Memorial Day Sales: Smart Buys and What to Skip
Memorial Day is just around the corner, and the deals are already starting to drop. Every year, the same thing happens: retailers flood your inbox with “sale” banners, and it becomes nearly impossible to tell what’s a real discount and what’s just clever marketing dressed up in red, white, and blue.
Good news — you don’t have to figure it out on your own. I’ve done the research ahead of the weekend so you can shop with a plan. Here’s what’s worth adding to your cart before Monday, what to skip entirely, and the one tip that’ll save you from buyer’s remorse.
🛒 Your Memorial Day Smart Buys
These are the categories where Memorial Day discounts are legit — and where you’ll kick yourself if you wait.
🛏️ Bedding and Pillows
Memorial Day is one of the best times of year to refresh your sleep setup. Retailers go big on bedding discounts this weekend, and Amazon is no exception.
Hotel-Quality Pillows If you’ve been sleeping on flat, tired pillows longer than you’d like to admit, this weekend is your moment. Amazon’s bestselling hotel-style pillows regularly drop during Memorial Day — and with over 175,000 five-star reviews on the top sellers, the hype is warranted. Look for queen sets in the $30–$50 range. Shop hotel-quality pillows on Amazon →
Lightweight Down Alternative Comforter The trick to a great warm-weather comforter is weight — you want warmth without waking up in a sweat at 2 AM. Amazon carries several highly rated down-alternative options that are machine washable and stay evenly distributed thanks to box stitching. Look for “all-season” styles in the $40–$65 range. Shop lightweight comforters on Amazon →
🍳 Kitchen and Small Appliances
This is the category where Memorial Day discounts run deepest on Amazon. Air fryers, blenders, and food storage get marked down significantly — and these aren’t inflated prices with a fake discount slapped on. These are real markdowns.
Single-Serve Blender If your smoothie routine has been happening at Starbucks instead of your kitchen, a single-serve blender is the investment that pays off. The Ninja Pro single-serve blender is a consistent bestseller and frequently drops under $80 this weekend. Comes with auto-iQ programs for smoothies and crushed ice — you fill, blend, and go. Shop single-serve blenders on Amazon →
Air Fryer Amazon typically runs 45% off air fryers over Memorial Day weekend. If you’ve been on the fence, this is the sign. Cosori and Ninja are both reliable mid-range options — look for a 5–6 quart size if you’re cooking for two or more. Shop air fryers on Amazon →
Glass Food Storage Containers These are a perennial Memorial Day pick and for good reason — they’re practical, they last forever, and a good set regularly drops to under $3 per container. Look for oven-, freezer-, and microwave-safe sets with locking lids. Shop glass food storage sets on Amazon →
🧹 Home Cleaning
Robot vacuums and stick vacuums are Memorial Day staples, and Amazon’s early deals this year are already showing 30–45% off on top-rated models.
Robot Vacuum A robot vacuum is one of those things you don’t know you need until you have one. Amazon has several highly rated options — look for models with auto-emptying bases if you want a truly hands-off experience. Many are dipping below $200 for the holiday weekend. Shop robot vacuums on Amazon →
Cordless Stick Vacuum If a robot vacuum isn’t your thing, a lightweight cordless stick vacuum is the next best upgrade. Dyson and Shark both run Memorial Day promotions, and Amazon matches or beats those prices regularly. Great for quick cleanups between deeper cleans. Shop cordless stick vacuums on Amazon →
🌿 Beauty and Sunscreen
Here’s where it gets interesting: most viral or trending beauty products don’t go on sale for Memorial Day. But there are a few reliable exceptions — and sunscreen is the big one.
Mineral Sunscreen Mineral sunscreen is having a moment, and Memorial Day is the perfect time to stock up. Look for SPF 30 or higher. EltaMD, La Roche-Posay, and Supergoop! all have options on Amazon, and some of the Korean sunscreen options (which are super popular right now) are priced well to begin with. Shop mineral sunscreen on Amazon →
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask This one doesn’t always go on sale, but Amazon’s beauty deals page is worth a check this weekend — and the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask is one of those cult products that shows up in Amazon deals more than you’d expect. It’s a cult-favorite overnight lip treatment and a nice little splurge if you catch it on sale. Shop Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask on Amazon →
🏡 Outdoor and Patio
If you have any outdoor space at all — a porch, a patio, a balcony — Memorial Day is the time to shop for it. Retailers practically give this stuff away.
Outdoor String Lights String lights make any outdoor space feel like a destination, and they’re consistently 30–50% off this weekend. Look for weatherproof, solar-powered options for the easiest setup. Shop outdoor string lights on Amazon →
Portable Bluetooth Speaker An outdoor speaker is a Memorial Day staple deal. Whether you’re hosting a cookout or just want music on the porch, waterproof Bluetooth speakers regularly drop below $50 this weekend — Anker and JBL are both solid options on Amazon. Shop portable Bluetooth speakers on Amazon →
🚫 What to Skip Memorial Day Weekend
Not everything with a “sale” tag is worth your time. Here’s what to leave in your cart — at least for now.
Clothing and Fashion Memorial Day clothing deals are almost never the best they’ll get. Amazon’s fashion markdowns are solid this weekend, but Prime Day is just around the corner (it’s been officially moved to June this year), and that’s historically where you’ll see deeper cuts on apparel. Save your fashion wish list for a few more weeks.
Laptops and Tablets Same story. Electronics like laptops, iPads, and tablets do go on sale for Memorial Day — but Prime Day discounts on tech are consistently better. Unless you need something right now, wait it out.
Trending or Viral Beauty Products If you’ve been eyeing something you saw on TikTok recently, it almost certainly won’t be on sale this weekend. Newer, buzz-worthy products rarely get discounted during holiday weekends. These go on sale during Prime Day events or end-of-year sales — or they find their way to Amazon’s Warehouse Deals section once the hype settles. Add them to your wish list and check back.
💡 One Pro Tip Before You Buy
Before you check out anything this weekend, do a quick price history check. Amazon’s prices fluctuate constantly, and some “deals” are just the regular price with a strikethrough on an inflated number. Browser extensions like Honey or Capital One Shopping show you the price history right on the product page — so you can see whether the discount is real before you buy.
It takes about five seconds and has saved me from more than a few impulse purchases I would have regretted.
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