Best Time to Buy Luggage: Save with Seasonal Deals - best time to buy luggage

If you're hunting for a deal and need it now, here's the short and sweet answer. The absolute best time to buy luggage is during massive holiday sales like Black Friday, right after the travel rushes in late summer and early winter, or when brands roll out their new models. These predictable lulls in the market are your golden ticket to some serious savings.

Your Quick Guide to Annual Luggage Deals

Think of the luggage market like the ocean tide—it has very predictable highs and lows. The smartest way to save money on quality travel gear is simply to time your purchase with these cycles.

Retailers run on a calendar driven by two things: customer demand and the need to move inventory. This creates perfect little windows of opportunity for shoppers who know what to look for. For example, once the big travel season wraps up, stores are desperate to clear out unsold bags to make room for what's coming next.

Likewise, major holidays kick off huge promotional events where even the most premium brands will slash their prices. This guide will give you a quick snapshot of these key shopping periods, so you can plan your purchase like a pro and get the features you need without paying top dollar.

This timeline gives you a bird's-eye view of the key shopping seasons, showing exactly when to pounce on the best deals.

As you can see, the most significant price drops cluster around the end of the summer travel slowdown and the big holiday shopping bonanza in late fall.

Key Savings Windows to Watch

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of the full calendar, it helps to know which moments create the perfect storm for a great discount. These are the times when brand promotions, clearance events, and seasonal shifts all line up in your favor.

• End-of-Season Clearances: In late summer (August/September) and again in late winter (January/February), travel demand takes a nosedive. This is when retailers mark down last season's styles to make space.
• Holiday Promotions: Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Memorial Day are the heavy hitters. You'll find store-wide sales that often include top-tier luggage brands that rarely go on sale.
• New Model Launches: When new collections arrive, usually in early spring, last year's models suddenly get a lot cheaper. It's a fantastic way to snag a premium bag at a mid-range price.

To give you a clearer picture, here’s a quick summary of what the year looks like for a deal-savvy luggage shopper.

Yearly Luggage Savings Calendar at a Glance

This table maps out the prime opportunities, but remember that flash sales can pop up anytime, so it always pays to be on the lookout.

Of course, getting a great deal is only half the battle. To make sure you pick the perfect travel companion, check out our guide on how to choose luggage that fits your style and travel needs.

Mapping Out the Annual Luggage Sales Calendar

Here's a little secret most people don't think about: buying luggage is a lot like booking a flight. Timing is everything. The prices for travel gear follow a predictable rhythm throughout the year, rising and falling with the seasons. If you can learn that rhythm, you can sidestep the peak prices and snag some incredible deals.

It all comes down to simple supply and demand. When everyone is traveling, prices are high. But when travel slows, retailers need to clear out old stock to make room for new models. That's your chance to find a fantastic bag for a fraction of the cost.

Let's walk through the year to see exactly when these windows of opportunity open up.

The Post-Holiday Lull

The year kicks off with one of the best times to shop: January and February. The holiday travel frenzy is over, and demand for luggage drops off a cliff. Retailers are now sitting on all the bags that didn't sell, and they need to move them—fast.

This is when you’ll see some serious markdowns, often between 30-60% off. It’s the perfect time to think ahead to spring break or summer trips, letting you grab a high-quality suitcase before all the new, full-priced collections hit the shelves.

Pre-Summer Travel Promotions

As things start to warm up in March and April, stores begin dangling carrots for the upcoming summer travel season. It’s not the absolute rock-bottom cheapest time, but it’s packed with early-bird deals and promotions as new models are rolled out.

Keep an eye out for "buy one, get one" offers or bundled sets designed to catch the eye of early-bird planners. This is also when last year’s models get their final, steepest price cuts to clear the way for new inventory. It's a great opportunity if you have your heart set on a specific style from the previous season.

The key to saving money on luggage is to buy when most people aren't thinking about traveling. The quietest retail months, like January and late August, offer the loudest discounts because stores are competing for fewer customers.

The Summer Sales Trifecta

Summer itself is home to three major shopping holidays, each bringing a wave of deals. These are the heavy hitters on the annual sales calendar, so mark them down.

• Memorial Day (May): This long weekend is the unofficial start of the summer travel season, and retailers celebrate with big sales. You can pretty reliably expect discounts of 20-40% across a huge range of popular brands.
• Amazon Prime Day (July): Usually landing in mid-July, this massive online event is a goldmine for luggage deals. The best part? Other retailers almost always run their own competing sales, creating a week of incredible price drops. It’s not uncommon to find savings of 30-50% or even more.
• Labor Day (September): As summer winds down, Labor Day sales are all about one thing: end-of-season clearance. Retailers are highly motivated to get rid of their remaining summer stock before the holiday season.

The Ultimate Savings Window

If you can hold out, the period from late August through September is arguably the absolute best time all year to buy luggage. The summer vacation rush has ended, and back-to-school shopping is done. Retailers have one goal: clear the floors for incoming holiday inventory.

During this sweet spot, you’ll find clearance deals reaching an incredible 40-70% off. Sure, the selection might be limited to last season's colors or styles, but the value is simply unbeatable. Your patience will be rewarded with the deepest discounts you'll see.

