It's September, which means fall seasonal sales and early holiday savings are on the horizon. Labor Day is in the rearview, but plenty of the biggest sales of the year will be creeping up soon, and Amazon's October Prime Day (usually formally called Prime Big Deal Days) event is one you can't miss. The retailer has yet to officially confirm the sale or share specific dates, but trust that an announcement should be coming soon.
Amazon typically unveils its fall sale dates in mid-September, and last year the fall Prime Big Deal Days event ran from Oct. 8-9.
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ZDNET will monitor for all-time low prices and big price drops on categories our editors test and love. That's why we've compiled everything we know about the event on this page, including early deals on smart home gear, mobile accessories, and more. Here's what we know so far.
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What is October Prime Day?
October Prime Day is the popular colloquial term for Amazon's annual fall shopping event, formally titled "Prime Big Deal Days." The event is typically held in October, and is similar to the retailer's flagship July Prime Day event.
When is the Prime Big Deal Days sale?
Amazon hasn't revealed or confirmed anything about 2025 October Prime Day, but we expect the sale to be somewhere within the first couple weeks of the month. Last year it was on Oct. 8 and 9. The sale will likely be another two-day event (though this year's July Prime Day lasted four days), but we'll keep you posted as soon as any official information is released.
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Where is October Prime Day happening?
Last year, Prime Big Deal Days occurred in 19 countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Turkey, and the United States. It will likely be live in the same countries, if not more, this year.
Are there usually live deals ahead of October Prime Day?
We likely won't start seeing deals advertised exclusively for "October Prime Day" just yet, but Amazon (and competition) already has plenty of discounts 24/7/365. We'll start to see some more offers slowly crop up, especially as other retailers announce their own sales that may kick off before Amazon's does.
Best Amazon deals ahead of October Prime Day
What are the top retailers to keep an eye on for the event?
Any Amazon event will undoubtedly bring competition. Like we've seen in the past, other major retailers will offer competing sales, deals, and discounts. Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Costco, and other retailers will try to compete with Amazon's October Prime Day offerings, often price-cutting the same items during the same periods or extending their own sales. Last year, Target, Best Buy, Walmart, and Costco all offered sale events during the month of October. We'll update this article with all the info on Amazon's competing sales when it becomes available.
How can I get the most out of October Prime Day?
Throughout the likely-incoming October sale, we'll be extensively updating ZDNET.com live with all the best deals on products we've tested and would recommend. We'll also curate, share, and update hand-picked lists of top deals in several product categories, including laptops, security cameras, tablets, Amazon devices, and more.
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And as the shopping editor, I know a thing or two about smartly scoring savings, too. This year, I'll be sharing my tips and tricks with you ahead of the busiest shopping season of the year. Follow along with my tips and my byline here.
Why trust ZDNET to help you shop?
As a member of the ZDNET staff, I only write about deals myself or a team member would want to buy -- devices and products we desire, need, or would recommend. I look for deals where products are at least 20% off (or hardly ever on sale), using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal is on sale and how frequently it drops.
I also look over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use products in the deals I recommend. These recommendations may also be based on my testing (or testing by another ZDNET expert), plus extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter. ZDNET offers 33 years of experience, 30 hands-on product reviewers, and 10,000 square feet of lab space to ensure we bring you the best tech.
Plus, in 2025, ZDNET refined its approach to deals, developing a measurable system for sharing savings with readers like you. Our editor's deal rating badges are affixed to most of our deal content, making it easy to interpret our expertise to help you make the best purchase decision.