Boxing Day sales are the UK’s traditional post-Christmas discount event, running from 26 December each year across the high street and online, with most major retailers now starting deals online from Christmas Eve or even earlier. This year, 26 December 2026 falls on a Saturday, and the associated bank holiday moves to Monday 28 December 2026, according to the official Privy Council proclamation confirming UK bank holiday dates.
If you’re planning to shop the Boxing Day sales, whether that’s queuing outside a department store or scrolling deals from the sofa, this guide covers exactly when things kick off, what to expect on price and footfall based on last year’s figures, which categories tend to have the best discounts, and your consumer rights if something goes wrong with a sale purchase.
When Are the Boxing Day Sales in 2026?
Boxing Day itself always falls on 26 December, which lands on a Saturday in 2026. Because of that, the official bank holiday shifts to Monday 28 December 2026, confirmed by a Royal Proclamation issued in July 2025 appointing the substitute date.
That doesn’t mean the sales themselves are delayed, though. In recent years, most retailers have launched their Boxing Day sales online from the evening of Christmas Eve or late on Christmas Day itself, well before physical stores open their doors. Expect the same pattern this year: online first, in-store from the morning of 26 December for retailers that choose to open.
Do Shops Open on Boxing Day Itself?
This has changed noticeably in the past few years. A growing number of major UK retailers now close their stores on Boxing Day entirely, prioritising staff wellbeing after the Christmas trading period, and reopening for in-store sales a day or two later instead.
Last year, Next kept its roughly 500 UK stores closed on 26 December, reopening from 6am on 27 December, while its online sale began on Christmas Eve. John Lewis followed a similar pattern, with most of its stores closed on Boxing Day but its clearance sale running online from the evening of Christmas Eve. Matalan bucked the trend, trading from 9am to 6pm on Boxing Day last year, and value retailers like B&M and Primark have generally stayed open too.
Because policies vary by retailer and can change year to year, it’s always worth checking the specific store’s website close to the date rather than assuming based on previous years.
How Much Do People Spend in the Boxing Day Sales?
According to the Barclays Consumer Spend report, UK shoppers were forecast to spend £3.6 billion in total during the 2025 Boxing Day sales, with the average participating shopper planning to spend £253, up £17 from £236 the year before. That total figure was down from £4.6 billion in 2024 and £4.7 billion in 2023, reflecting wider cost-of-living pressures on household budgets.
Fewer people are taking part too: Barclays found only 26% of consumers planned to shop the 2025 Boxing Day sales, down from 28% the previous year, with around seven in ten citing cost pressures as a factor in their spending decisions. Clothing, footwear and accessories remained the most popular category, chosen by 37% of shoppers, with beauty and skincare close behind.
Online vs In-Store: Where People Actually Shop
Online shopping continues to dominate the Boxing Day period, with around 40% of shoppers saying they prefer to shop online according to Barclays’ research, though the bricks-and-mortar experience still holds appeal for many. Footfall on the high street has been falling for several years running: MRI Software’s OnLocation Footfall Index recorded a 9.4% drop in UK Boxing Day footfall in 2024 compared with 2023, marking the first such decline since before the pandemic.
If you do prefer shopping in person, this trend can work in your favour. Fewer people queuing outside stores generally means shorter waits and a calmer shopping experience than the Boxing Day sales of a decade ago.
What Are the Best Boxing Day Sale Categories?
Certain product categories consistently see the deepest discounts during the Boxing Day period, based on patterns across the last few years of UK retail data.
- Fashion and footwear: end-of-season clearance means genuine markdowns on clothing, coats and shoes, often the single most popular category among shoppers.
- Homeware and furniture: retailers use the post-Christmas period to clear stock ahead of new spring ranges, so sofas, beds and kitchenware often see some of the year’s steepest reductions.
- Beauty and skincare: gift sets and premium brands frequently drop in price once Christmas gifting demand has passed.
- Electronics and tech: while Black Friday in November usually offers the deepest tech discounts, Boxing Day can still bring further reductions on TVs, laptops and small appliances, particularly older models being cleared for new releases.
- Toys: post-Christmas toy clearance is common, especially for seasonal or licensed stock retailers want off the shelves.
