Amazon Prime Big Deal Days kicks off on Oct. 6 and runs through Oct. 7 this year, and while it may feel like Prime Day happens every other day, this event only happens once per year.

Sandwiched in between the retailer’s traditional summer Prime Day and the global phenomenon of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, this event offers an opportunity to get ahead of holiday shopping and save some money in the process.

There are hundreds of deals, so it’s understandable if you find yourself questioning which ones are actually good versus better off skipping until later in the season.

“It’s less about what to avoid and more about being selective,” Carmen Nestares, vice president of North America Prime and marketing tech at Amazon, exclusively shared with The Post. “If you stocked up on batteries or everyday essentials during Prime Day in June, you might not need to go back for those. Focus your energy on the things you’ve actually been waiting on and items you do need.”

Bestsellers like the Bissell Little Green Carpet Cleaner and Apple AirTags are predictably on sale. Amazon has its round of Lightning deals, early Prime Day deals and “limited deal” flags all over its website, but when it comes to bigger, splurge-worthy items, it can be difficult to know if you’re seeing something at its lowest price or if it’s worth holding out until Cyber Monday. Fortunately, the New York Post Shopping team knows exactly how to find the answers to these types of questions, since we track sale prices for a living. From price comparison across retailers to diving into a product’s price history, we know exactly what’s worth buying during this event and what you can save for another day.

What to Buy During October Prime Day

Korean Skincare

Take this from someone who flew to South Korea last year to learn about formulas straight from a K-beauty lab: this is the time to stock up, and Amazon feels that way, too.

“I’ll be watching Today’s Big Deals throughout the event for drops on K-beauty brands like Songboon Editor, Dr. Jart+, Anua and Genabelle,” Nestares said. “Right now I’m obsessed with Songboon Editor’s Deep Collagen Silk Peptide Masks and their Peptide EGF Ampoule — and I buy Genabelle’s PDRN Rejuvenating Eye Mask on repeat; I swear by it!”

Nestares shared that she keeps her K-beauty products in a little mini fridge (as do I), which honestly might be another Prime Day purchase to make.

Holiday Toys

“I’ve been browsing the Top Toys list and the new FAO Schwarz storefront to get ahead on the kids’ wish lists,” Nestares shared. “My son is a huge Pokémon fan, and if you’re a parent, you know the most popular toys can go fast. I’m also looking at matching family pajamas from Amazon Essentials.”

If you have a big family, finding sets that come in every size and that everyone *actually* likes is harder than it sounds, so locking those in early at a good price is a win.

Wellness Upgrades

Wearable tech can also be a tempting Prime Day purchase, especially for shoppers who already use a device regularly and are considering an upgrade. If a product has become part of your daily routine, a major sales event can be a good time to compare newer models, features and pricing before deciding whether it’s worth making the switch.

“I’ve also had my eye on a new Oura Ring. I wear mine every day and I’ve been waiting for a good moment to upgrade,” Nestares said.

Smarter Tech

For shoppers considering bigger-ticket purchases, Prime Day can be a useful opportunity to keep an eye on products that rarely make it onto everyday shopping lists. 

“Products like the Coway Airmega Air Purifier, Amazon Fire 7 Kids Tablet and Samsung’s The Frame TV attracted interest,” Ally Anderson, senior director of brand marketing strategy at LTK, told The Post. “These are worth watching if you’re planning a larger purchase or getting an early start on holiday shopping.”

Kitchen Value Items

Kitchen appliances and cookware sets are also drawing attention from shoppers looking to upgrade their everyday routines. From specialty bakeware like bread cloches to versatile countertop cookers, these types of products can make practical additions to the kitchen while offering shoppers an opportunity to invest in tools they’ll use regularly.

“I’m also looking at a Le Creuset bread cloche and an Our Place cooker too,” Nestares listed. “We got the Our Place air fryer during Prime Day and our family loves it, so I’m going back for more.”

Groceries

The other trend to call out is everyday essentials and groceries, per Nestares. “More customers are realizing they can get the things they need every week at everyday low prices and skip a trip to the store,” she added. “Today, more than 2,300 cities and towns can get fresh groceries at consistently low prices through Same-Day Delivery — and perishable items now make up nine of the top 10 most-ordered products.”

