You walk into a showroom, fall in love with a sectional, flip the price tag, and immediately feel your wallet cringe. Furniture is one of the most expensive things you'll buy for your home — second only to renovations.
But here's the thing: that same sectional could be 30-50% cheaper if you walk into the store a few weeks later.
Furniture pricing is cyclical. Retailers follow a predictable rhythm of new inventory arrivals and warehouse clearouts, and if you time your shopping around those cycles, you can save thousands. In this guide, we'll break down the best time to buy furniture for every room in your house — plus how to solve the biggest headache of clearance shopping: getting that deal home before someone else grabs it.
Why furniture prices drop on a schedule
To understand when prices fall, you need to understand when new inventory arrives.
Most major furniture retailers operate on a biannual cycle, introducing new styles to showrooms in spring and fall. According to the National Retail Federation, retailers typically refresh floor displays in March/April and again in September/October. Since showroom space is limited, they have to clear out current models before the new ones arrive.
Best time to buy indoor furniture
The short answer: January, February, July, and August.
Indoor furniture follows the new-inventory cycle almost perfectly:
Winter clearance (January-February): New styles debut in spring, which means retailers start slashing prices on current floor models right after the holidays. If you're looking for sofas, dining tables, or bedroom sets, this is prime time. According to Consumer Reports, January is consistently one of the best months to buy upholstered furniture, with discounts averaging 30-50% off retail.
Summer clearance (July-August): The second wave of new inventory hits in fall. Late summer becomes furniture's version of Black Friday — you'll see "Christmas in July" sales and end-of-summer clearance events designed to empty the warehouse before the new collections arrive.
Best time to buy outdoor furniture
The short answer: August through October.
Outdoor furniture requires the opposite strategy from indoor. When everyone else is buying patio sets in spring and early summer, prices are at their peak.
The sweet spot starts right after July 4th. Once the holiday passes, retailers start discounting outdoor sectionals, umbrellas, and fire pits to make room for holiday decorations and winter inventory. By September, you're looking at the deepest discounts of the year.
The tradeoff? Selection will be thinner. You might not get your first-choice cushion color. But you'll pay a fraction of what you'd spend in May.
Best time to buy office furniture
The short answer: April and August.
Office furniture follows its own cycle. Post-tax-season (April) is when businesses refresh their setups, pushing last year's models into clearance. August brings back-to-school sales that extend to desks, chairs, and home office setups.
The furniture sale calendar at a glance
| Furniture type | Best months to buy | Why prices drop | Typical discount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sofas and living room | January-February | Spring inventory arriving | 30-50% off |
| Dining sets | January-February | Spring inventory arriving | 25-40% off |
| Bedroom furniture | July-August | Fall inventory arriving | 30-50% off |
| Outdoor/patio | August-October | End of outdoor season | 40-60% off |
| Office furniture | April, August | Post-tax, back-to-school | 20-35% off |
| Mattresses | Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day | Holiday promotional cycles | 20-40% off |
Are holiday weekend sales actually worth it?
You'll see massive ads for Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Black Friday furniture sales. Here's the honest breakdown:
They're good for "doorbuster" items. If you're not picky and just need a mattress or a basic dining set, holiday weekends can deliver solid deals, especially on heavily advertised items that retailers use to get you in the door.
They're usually not the best deals on specific pieces. Holiday weekend discounts (typically 10-15% off) often pale next to the deep clearance markdowns (30-50% off) you'll find during inventory rollover months. If you have your eye on a particular collection or high-end piece, waiting for the clearance cycle almost always saves you more.
The part nobody talks about: actually getting your deal home
So you've waited until February. You found a beautiful floor-model leather sofa marked down 40% because it has a tiny scuff on the back leg. You pull out your credit card, ready to celebrate.
Then the salesperson drops the bomb:
"Since this is a floor-model clearance item, we can't offer standard delivery. You need to take it with you within 24 hours."
