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 most significant sales of the year will be creeping up soon, and Amazon’s October Prime Day event (formally called Prime Big Deal Days) is one you can’t miss. The retailer recently confirmed that the sale will return this year on Tuesday, Oct. 7, and Wednesday, Oct. 8.
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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. Carmen Nestares, vice president of Amazon North America Marketing and Prime Tech, says the fall event is a kick-off to the holiday shopping season.
ZDNET will monitor for 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 early deals on smart home gear, mobile accessories, and more. Here’s everything you need to know to save the most during October, including during October Prime Day.
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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.
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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?
We likely won’t start seeing tons of 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 more offers slowly crop up, especially as other retailers announce their sales that may kick off before Amazon’s does.
Plus, Amazon unveiled a chunk of early offers, 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.
Best Amazon deals ahead of October Prime Day
Simplify your streaming with this Amazon Fire TV Stick for 40% off.
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The Eufy Security E340 dual-camera video doorbell offers a practical way to monitor your doorstep and keep an eye on deliveries, and our expert loves it.
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Anker’s Nano Power Bank features a foldable USB-C and a small form factor that’s perfect for those on the go.
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Charge your devices from the car with ease.
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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 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 offered sale events during 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 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.
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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.
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