanley: Up to 40% off select drinkware, coolers and more
16. Wayfair: Up to 70% off sitewide
17. Yeti: Up to 30% off select drinkware, coolers and backpacks

Best clothing, footwear and accessories sales

1. Athleta: Up to 30% off select styles
2. Bandolier: Up to 50% off sitewide through Sept. 3
3. Billy Reid: Up to 75% off sitewide through Sept. 9
4. Birkenstock: Up to 40% off footwear
5. Bruno Marc: Up to 40% off sitewide through Sept. 29
6. DSW: Up to 60% off select styles sitewide
7. Frame: Up to 70% off sitewide through Sept. 7
8. Gap: Up to 50% off select styles sitewide
9. Hoka: Up to 20% off select sneakers and footwear sitewide
10. Honeydew: Up to 50% off sitewide through Sept. 7
11. Honeylove: Up to 50% off sitewide
12. J. Crew: Up to 50% end of summer styles sitewide
13. Land’s End: Up to 70% off select styles sitewide
14. Levi’s: Up to 30% off sitewide through Aug. 30
15. Lululemon: Up to 60% off select styles during the We Made Too Much sale
16. MeUndies: Up to 50% off sitewide through Sept, 7
17. Old Navy: Up to 51% off select styles, and up to 40% off fall faves
18. Patagonia: Up to 50% off select styles sitewide
19. Summersalt: Up to 30% off sitewide through Sept. 7
20. The North Face: Up 48% off select styles sitewide
21. Zappos: Up to 50% off select shoes, clothing and accessories

Best mattress and bedding sales

1. AmeriSleep: Up to $1,000 off mattresses, Up to 40% off bedding, pillows, bed frames and more through Sept 7
2. Avocado: Up to 20% off sitewide through Sept. 14
3. Bedgear: Up to $500 off mattresses and up to 50% off pillows and bedding through Sept. 28
4. Bear Mattress: Up to 35% off sitewide, plus free sleep accessories when you order a mattress through Sept. 7
5. Beautyrest: Up to $1,000 off select mattresses and adjustable bases through Sept. 15
6. Birch Living: Up to 30% off sitewide through Sept. 13
7. Brooklinen: Up to 75% off bedding, pillows and more
8. Brooklyn Bedding: Up to 25% off sitewide
9. Chillpad by Sleepme: Up to $200 off with code LaborDay26 through Sept. 14
10. Coyuchi: Up to 20% off through Sept. 8 with code BETTERREST
11. Ettitude: Up to 25% off sitewide through Sept. 8
12. Form Sleep: Up to $400 off gel-grid mattresses through Sept. 7
13. Helix: Up to 30% off sitewide through Sept. 13
14. Leesa: Up to 30% off mattresses sitewide through Sept. 15
15. Naturepedic: Up to 20% off sitewide through Sept. 14
16. Nolah Mattress: Up to 35% off sitewide
17. Purple: Up to $1199 off mattress + base through Sept. 15. Plus, get a king mattress for the price of a queen and get 15% off pillows, bedding and accessories
18. Serta: Up to $900 off mattresses, adjustable bases and more through Sept. 15
19. Tuft & Needle: Up to 25% off mattresses, accessories and bundles through Sept. 8
20. Vaya: $300 off all mattresses with code LD300, 30% off adjustable bed bundles through Sept. 7
21. Zoma: Up to 50% off mattresses, platform beds, pillows and more through Sept. 7

Best home sales

1. Albany Park: Up to 40% off sitewide
2. Ashley Furniture: Up to 60% off select items sitewide through Sept. 14
3. Bissell: Up to 34% off home cleaning appliances
4. Burrow: Up to 40% off select items sitewide
5. Havenly: Up to 50% off full room design packages online and in stores through Sept. 15
6. Interior Define: Up to 60% off warehouse and up to 35% off sitewide
7. Joybird: Up to 45% off sitewide through Sept. 7
8. Koala: Up to $1,000 off sitewide through Sept. 10
9. Lovesac: Up to 40% off sitewide through Sept. 13
10. Onsen: Up to 50% off everything sitewide through Sept. 7
11. Roborock: Up to $1,600 off sitewide through Sept. 6
12. Ruggable: Up to 30% of sitewide
13. Society6: Up to 40% off sitewide through Sept. 7
14. St. Frank: Up to 20% off sitewide through Sept. 8
15. Sundays: Up to 30% off sitewide through Sept. 9
16. The Citizenry: Up to 25% off sitewide through Sept. 15
17. The Inside: Up to 25% off sitewide through Sept. 15
18. Tineco: Up to 50% off home cleaning appliances

Best kitchen sales

1. Anyday: Up to 30% off sitewide through Sept. 8
2. HexClad: Up to 52% off through Sept. 8
3. KitchenAid: Up to $300 off major kitchen appliances through Sept. 16
4. Made In: Up to 40% off sitewide through Sept. 13
5. Mill: $150 off the Mill food recycler in all colors through Sept. 7
6. Our Place: Up to 45% off cookware, kitchen tools and appliances during the End of Summer sale
7. Terra Kaffe: Up to $400 off coffee and espresso machines through Sept, 7
8. Williams Sonoma: Up to 50% off select cooking and entertaining products, plus up to 75% off clearance
9. Year & Day: Up to 20% off sitewide, plus free shipping on orders $100 or more, through Sept. 7

Best beauty sales

1. Babo Botanicals: Up to 20% off sitewide through Sept. 1
2. Bask & Lather: Up to 40% off select products sitewide through Sept. 7
3. Clearstem: Up to 20% off sitewide, plus free shipping on orders $65 or more through Aug. 29
4. Drmtlgy: 25% off orders up to $99 and 30% off orders over $100
5. Grown Alchemist: Up to 20% off sitewide through Sept. 7
6. Kosas: Up to 25% off sitewide through Sept. 7
7. L’ange: Up to 60% off hair tools sitewide through Sept. 8
8. Mother Science: Up to 20% off sitewide with code LABORDAY20 through Sept. 7
9. Naked Sundays: Save up to 68% on bundles
10. Paula’s Choice: Up to 30% off sitewide with code SAVE30 through Sept. 7

Meet our shopping experts

At NBC Selected, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

• Stephanie Carls is a retail insights expert at RetailMeNot.
• Vipin Porwal is the CEO of and a consumer savings expert at Smarty, a shopping and rewards platform.
• Ashley Feinstein Gerstley is a shopping and savings expert at Rakuten.

Why trust NBC Selected?

I’m a reporter at NBC Selected who has covered major sale events and consumer savings since 2020, and I regularly appear in related NBC News NOW and TODAY segments. For this article, I spoke to three experts about what to buy and what to skip during Labor Day sales and shared advice I’ve learned first-hand over the years. From there, I curated a list of the best early Labor Day sales and deals across retailers, which I’ll continue updating leading up to and during the holiday.