Marks & Spencer’s big winter offers typically kick off right at the end of December, with the main January sale running into the New Year and featuring up to around 50% off across selected ranges. Recent years suggest you’ll usually see Boxing Day/late-December markdowns first, followed by the full January sale from very early January.

Key dates to know

  • Boxing Day / late December: M&S has recently started its Boxing Day-style discounts as early as 24 December, both online and in store.
  • Pre-Christmas deals: Smaller pre-Christmas offers have often appeared from around 19 December, especially on fashion and gifting.
  • Main January sale: In the last few years, the big January sale has either started right at the end of December or on 1 January, with fresh New Year reductions.

What to expect in the sale

  • Discounts: Up to about 50% off selected clothing, homeware, beauty and more, particularly in the January event.
  • Where it runs: Deals are usually available both online and in most larger stores, though exact stock and reductions vary by location.
  • Popular categories: Winter fashion, lingerie, home textiles, kitchenware and seasonal food or gifting often see some of the best markdowns.

Tips to catch it at the right time

  • Start checking from around 19–24 December for early and Boxing Day-style promos.
  • Look again from 28 December through the first days of January for the full-blown January sale launch and new markdowns.
  • Sign up to M&S emails or app notifications so you get early alerts on exact start times for your local store or region.

For the very latest, it’s always worth quickly checking the M&S website or app just before and after Christmas, as exact launch days can shift slightly year to year.

TL;DR: If you’re wondering “when does M&S sale start”, plan for pre- Christmas offers from about 19 December, major reductions from around 24 December, and the core January sale landing right at the turn of the year.🕒

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