The 42 Best Memorial Day Deals, According To Our Writers

This is Sam’s third year spearheading our Memorial Day deals coverage, so she knows a good discount when she sees one. Her top picks, of nearly 200 she’s collected: One of our favorite striped tees from J.Crew that’s over half off (now just $20); our No. 1 down pillow, from Parachute, where everything is 30 percent of (the best deal the brand ever offers); and a half-off sofa at Article that could very well pass as Sixpenny’s (much more expensive) Neva model.

Read more: The 198 Best Memorial Day Sales

We know our readers love an especially good deal, so Brenley scrolled through our dozens of deal posts, then did a little more digging of her own, to find over 50 deals that are 50 percent off (more more). It’s hard to pick a favorite among them, but the Madewell Harlows that our readers (and own staffers) can’t stop buying for just $24, one of our favorite memory foam pillows, and some surprisingly comfortable jelly shoes from Gap in a nice shade of blue made her top-three list.

Read more: The Best Memorial Day Sales That Are Half-Off or More

In his short time at the Strategist so far, Michael Zhao has updated our guides to the best air purifiers, air conditioner, humidifiers, and more. Suffice to say, he knows his appliances. He found is favorite “normal-shaped” air conditioner with a rare, off-season price at Home Depot and Best Buy—not the steepest discount, he says, but “our overall pick has already sold out everywhere and our other picks are going fast, so. Iwould recommend hopping on this today if it fits your space.” If it’s an air purifier you need, he suggests getting the Blueair 211i Max for larger rooms because, “it offers more air-cleaning power per dollar than any other option I considered.” And at 20 percent off, our favorite canister vacuum is a great price, “even by pre-Covid standards, according to price-tracking data.”

Last year, Jordan tried out Google’s second foldable phone, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and loved being able to carry an iPad Mini–size tablet in his pocket. It’s on sale right now for $300 off, and while it’s still quite costly, he says it’s a great deal if you’re looking to replace both your phone and tablet. A few of our favorite Dyson vacuum cleaners, including our pick for the best cordless vacuum overall, have also been discounted by up to $150 off. And if you’re looking to upgrade your home-theater setup, one of Jordan’s favorite TVs is currently $200 off — just enough savings to get yourself a new streaming device, too.

Read more: The Best Memorial Day Tech Deals and The Best Deals at Best Buy’s Memorial Day Sale

Amelia has slept on more mattresses than most will in a lifetime, so she knows a thing or two about a good mattress — and about a good deal on a good mattress. Her most standout deal this year is 30 percent off the Parachute Eco mattress, which only goes on sale a few times per year. Two other good finds: the Casper One mattress that Strategist contributor Kiki Aranita raved to her about is just $799 for a queen size, and the Leesa Legend Hybrid Chill that junior writer Bella Druckman told her was actually toochilly for her on occasion (during the winter) is 30 percent off.

Read more: The Best Memorial Day Mattress Sales

Lauren, our longtime home and furniture writer, says that while Article’s Lenia bed, our best-in-class bed-frame pick, is only discounted $100, under $900 is a great price on a quality queen bed frame. For an upholstered look and greater deal, she suggests buying one of her favorite bed frames at West Elm while it’s 30 percent off. And to go beside your new bed, Hay’s popular pleated lamp is nearly $100-off.

Read more: The Best Memorial Day Furniture Sales

Our travel and outdoors writer Kat found a solid trio of products to prep for the first beach day of summer, all for under $100. Hydro Flask makes our favorite water bottle, and Kat loves how long it keeps drinks cool on hot days. It happens to match Target’s blue $9 beach chair, which Kate also recommends for its great reviews and nice minimal look. And while you’re lounging, save yourself from constantly reapplying sunscreen by wearing a Land’s End rash guard that’s currently half off.

