when do the stores open for black friday

Most major retail stores open very early on Black Friday, typically between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m., but exact opening times vary by chain and location each year. Many retailers now stay closed on Thanksgiving and reopen early Friday morning, while some keep more standard hours closer to 8–10 a.m. instead.

Key times for big chains

• Many big-box stores like Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Dick’s, and Home Depot commonly open around 6 a.m. on Black Friday, then close at or near normal evening hours.

• Department stores such as Kohl’s, JCPenney, and sometimes Old Navy often open even earlier, around 5 a.m. , to promote doorbuster deals.

• Warehouse clubs and specialty retailers (Costco, Sam’s Club, BJ’s, Apple, GameStop, etc.) tend to open later, often 7–10 a.m. , with some keeping standard hours rather than extreme early openings.

Why hours keep changing

Retailers have shifted away from overnight or Thanksgiving Day openings and now focus on early-morning Friday starts. In recent years, many “Black Friday” deals go live online days or even weeks earlier, so in-store hours are less extreme than the midnight openings that were common a decade ago.

How to find your local time

Because hours differ by city and even by mall, always check just before you go:

1. Use each store’s online locator (Target, Walmart, Best Buy, etc.) and look for “holiday” or “Black Friday” hours.

2. Check emails or apps from your favorite stores; many send exact opening times with doorbuster promos.

3. If your area has strict local regulations (for example, on opening before a certain hour), call the store directly a few days before Black Friday.

Forum-style quick scoop

On shopping forums and deal threads, people usually report that “serious” Black Friday crowds start lining up 30–60 minutes before opening , especially at electronics and big-box stores. Others note that mid-morning (after 9 a.m.) is less chaotic, but the hottest doorbusters are often gone by then.

Simple rule of thumb

• Assume 5–6 a.m. openings for big-box and department stores.
• Assume 7–10 a.m. for warehouse clubs and many specialty shops.
• Always verify your specific store’s time the week of Black Friday, since corporate times can shift year to year and locations may opt for different hours.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.