A "shopping day" is a day on which you can still buy a present before Christmas. The count above includes today and every day up to and including Christmas Eve, because December 24 is the last day most shops trade before the holiday. It is calculated from the date on your device, so it updates at your local midnight. Christmas Day itself is not counted: in many countries most stores close on December 25, and in England, Wales and Scotland large shops are legally required to stay closed that day.
Key shopping dates this season
These dates are calculated for the current Christmas season. The US-origin sales days — Black Friday and Cyber Monday — are now marked by retailers in the UK, Canada, Australia and much of Europe as well.
| Date | Occasion | Days away |
|---|---|---|
| Fourth Thursday of November | Thanksgiving (US) | — |
| Day after US Thanksgiving | Black Friday | — |
| Saturday after Thanksgiving | Small Business Saturday (US) | — |
| Monday after Thanksgiving | Cyber Monday | — |
| Fourth Sunday before Christmas | First Sunday of Advent | — |
| Second Monday of December | "Green Monday" | — |
| Last Saturday before Christmas | "Super Saturday" | — |
| December 24 | Christmas Eve — last shopping day | — |
What each date means
Black Friday and Cyber Monday
Black Friday is the day after US Thanksgiving (which is always the fourth Thursday of November), so it falls between November 23 and November 29. It has long been treated as the start of the US holiday shopping season. Cyber Monday, the following Monday, began as an online-shopping counterpart and now usually closes a long weekend of sales that many retailers stretch over a week or more.
Small Business Saturday
A US campaign, started in 2010, that encourages shoppers to spend the Saturday after Thanksgiving at independent local businesses.
Green Monday
A retail term for the second Monday of December, historically one of the busiest online-ordering days because it is roughly the last point at which standard shipping comfortably arrives before Christmas.
Super Saturday
The last Saturday before Christmas, traditionally one of the busiest in-store shopping days of the year as last-minute shoppers head out. If Christmas falls on a Saturday, Super Saturday is the Saturday a week earlier.
Christmas Eve
Most shops open on December 24 but close earlier than usual — often mid-afternoon or early evening. Check local opening hours before relying on a late trip.
Shipping: the deadline that really matters
For anything ordered online or posted to family, the number that counts is not shopping days but shipping days. Postal services and couriers publish their recommended last posting dates each autumn, usually in October or November. As a rough guide:
- International parcels by economy services often need to be sent in late November or the first days of December.
- Standard domestic post generally needs to go about a week before Christmas.
- Express and next-day services can sometimes deliver as late as December 23.
Always check the current published dates for your carrier and destination — they change every year and differ by country. Our Christmas planning timeline sets out when to do what.
Making the shopping days go further
- Write the list before the sales. Knowing who you are buying for — and a budget per person — makes Black Friday deals easier to judge.
- Check price history. A "sale" price is only a saving if it is lower than what the item cost a few weeks earlier.
- Order personalised gifts early. Engraving, printing and made-to-order items have the longest lead times in December.
- Keep the last week for food and small items. The week before Christmas is the busiest time in shops and on delivery networks.
Frequently asked questions
Is Christmas Eve counted as a shopping day?
Yes. December 24 is the last day most shops open before Christmas, so it is included. Christmas Day is not counted.
Are shops open on Christmas Day?
In many countries most shops close. In England and Wales the Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004 bars large shops from opening on December 25, and Scotland has a similar law. Smaller convenience stores, pharmacies and petrol stations may open with reduced hours.
When is Black Friday?
Black Friday is the day after US Thanksgiving, which is the fourth Thursday of November. It always falls between November 23 and November 29.
How many shopping weekends are left?
Look at the Saturdays and Sundays figures at the top of the page — they count the weekend days remaining from today up to Christmas Eve.
Last reviewed on October 4, 2026.
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