Holiday shopping season is here, and Amazon's October Prime Day event (formally called Prime Big Deal Days) is one of the first early holiday savings events, and it starts tomorrow, Oct. 7, and runs through Oct. 8.
Also: The best October Prime Day deals live now
Amazon says Prime shoppers can expect savings across various categories, including beauty, electronics, seasonal essentials, must-have gifts, toys, and more. Customers should see savings on brands like Samsung, LG, Sonos, and Dyson.
Also: Amazon to pay $2.5B settlement over tricking Prime subscribers - how to get your share
ZDNET has been tracking early deals, and we'll continue monitoring all-time low prices and significant 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 deals on smart home gear, mobile accessories, and more. Here's everything you need to know to save the most.
Our sister site, CNET, also has extensive coverage of Amazon's fall sale, including anti-Prime deals and cheap buys. Plus, scout Prime deals from our cousin sites, PCMag and Mashable.
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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, similar to the retailer's flagship July Prime Day event.
When is the Prime Big Deal Days sale?
Amazon unveiled the Prime Big Deal Days dates on Sept. 16. The popular sale event will return on Tuesday, Oct. 7, and Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The dates are nearly identical to last year's event on Oct. 8 and 9. The sale remains a two-day sale event (even though this year's July Prime Day was extended to four days).
The sale itself will begin on Oct. 7 at 12:01 a.m. PDT and run through Oct. 8 at 12:01 a.m. PDT, or about 3:00 a.m. EST if you're on the East Coast.
Also: Amazon is quietly cutting this Prime membership perk - here's what you're losing (and when)
Where is October Prime Day happening?
Amazon says that the Prime Big Deal Days sale will begin on Oct. 7 in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, the US, and the UK, and for the first time, Colombia, Ireland, and Mexico.
Are there usually live deals ahead of October Prime Day?
There's already numerous deals advertised exclusively for "October Prime Day," but we'll start to see more offers roll in during the early hours of Oct. 7 (when the sale officially starts), especially as other retailers kick off their own sales to compete with Amazon this week.
Plus, Amazon unveiled a chunk of early offers in September, including 50% off select Amazon products like the Kindle Paperwhite for Prime members, 80% off select Kindle books, $15 off a $55 or more purchase when shopping in-store at Amazon Fresh, and more. You can read the full release, including more Prime-exclusive offers, at Amazon. Amazon also has distinct deals marked with "Early Prime Deal" badges. Tomorrow, we may start to see distinct Prime Day badges like "Prime-exclusive" or "Limited Prime deal."
Screenshot by Kayla Solino/ZDNET
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 before, other major retailers are offering competing sales, deals, and discounts. Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Costco, and other retailers will compete with Amazon's October Prime Day offerings, often price-cutting the same items during the same periods or extending their own sales in 2025. Last year, Target, Best Buy, Walmart, and Costco offered sale events during October.
Target Circle Week
Target confirmed that it will be holding a second Target Circle Week this year. The fall Target Circle Week will start on Oct. 5 and end on Oct. 11, overlapping with Prime Big Deal Days on Oct. 7 and 8.
Also: Best early Target Circle Week deals to compete with Prime Day
Best Buy Fall Sales
Best Buy usually runs a few events during the early fall period. From Sept. 27-28, the retailer ran a 48-hour flash sale. Now through Oct. 5, Best Buy is running an exclusive Member Deal Days event, which is only for Best Buy Plus or My Best Total members, which starts at $50 per year. Best Buy usually also offers a competing sale to Amazon's Prime Day in its Techtober event, which will likely kick off slightly before Amazon's Prime Day event and is usually a few days longer.
Also: Top Best Buy deals before Prime Day 2025
Walmart Deals
Walmart confirmed that Walmart Deals will be back from Oct. 7-12, offering savings across toys, fashion, electronics, home, décor and more, plus conveniences like same-day delivery and Express Delivery in as little as 30 minutes. Walmart says shoppers can save up to 50% with no membership required, while Walmart+ members get a 5 hour head start on shopping on Oct. 6.
Also: Best Amazon Prime Day Walmart deals 2025
How can I get the most out of October Prime Day?
Throughout the 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, and Amazon devices.
Also: I've used Rakuten for a year and earned nearly $500 - here's how
And as the shopping editor, I know a thing or two about smartly scoring savings, too. This year, I'll share my tips and tricks with you before the busiest shopping season. Follow along with my tips and my byline here.
Do you need to be a Prime member to shop the sale?
The Prime Big Deal Days event is a Prime-exclusive sale. That means you'll need to sign up for a membership to shop the sale, but keep in mind plenty of other retailers will likely aim to match or outcompete Amazon's prices with their own sales that overlap, precede, or come after the Prime Big Deal Days sale -- and you may not need a membership for those.
How much does Amazon Prime cost?
Anyone can join Prime for $15 per month or $139 per year, or start a free 30-day trial if you're eligible at amazon.com/prime. Additionally, those 18-24 can try Prime for Young Adults with a six-month $0 trial at amazon.com/youngadult then pay a discounted rate of $7.49 pmonthlyor $69 per year for a membership.
Additionally, qualifying government assistance recipients and select income-verified customers can get Prime Access for $7 per month at amazon.com/getprimeaccess.
Why trust ZDNET to help you shop?
As a member of the ZDNET staff, I only write about deals that I 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.
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.
What are the best Prime Day deals?
ZDNET's experts have been searching through early Prime Day and other sales to find the best discounts by category. These are the best deals live now:
And the best deals from other retailers: