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Best Buys for September: What to Buy & What Goes on Sale
September is one of the best months of the year to save money. With Labor Day sales, end-of-summer clearance, and fall shopping all happening at the same time, September brings discounts on many big-ticket and seasonal items.
If you’re wondering what to buy in September, some of the best deals to watch include mattresses, appliances, outdoor furniture, grills, summer clothing, outdoor gear, patio items, and end-of-season lawn and garden products.
This year, there’s an especially good reason to shop early in the month: Amazon’s Labor Day sale runs through September 7, 2026. Labor Day is Monday, September 7, so you’ll have several days to shop the sale and compare prices before the holiday weekend ends.
September is also a great month to start looking for fall merchandise while retailers are still clearing out summer inventory. You can often find excellent deals by shopping both the end-of-summer clearance racks and Labor Day sales.
Here are some of the best things to buy in September.
Best Things to Buy in September
Amazon Labor Day Deals
Amazon’s Labor Day sale runs through September 7, making the first week of September one of the best times to check Amazon for deals.
Look for savings across a wide variety of categories, including home, kitchen, electronics, appliances, clothing, outdoor gear, grilling supplies, patio items, and lawn and garden products.
Amazon’s Labor Day deals are already appearing, with discounts on everything from tech and smart-home products to grills, outdoor items, fashion, and household essentials.
Don’t forget to check Amazon Outlet as well. Outlet items are generally overstock or clearance merchandise, and Labor Day promotions can make some of these prices even lower. Kitchen products, cookware, food storage, and small appliances are some of the categories worth checking.
Tip: If you’re shopping Amazon’s Labor Day sale, compare prices before purchasing. Some products may have already been discounted before the sale, while others may receive additional price drops as September 7 approaches.
Mattresses
September is one of the best months to buy a mattress.
Labor Day mattress sales are a major reason to shop this month, and many mattress companies offer some of their biggest discounts around the holiday. Look for deals on mattresses, adjustable bases, pillows, mattress toppers, and bedding.
If you’ve been putting off replacing an old mattress, September is definitely a month worth watching. Current Labor Day promotions include significant discounts from several major mattress brands.
Appliances
Major appliances are another good buy in September.
Labor Day sales frequently include refrigerators, dishwashers, ranges, washers, and dryers, and retailers may discount existing inventory as newer models arrive.
If you’re replacing an appliance rather than simply upgrading, September can be a good time to compare prices from several retailers. Look for additional savings, free delivery, rebates, and package discounts.
Patio Furniture
If you’ve had your eye on patio furniture all summer, September is the time to start watching for clearance prices.
Retailers need to make room for fall and winter merchandise, so you may see discounts on patio dining sets, outdoor chairs, conversation sets, umbrellas, fire pits, and outdoor rugs.
The selection will generally get smaller as the season goes on, but the prices may get lower. If you have storage space and don’t need the newest style, end-of-season clearance can be a great way to save.
Grills & Outdoor Cooking
September is a good time to look for deals on grills, smokers, griddles, pizza ovens, and grilling accessories.
Labor Day falls near the end of the traditional summer grilling season, so retailers begin clearing out outdoor cooking equipment. Current Labor Day sales include discounts on grills and other outdoor cooking products.
You may find even deeper clearance prices later in the fall, but shopping earlier gives you a better selection.
Summer Clothing
One of the easiest ways to save in September is by shopping for summer clothing on clearance.
Look for markdowns on:
- Shorts
- Swimsuits
- Tank tops
- T-shirts
- Sandals
- Summer dresses
- Children’s summer clothing
Retailers are making room for fall clothing, so summer merchandise can be marked down substantially.
If you don’t mind buying ahead, September can be a great time to stock up on basics for next summer.
Fall Clothing
While summer clearance is one of September’s best bargains, don’t overlook fall clothing.
Labor Day sales often include jeans, sweaters, jackets, shoes, and other transitional clothing. September is also a good time to buy lightweight pieces that can be worn during the transition from summer to cooler weather.
Look for cardigans, long-sleeve shirts, jeans, lightweight jackets, sneakers, and other pieces that can work for several seasons.
Outdoor & Camping Gear
September can be a good month to shop for outdoor and camping equipment as retailers begin clearing out summer inventory.