Or maybe you buy during a big sale, only to hear:
"Due to high demand, the earliest delivery window is six to eight weeks."
This is where the "best time to buy furniture" strategy falls apart for most people. The best deals often require immediate removal, and standard delivery is often backed up for weeks.
Floor-model clearance items are almost always "cash and carry"
If you don't have a truck, you usually have to walk away from the deal — which is exactly why those deals exist in the first place. Retailers know most shoppers can't haul a sofa home on the spot.
This is where an on-demand service like Lugg comes in handy. You can book Lugg movers to meet you at the store the same day — we'll load it, bring it home, and put it where you want it. You get the clearance discount without needing to own a truck or beg a friend with a pickup.
"Free shipping" isn't always what it sounds like
A lot of online retailers offer free shipping on furniture, but read the fine print. Many of those deliveries are curbside only — they'll leave a 200-pound box on your driveway and drive away. If you don't have a plan for getting it inside and upstairs, that "free" delivery creates a whole new problem.
Your furniture shopping cheat sheet for 2026
- Mark your calendar. Indoor furniture: shop January or July. Outdoor: shop September. Office: shop April or August.
- Ask about floor models. Always ask if there's a discount for buying the display piece. Mention that you can take it away today — this often motivates managers to cut the price further to clear the space.
- Have a plan for hauling. The best deals usually require you to move fast. Whether that's your own truck, a friend's, or an on-demand moving service, don't let logistics kill a great find.
- Compare clearance to holiday sales. Before jumping on a Memorial Day "sale," check what clearance prices looked like in January. You might save more by waiting.
- Check the scratch-and-dent section. Many stores have a back area with slightly damaged pieces at massive discounts — furniture outlets are especially good for this. A small scuff on the back of a bookshelf that faces the wall? That's free money.
Frequently asked questions
What month is furniture cheapest?
January and February are typically the cheapest months for indoor furniture, with clearance discounts of 30-50% as retailers make room for spring collections. For outdoor furniture, September and October offer the deepest discounts as stores clear patio inventory before winter.
Is it cheaper to buy furniture online or in-store?
It depends on the piece. Online retailers often have lower sticker prices on basic items, but in-store shopping gives you access to floor-model clearance deals that aren't available online. Floor models can be 40-50% off, and you can inspect the condition before buying.
Do furniture stores negotiate on price?
Yes, especially on floor models and clearance items. Salespeople at most furniture stores have some flexibility on pricing, particularly if you're buying multiple pieces or can take the item immediately. Mentioning you have same-day hauling available (so they clear the floor space today) can be a negotiating lever.
Is Presidents' Day a good time to buy furniture?
Presidents' Day sales are solid for mattresses specifically — it's one of the biggest mattress sale weekends of the year. For other furniture, the discounts (usually 10-15%) are decent but not as deep as January clearance pricing. If you missed January deals, Presidents' Day is a reasonable backup.
How do I get large furniture home without a truck?
You could rent a truck from U-Haul or Home Depot, but keep in mind you'll be doing all the heavy lifting yourself, driving an unfamiliar vehicle, and if anything gets damaged — your furniture or the truck — that's on you. Store delivery is another option, but wait times of six to eight weeks are common during sale season. The easiest route is booking an on-demand furniture delivery service like Lugg — your movers can head to the store while you head home, handle the lifting, and place it in your room of choice, right where you want.
Should I buy furniture during Black Friday?
Black Friday furniture deals can be worthwhile for advertised doorbusters and mattresses. However, Black Friday discounts on general furniture (typically 10-20% off) are usually smaller than the 30-50% clearance discounts available during inventory turnover months in January-February and July-August.
How much can you save buying a floor model?
Floor-model discounts typically range from 25-50% off the original retail price. The discount often depends on the item's condition — visible wear or minor damage increases the markdown. Some stores will negotiate further if you can take the item immediately, since they're paying for that showroom square footage.
