Originally Published on October 12, 2020. Last Updated on February 13, 2023.

If you’re in the market for outdoor furniture, you’re probably wondering when the best time to buy is. Smart planning can help you save a lot of money when it comes to purchasing outdoor furniture.

Luckily, we’re here to guide you through your buying journey by exploring all your timing options. Keep reading for our furniture-buying tips.

The Best Time to Buy Outdoor Furniture

Many online publications recommend buying outdoor furniture between late August and October. While these months are great times to shop, there are other opportunities in the year when you can snag a great deal. We’re breaking down each season and explaining why it may or may not be an ideal time to buy new outdoor furniture.

Best Time in Fall: Late August–October

If you want to purchase your furniture at a brick-and-mortar store, fall is the best time. After Labor Day, outdoor furniture suppliers typically begin prepping for winter and newer models. They mark down several products to help offload the current year’s inventory. Prices can drop far into the season when stores stop designating floor space to outdoor furniture. By late October, you may come across savings up to 70% off! 

There is one downside to shopping in the fall: The deeper you get into the season, the slimmer the selection gets. If you see an outdoor dining set you want at a reasonable price, buy it immediately rather than wait for the price to drop further. 

Best Time in Winter: Mid-Winter

If you want to buy your furniture online, the best time is mid-winter — i.e., January and February. Brick-and-mortar stores aren’t focused on outdoor furniture during the winter months, so it’s tougher to find what you want in stores. Online retailers often beat the prices of traditional stores due to their lack of overhead costs. However, they still need warehouse space to store their products. During mid-winter, online stores will slash prices on their current inventory to make room for the newest products and designs for spring. Take advantage and get an excellent deal!

Before buying a furniture set in the winter, make sure you know where to store it until springtime. If you have a garage or shed, you can put it in there until March rolls around. If not, you may need to assemble the set and protect it with an outdoor furniture cover.

Best Time in Spring: Early Spring

Did you miss out on fall or winter clearance sales? Don’t worry! You can still find a good deal on furniture when spring begins. Many stores will discount outdoor furniture to generate traffic and hopefully persuade customers to purchase something early in the season. While the markdowns won’t be as high as in fall or winter, you can use your furniture right away instead of waiting for warmer weather. There are also instances where furniture brands may not follow traditional sales calendars. For example, companies that sell eco-friendly furniture have their biggest sales around Earth Day.

If you decide to buy furniture in spring, make sure it’s before May. You might believe you’re beating the crowd by shopping before summer peak season, but other shoppers are thinking like this, too. As a result, stores get busy, demand gets high, prices skyrocket, and products go out of stock. 

Summer: Not the Best Time

Summer is the peak season for outdoor furniture, so higher demand means higher prices. If you’re a frugal shopper, don’t purchase furniture during this season. The one exception may be the Fourth of July. Keep your eyes peeled on your favorite stores to see what sales they have to offer.

Other Tips to Consider

Now that you have an idea of when to buy outdoor furniture, there are still things to keep in mind if you want to shop smarter:

• Be patient: If you have eyes on a particular set or item, don’t settle for something you don’t want because the savings are bigger. Be patient and do some more research and window shopping. 
• Check return policies and warranties: When buying clearance items, read the store’s return policy. Some clearance items may not be eligible for a return, or the return period is shorter than usual. The same thing applies to warranties. Many clearance items might have limited warranties or none at all.
• Keep an eye out for holidays: From New Year’s Day to Black Friday, holidays are primetime for sales. If there’s a specific store on your radar, subscribe to their mailing list for the latest news and offers. 

The Bottom Line

If you want to be a frugal, smart shopper, avoid purchasing outdoor furniture during late spring and summer. The deals typically aren’t great, and stores are busy because many shoppers are looking for new furniture during this time. Fall is generally the best time to score huge savings on outdoor furniture, but you should still be able to snag deals in mid-winter or early spring as well. 

When are you planning to purchase your next piece of outdoor furniture? Let us know in the comments!