Boxing Day is December 26, every year. In Canadian retail, Boxing Week is the run of sales that starts on December 26 and carries on to around New Year’s Day; each store picks its own end date, and some start their Boxing Day pricing online on December 24 or 25. The sales are mostly clearance: winter stock, holiday merchandise and outgoing models have to make room for January, which is why the discounts after Christmas tend to be real markdowns rather than promotional pricing. This guide covers what tends to be discounted, how Boxing Day compares with Black Friday, and how to shop the week. It is part of the site’s consumer guides to shopping, deals and everyday bills.
Boxing Day and Boxing Week dates
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| December 24 and 25 | Some retailers open their Boxing Day sale online early |
| December 26 | Boxing Day, the start of the in-store sales |
| December 27 to 31 | Boxing Week: sales continue, and some stores add markdowns as stock runs down |
| Early January | Remaining winter and holiday stock moves to clearance |
Store hours on December 26 depend on the province and city, since some provinces restrict retail opening on holidays. The store’s own listing is the reliable place to check its hours that day.
What tends to be discounted
| Category | Why the discount tends to be real |
|---|---|
| Winter coats and clothing | End-of-season stock that has to clear before spring lines arrive |
| Christmas decorations, lights and wrapping | Holiday stock with no buyers until next November |
| Toys | Overstock left after the gift season |
| Consumer electronics | Older models making way for January releases |
| Furniture and bedding | Year-end clearance |
Items that rarely see deep discounts in the sales include gift cards, the newest phones and tech, and luxury brands that don’t discount.
Boxing Day vs Black Friday
The two sales lean in different directions. Black Friday in late November is driven by promotions, with TVs, laptops and other electronics as the headline items, and it is also where inflated “regular” prices are most common. Boxing Day is driven by clearance, so it suits seasonal goods: winter clothing, holiday decor for next year, and toys.
| Usually better on Boxing Day | Usually better on Black Friday | Often similar |
|---|---|---|
| Winter clothing | TVs | Appliances |
| Christmas decor and wrapping | Laptops | Mattresses |
| Toys | Gaming consoles and accessories | Home decor |
Shopping Boxing Week
| Before December 26 | During the sales |
|---|---|
| Make a list of things you would buy anyway | Compare the in-store and online price for the same item |
| Note current prices during Christmas week | Check whether sale items are final sale |
| Check store hours for December 26 | Keep receipts and original packaging until you’re sure |
| Set a spending cap for the week | Check later in the week for further markdowns on what’s left |
Online sales often carry the same prices as the store without the line-ups, while stores sometimes add markdowns on floor models and open-box items. Where a store matches its competitors’ prices, a lower online price can be used at the register; the rules are in the guide to price matching in Canada.
Returns
Holiday return windows usually cover gifts bought in November and December, but Boxing Day purchases are often sold as final sale or under a shorter window, especially clearance and open-box items. The receipt or the store’s posted policy says which applies.
Stocking up for next year
Boxing Week is the cheapest time of year for next Christmas’s decorations, lights, wrapping paper, gift bags and cards. It also suits winter clothing for next season and children’s clothing a size up. These purchases are only savings if they would have been bought anyway.
Paying for it
A card’s rewards apply to sale purchases as to any other, and a cashback app can add a percentage on online orders. Some cards also include price protection or extended warranty coverage; the card’s certificate of insurance lists what is covered.
Boxing Day comes right after the most expensive weeks of the year. If December spending has already gone past what was planned, the sales can wait; a holiday budget sets the gift and sale spending together, and any money left over can go to an emergency fund or a card balance instead.