Look for deals on:
- Tents
- Sleeping bags
- Camping chairs
- Coolers
- Backpacks
- Camping cookware
- Outdoor games
- Hiking gear
Labor Day sales can make this an especially good time to replace worn-out equipment or pick up items for next year’s camping season.
Lawn & Garden Equipment
End-of-season clearance can also mean savings on lawn mowers, trimmers, leaf blowers, garden tools, hoses, planters, and other outdoor equipment.
The selection may become more limited later in the fall, but prices can be very attractive as stores make room for seasonal merchandise.
September is also a good time to shop for clearance plants. Garden centers may mark down perennials, trees, and shrubs toward the end of the growing season.
The most competitive prices will be found at Amazon, Lowe’s, Walmart, Home Depot, and Target.
Plants
September is a great time to buy perennials, trees, and shrubs, especially if you’re planning to add plants to your landscape.
Cooler temperatures make fall an easier time to plant many varieties, and garden centers may offer end-of-season markdowns.
Check local nurseries, garden centers, Lowe’s, Home Depot, and other retailers for clearance plants.
Bicycles
September can be a good time to buy a bicycle, particularly if you’re flexible about the exact model.
As retailers make room for newer inventory, you may find discounts on bicycles, helmets, bike accessories, and cycling equipment.
This is another category where shopping later in the season can save money, although popular sizes and models may sell out first.
Home Furniture
Labor Day is also a popular time for furniture sales.
Look for discounts on sofas, sectionals, bedroom furniture, dining tables, chairs, desks, and home decor. Retailers often use Labor Day promotions to encourage shoppers to update their homes before fall.
Outdoor furniture can be particularly attractive because it is also being cleared out at the end of summer.
Produce
September offers a great combination of late-summer and early-fall produce.
Depending on where you live, look for good prices on apples, pears, peaches, tomatoes, corn, peppers, green beans, potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, and other seasonal produce.
Local farmers’ markets and farm stands can be especially good places to find seasonal produce at reasonable prices.
What Goes on Sale in September?
If you’re looking for the best September sales, these are the categories I’d watch most closely:
- Mattresses – Labor Day is one of the biggest mattress sale periods.
- Appliances – Watch for Labor Day discounts on major and small appliances.
- Patio furniture – End-of-summer clearance can mean big savings.
- Grills – Retailers begin clearing out summer outdoor cooking equipment.
- Summer clothing – Look for deep clearance prices.
- Outdoor gear – Camping and recreation equipment may be discounted.
- Lawn and garden equipment – End-of-season markdowns are common.
- Plants – Look for clearance perennials, trees, and shrubs.
- Furniture – Labor Day is a popular time for furniture promotions.
- Fall clothing – Look for Labor Day sales on new seasonal merchandise.
- Bicycles – Older models may be discounted as retailers make room for new inventory.
- Amazon deals – The Labor Day sale runs through September 7 this year.
What Should You Buy in September?
If you’re trying to decide what to buy in September, focus on items that are either being discounted for Labor Day or being cleared out because summer is ending.
The best opportunities are likely to be mattresses, appliances, patio furniture, grills, summer clothing, outdoor gear, lawn and garden equipment, and other summer merchandise.
It’s also worth watching for fall clothing and home products as retailers begin transitioning to the new season.
September Shopping Tip
Don’t assume that every Labor Day sale is automatically a great deal. Compare prices between retailers and check the price history of more expensive purchases when possible.
For seasonal clearance, consider how much you’ll actually use the item and whether you have somewhere to store it. A 50% discount isn’t a bargain if you wouldn’t have purchased the item without the sale.
September can be one of the best months for bargain shopping because you’re getting two types of savings at once: Labor Day promotions and end-of-summer clearance.
If you’ve been waiting for the right time to replace a mattress, upgrade an appliance, buy a grill, or stock up on summer merchandise for next year, September is a month worth watching.
National Coffee Day
National Coffee Day is Monday, September 29th this year. Dunkin’ Donuts, Caribou Coffee, Krispy Kreme, Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Starbucks, and Tim Hortons have all offered a free cup of coffee in previous years. Check back later in the month for an updated post on all the National Coffee Day Deals.
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