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The short version
- Black Friday is Friday, November 27, 2026 and Cyber Monday is Monday, November 30; Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26.
- On Etsy, Cyber Specials run November 23 to December 1. To be considered for Etsy's marketing, opt in by October 27 with at least 25% off.
- Do the slow jobs first: restock and refresh listing photos in early November, set the sale up before November 23.
- Post your holiday last order date before Black Friday: USPS Ground Advantage closes December 17 for the lower 48 states.
- Cap your ad budget daily, and after the sale work out the real profit after fees and discounts.
When is Black Friday 2026, and which dates matter for sellers?
Black Friday is the day after US Thanksgiving, the fourth Thursday of November. In 2026 that puts it on Friday, November 27, with Cyber Monday on Monday, November 30.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Tue, Oct 27 | Etsy: last day to opt in to Cyber Specials to be considered for Etsy's marketing (at least 25% off) |
| Mon, Nov 23 | Etsy Cyber Specials starts (runs to December 1) |
| Thu, Nov 26 | US Thanksgiving: UPS is closed |
| Fri, Nov 27 | Black Friday |
| Mon, Nov 30 | Cyber Monday |
| Tue, Dec 1 | Etsy Cyber Specials ends |
| Thu, Dec 17 | USPS Ground Advantage last day to ship for delivery before Dec. 25 (lower 48) |
Etsy dates from Etsy Help, USPS and UPS dates from their 2026 holiday pages, as of October 12, 2026.
How much stock do you need for Black Friday?
Inventory: by early November
- Count stock of your best sellers and the materials or blanks behind them.
- Reorder anything with a long lead time now; supplier and shipping times stretch in November.
- Set a sell-out rule: hide or mark made-to-order items you can't restock in time.
- Stock up on packaging, labels and printer ink.
Track units, reorder points and costs in our inventory tracker.
How do you set up a Black Friday sale on Etsy or Shopify?
Sale setup: before November 23
- Pick the discount and check your margin after fees at the discounted price.
- Etsy: to be considered for Cyber Specials marketing, opt in by October 27 with at least 25% off.
- Shopify: create the discount code or automatic discount and test it at checkout.
- Schedule start and end dates so the sale switches on and off by itself.
Run the discounted price through the Etsy fee calculator or the profit margin calculator before you publish the sale. Etsy explains its sale events in Etsy Help; Shopify covers discount codes and automatic discounts in Shopify Help.
Selling only on Etsy? Our pick for your own store is Shopify: your own discount codes, your own customer email list and no per-listing fees, alongside your Etsy shop.
Try ShopifyComparing the two? Read Etsy vs Shopify.
Which listings and photos should you update?
Listings and photos: mid-November
- Refresh the first photo of your top 10 listings with a gift or season context.
- Add gift words buyers search for to titles and tags where they fit.
- Keep key text and the product inside the centre of the image for mobile crops.
- Update descriptions with processing time and your holiday last order date.
Need a full refresh? Our Etsy SEO guide covers titles, tags and attributes.
When should you post your holiday shipping cut-off?
Shipping cut-offs: before Black Friday
- Look up the 2026 carrier deadlines for the services you use.
- Set your last order date = last day to ship minus processing time.
- Post it in your Etsy shop announcement or Shopify announcement bar.
- Offer a faster paid shipping option for late buyers.
Every 2026 carrier date, from official pages: holiday shipping deadlines 2026.
Which emails and posts should you plan?
Emails and social: plan the week
- Write three emails: a preview, a launch-day email and a last-call email.
- Schedule posts for Black Friday, the weekend and Cyber Monday.
- Use the same discount wording everywhere so buyers aren't confused.
Plan the week post by post in our content calendar planner.
How much should you spend on Black Friday ads?
Ads budget: set limits first
- Set a daily cap you are happy to lose if nothing sells.
- Advertise listings that already convert, not new ones.
- Check ROAS and ACoS daily and pause ads that don't pay for themselves.
Work out whether an ad pays with the ROAS calculator and ACoS calculator.
There is no right number for everyone: start with a small daily cap on listings that already sell, and raise it only while each sale still makes money after the ad cost.
What should you do after Cyber Monday?
After the sale: early December
- Ship every sale order on time and send tracking.
- Restock best sellers before the last shipping week.
- Export orders and fees, and work out the real profit of the sale.
- Note what sold and what didn't for next year.
Our Etsy fees guide explains every fee on your sale orders, including Offsite Ads.
Is there a printable Black Friday checklist?
Free printable checklist (PDF)
Every step on this page on one US Letter page, with tick boxes and the key 2026 dates. No sign-up, no email.
Frequently asked questions
When is Black Friday 2026?
Friday, November 27, 2026, the day after US Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 26). Cyber Monday is Monday, November 30, 2026.
When is Etsy's Cyber Specials sale in 2026?
Etsy Help lists Cyber Specials from November 23 to December 1. To be considered for Etsy's marketing, sellers opt in by October 27 and offer at least 25% off; you can still join after the sale starts, as long as you set it up before it ends.
How early should I prepare for Black Friday?
Start with the slow jobs about a month ahead: restock and reorder materials, then refresh photos and listings in early to mid November, and have the sale scheduled before the week of November 23.
Should I discount everything for Black Friday?
Not necessarily. Check each item's margin after fees at the sale price; discount the items that still make money, and keep made-to-order or low-margin items at full price.
When should I stop taking holiday orders?
Take the carrier's last day to ship for your service and subtract your processing time. For USPS Ground Advantage in the lower 48 states the last day to ship is December 17, 2026.
Dates as of October 12, 2026 from Etsy Help and the USPS and UPS 2026 holiday pages; Black Friday and Cyber Monday checked against the 2026 calendar. Event rules change; check Etsy and Shopify before you set up a sale. This is general information, not business or tax advice. SuanSupply is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Etsy, Inc. or Shopify Inc.