Fashion

“Fashion was the biggest shopping category on LTK, accounting for 57% of clicks,” Anderson shared. “Oversized faux-leather totes, shapewear shorts, satin mini skirts and fall sweaters and cardigans were among the most popular items.”

Baby Essentials

“Parents were checking out practical baby gear, with extra-wide retractable baby gates and baby bottle washers among the products that caught their attention last year,” Anderson noted.

From baby-proofing the home to making feeding routines a little easier, practical gear tends to stand out when shoppers are focused on convenience, safety and value.

What Not to Buy During October Prime Day

Not every Prime Day deal is worth clicking “add to cart.” Some products may be discounted simply because they’re older models, frequently go on sale throughout the year, or have prices that aren’t as impressive as they first appear.

Seasonal Decorations

Holiday decor, party supplies and other seasonal items can be tempting during Prime Day, but buying too early can mean paying more than necessary. If you don’t need them immediately, compare prices closer to the season when retailers often compete more aggressively to clear inventory.

Here are some of our top seasonal decor picks that are *actually* worth it:

Impulse Buys

Like decorations, a limited-time deal can make something you never planned to purchase suddenly seem essential. Avoid adding random kitchen gadgets, home decor, beauty products or other inexpensive items simply because they’re marked down. If it wasn’t on your list before Prime Day, give yourself a moment to decide whether you actually need it.

Here are some items that have been price-checked and worth adding to your cart:

Makeup with Small Discounts

Don’t buy makeup just because it’s $5 cheaper. Beauty products can see much deeper discounts during major sales, and Prime Day has featured beauty discounts of 30% or more, with some individual products discounted substantially further.

After years of comparing makeup deals, here’s what to add to your basket this Prime Day:

Your Prime Big Deal Days FAQs, answered

What is Prime Big Deal Days and when is it?

Prime Big Deal Days — fondly known as October Prime Day — is Amazon’s biggest fall sale, offering massive discounts before the holiday rush of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. October Prime Day runs from Tuesday, Oct. 6 to Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026.

Prime Day vs. Prime Big Deal Days

Prime Day and Prime Big Deal Days are both Prime member-exclusive seasonal sales with massive discounts on rotating bestsellers. Unlike July’s Prime Day, Prime Big Deal Days runs every October as a precursor to the busy holiday season, allowing shoppers to start saving on gift shopping early.

Do you have to be an Amazon Prime member to shop?

October Prime Day is exclusively available to Prime members. However interested shoppers can grab a 30-day free trial to try Prime, and its many benefits with no strings attached, and gain access to exclusive deals and the convenience of fast, free shipping.

What are the best deals?

From reporting on Amazon sales for years, we can tell you for certain that Amazon’s October Prime Day is the ideal time to save on big-ticket tech, Amazon devices, gift-worthy clothing and beauty and skincare staples, household essentials and many more Amazon best-sellers.

Is it worth it?

Every Prime Day sale is a great chance to score deals on thousands of best-sellers, top tech and appliances and every day essentials, but Amazon’s October event also has great pre-holiday discounts on gifts. Our team diligently sorts through all the offers to find the very best items to grab on sale.

When is the next Prime Day?

Already wondering when Amazon’s next Prime Day is? We expect Prime Day to return in summer 2027, but anticipate just-as-good (if not better) deals coming this Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Follow Post Wanted’s around-the-clock coverage, and you’ll be the first to know about headline-worthy sales. Click here to find all of the best deals.

This article was written by Victoria McDonnell, New York Post Commerce Journalist & Content Strategist, who has spent countless hours researching, testing hundreds of products and comparing the latest makeup, skincare, hair and beauty items and trends to determine what’s truly worth your hard-earned cash. She evaluates formulas, textures, ingredients and more, in addition to consulting medical and industry experts. Some of Victoria’s latest conquests include testing the best sheet masks on the market, and a rinse-and-repeat review of the best shampoos for all hair types and budgets. Victoria, who received a beauty industry essentials certification from the Fashion Institute of Technology, has been creating shopping guides for the New York Post since 2021 and previously held positions at Insider Reviews and CNN Underscored.