How to Shop the Boxing Day Sales Smartly
Check prices before the sale starts. Many “reduced” prices during sale events aren’t as generous as they look once you compare them with the item’s price a few weeks earlier. Free browser tools and price history trackers can show you whether a discount is genuine.
Make a list before you browse. Sale environments are designed to encourage impulse buying, so knowing exactly what you want (and what you’re willing to pay) beforehand helps you avoid coming home with things you didn’t need.
Read the returns policy for sale items specifically. Some retailers apply shorter return windows or exclude certain sale categories from their standard returns policy, so it’s worth checking before you buy rather than after.
Compare in-store and online prices. It’s increasingly common for online-only deals to beat in-store pricing on the same item, so a quick check on your phone before queuing can save disappointment.
Watch out for “was” prices that were never really sold. Trading Standards guidance requires that a “was” price reflects a genuine previous selling price, but not every retailer gets this right, so a healthy dose of scepticism is reasonable if a discount looks too good.
Your Consumer Rights on Boxing Day Sale Items
A common myth is that sale items can’t be returned or refunded, but that’s not accurate under UK law. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 gives the same protections to sale goods as full-price ones: items must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described, whether you paid full price or a discounted one.
If a sale item turns out to be faulty, you have the right to a full refund within 30 days of purchase under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, regardless of the store’s own returns policy. This applies whether you bought it in-store or online, and the fact that it was discounted makes no difference to that right.
Where things differ is with non-faulty returns. If you simply change your mind about a sale item, retailers aren’t legally required to offer a refund or exchange, though many choose to as a goodwill gesture. For online purchases, the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 separately give you a 14-day right to cancel most online orders for any reason, sale or not, which is worth remembering if you’re buying deals from your phone rather than in-store.
Boxing Day Sales History: A Quick Note
Boxing Day itself dates back centuries in the UK as a day traditionally associated with giving to servants and the less fortunate, according to historical accounts, evolving over time into a public holiday for rest and, eventually, one of the country’s busiest shopping days. The modern association with post-Christmas discount shopping really took hold in the latter half of the 20th century as retailers began using the day to clear seasonal stock.
FAQS
When do Boxing Day sales start in 2026?
Most retailers launch their Boxing Day sales online from Christmas Eve or the evening of Christmas Day, ahead of any in-store opening on 26 December itself. Exact timing varies by retailer, so it’s worth checking individual store websites in the days before Christmas.
Are shops open on Boxing Day 2026?
It depends on the retailer. Several major chains, including Next and most John Lewis stores, have closed on Boxing Day in recent years to give staff a break, while value retailers such as B&M, Primark and Matalan have generally stayed open with earlier morning starts.
Is the Boxing Day sale better than Black Friday?
Neither is consistently better across every category. Black Friday, in late November, tends to offer the deepest discounts on tech and electronics, while Boxing Day often has stronger reductions on fashion, homeware and post-Christmas clearance stock.
Can I return a Boxing Day sale item if I don’t like it?
Only if the retailer’s own policy allows it, since UK law doesn’t require a refund for a simple change of mind on sale goods. If the item is faulty, not as described, or not fit for purpose, you’re entitled to a full refund within 30 days under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 regardless of the store’s own policy.
How much do people spend on average during the Boxing Day sales?
According to Barclays’ Consumer Spend report, the average participating shopper planned to spend £253 during the 2025 Boxing Day sales, with total UK spend forecast at £3.6 billion. That average has risen each year despite fewer overall shoppers taking part.
Do online Boxing Day deals sell out?
Popular items, particularly limited-stock electronics and toys, can sell out within hours of a sale launching online. Setting up price or stock alerts in advance is a practical way to avoid missing out on something specific.
Is the Boxing Day bank holiday always on 26 December?
No, the calendar date of Boxing Day is always 26 December, but the bank holiday moves to the next available weekday if that date falls on a weekend. In 2026, since 26 December is a Saturday, the substitute bank holiday falls on Monday 28 December.
What’s the difference between the Boxing Day sales and January sales?
Boxing Day sales run from late December and tend to focus on clearing Christmas stock, while January sales often follow with further reductions as retailers clear remaining seasonal inventory ahead of new spring ranges. Barclays’ research found January is actually the most popular sales window overall, chosen by 89% of shoppers planning to shop the wider festive sales period.