Read more: The Best Summery Stuff on Sale for Memorial Day Weekend

As Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer, Ambar plucked a handful of swim and sandal deals from the sales racks. On the sandal front, she suggests a pair of comfortable Havaianas that got cheaper over the course of the week (they’re now just $14). But if you’re after something a bit dressier, go with J.Crew’s Colbie sandals. “Ever since Catbird’s Rony Vardi first told me about these, I wanted them (missed out last year since I’m pretty sure they went fast). This summer, I think I will finally get them at $100.” As for the suit: The “little black dress of swimsuits” is half off and a nice vacation staple.

Read more: The Best Sandals on Sale and The Best Swimsuits on Sale

Rare skin-care deals are abundant this week, according to Tembe. “The Dermstore sale is always a treat, mainly because they manage to discount stuff I rarely see for sale, like Paula’s Choice, which I usually see discounted around the winter holidays.” She’s grabbing the large size of the brand’s AHA/BHA liquid exfoliant and sticking it under her sink “because it does what it says on the tin: unclogs pores, controls oil and actually calms my skin with green tea.” She’s then heading to Ssense for Grown Alchemist’s sweet and citrusy (and fancy) hand cream that’s now 49 percent off. And she has her eye on Love and Pebble’s gua sha that’s a little over 40 percent and less breakable than stone.

Read more: The Best Dermstore Memorial Day Sales, The Best Soko Glam Memorial Day Sales, and The Best Sephora Memorial Day Sales

Emma has been covering kitchen products for years — so not only does she know what items are worth adding to your kitchen, but she can also confirm that these summer-themed discounts are especially great ones. Material Kitchen only has sales a few times a year and “getting two of their great knives for less than $100 is a steal,” Emma says. The paring blade ican be used for all the summer produce, and the serrated blade is especially perfect for tomatoes, given its short length. Also on her must-shop list: a set of nesting Staub baking dishes that save space, clean up beautifully, and are now “insanely cheap,” and durable enamelware from Crow Canyon Home, perfect for eating outside. (“But their whole site is 20 percent off, so look around,” she advises.)

Nordstrom’s Half-Yearly sale (which is for all intents and purposes a Memorial Day sale) is on, and out of the 48 deals Rachael found, these are her top three: a 100 percent linen shirt for 30 percent off; a flippy Mini Boden skirt for less than $20 that your kid can wear all summer; and a pair of Birkenstocks for 40 percent off because “sooner or later, you’re going to give in to them,” so it might as well be when they’re on sale.

Read more: The Best Deals at Nordstrom’s Half-Yearly Sale

I was in charge of Amazon’s Memorial Day sale this year, and I was pleasantly surprised to find good deals in most categories. On the beauty front, there’s R+Co’s color-safe shampoo with moisturizing juniper-berry extract. On the fashion front, I rarely see Miaou’s fun clothes on sale and fully in stock, making this red going-out top a great deal. And 30 percent off one of the trendiest water-bottle brands is a worthy deal any day of the year.

Read more: The Best Amazon Memorial Day Sales

If you need a vacuum or blender, a holiday weekend is the best time to buy one, Bella says. She spotted discounts on a Dyson and Nutribullet at Walmart, both for around 35 percent off, which is “about as good as it gets in the appliance department.” And Apple watches rarely go on sale — especially not for 25 percent off — so now’s the time to splurge ahead of your summer marathon training.

Read more: The Best Walmart Memorial Day Deals

No surprise here: A gazillion items are on sale at Wayfair for Memorial Day weekend. But as is typical of Wayfair, plenty are of questionable quality. Erin, our staff materials expert, found plenty of hidden gems in its inventory that we’ve either written about or whose specs make clear they won’t fall apart quickly. At the top of Erin’s list is a 100-percent wool rug in “a very zeitgeisty shade of red,” a knife set that comes with a self-sharpening block for over 70 percent off (a lower price than we see on average), and a solid deal on a “Strategist-staffer-approved wooden bed that looks more expensive than it is.”

Read more: The Best Wayfair Memorial Day Sales