Using Holiday Sales to Maximize Your Savings

Holiday weekends are the heavyweights of the retail world, and luggage is no exception. While you’ll find little sales sprinkled throughout the year, nothing really compares to the deep, store-wide discounts you see during major shopping events.

Honestly, if you can plan your purchase around these key dates, you’ll come out way ahead. It's probably the most effective strategy for saving money, especially if you have your eye on a premium brand that rarely goes on sale. Think of it this way: regular weekly sales are like a light drizzle, but holiday promotions are a full-blown downpour of deals.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday: The Champions of Luggage Deals

If there’s one weekend to circle on your calendar in bright red ink, it’s the four-day shopping marathon from Black Friday through Cyber Monday. Without a doubt, this late-November window is the absolute best time of year to buy luggage.

Retailers go all-in, slashing prices by 30-50% or even more on some of the most popular brands. This is when you'll find top-tier names like TUMI, Briggs & Riley, and Samsonite at prices you simply won't see any other time. The intense competition between stores forces them to offer their steepest discounts, and you get to reap the benefits.

The data backs this up. According to Google Trends from 2021 to 2023, search interest for luggage in the U.S. spikes dramatically in late November, often doubling from what it was just a month earlier. It's a prime time to find a great deal, and for frequent business travelers, it can mean getting outlet-level prices on everything from durable hardside spinners to sleek garment bags.

Pro Tip: Don't limit your search to the big-box stores. Specialty retailers often run their own aggressive promotions, sometimes offering exclusive bundles or even deeper discounts on specific models to stand out from the crowd.

Other Key Holidays to Watch

While Black Friday weekend is the undisputed king, other holidays offer excellent buying opportunities throughout the year. Think of these as "mini-peak" sales—perfect if your old suitcase gives out and you just can't wait until November.

• Memorial Day: This late-May weekend officially kicks off the summer travel season. Retailers know everyone is planning their getaways, so they roll out discounts of 20-40%. It’s an especially good time to find deals on colorful summer collections.
• Labor Day: Marking the unofficial end of summer, this early-September sale is another fantastic opportunity. Stores use it to clear out their remaining summer inventory before the fall season, with savings that often match what you saw on Memorial Day.

By strategically timing your purchase around these major holidays, you can score high-quality, durable gear without paying the high-quality price. Whether you're looking for an affordable carry-on or a full designer set, patience pays off.

Why End-of-Season Sales Offer Hidden Value

When the peak vacation crowds head home, the real deals start to show up. Shopping during the off-season is one of the smartest plays you can make, especially in late summer and late winter when retailers are desperate to clear out old stock. It’s a simple, predictable cycle: when travel demand drops, luggage prices do, too.

This is a golden opportunity for anyone in the market for a new bag. Stores need to make room for next season's inventory, which means last season's colors and models have to go. If you care more about function and durability than the trendiest new release, this is your time to shine.

Capitalizing on Post-Travel Lulls

The two best off-peak windows happen right after the major travel rushes. These lulls are your signal to start hunting for deep discounts on high-quality pieces.

• Late Summer (August-September): The summer vacation frenzy is over, and travel hits a seasonal low. This is arguably the best time all year to buy, with clearance markdowns often hitting 40-60% off.
• Late Winter (January-February): Right after the holiday chaos, the demand for new luggage just plummets. Retailers slash prices to move whatever is left before the new spring collections roll in.

Think of it as turning the end of one travel season into the start of your savings journey. You’re getting the exact same durable construction and handy features, just without the premium price that comes with a brand-new colorway.

Here’s the secret: a suitcase's quality has nothing to do with its release date. A tough polycarbonate shell and smooth-gliding wheels work just as well whether they're from this season's collection or last's.

Why Off-Season Is a Smart Investment

The massive travel rebound we’ve seen recently really highlights the value of these off-peak buying windows. As global air traffic surged, so did the demand for luggage, making a good deal that much harder to find. For example, data shows that international traffic grew by a whopping 41.6% in 2023, while domestic travel blew past pre-pandemic levels. This directly led to a huge jump in luggage sales, which you can read more about in these luggage market trends and statistics on eminent.com.

Planning your purchase during these quieter retail months can lead to huge savings. By focusing on these off-season sales, you’re playing the long game. You can afford to invest in some of the best luggage brands of 2025 known for expert craftsmanship, but pay a fraction of the peak-season price. It's the perfect way to build a reliable travel setup that will last for years.

Pro Tips for Finding Luggage Deals Beyond the Calendar

Knowing when the big sales happen is a great start, but the real pros know how to find a deal any time of year. Think of these strategies as your secret weapons for uncovering discounts that most people completely miss. A little bit of planning can make all the difference between a good price and a fantastic one.

One of the easiest yet most effective things you can do is subscribe to brand and retailer newsletters. This simple step puts you on the inside track for flash sales, early-bird specials, and coupon codes that never get advertised to the general public. It's like having a VIP pass to the best deals.

Hunt for Off-Calendar Opportunities

Luggage deals don't always stick to a rigid schedule. Smart shoppers keep their eyes peeled for general available special offers that pop up unexpectedly throughout the year.

Specialty luggage retailers are a great place to look, as they often have perks that big-box stores can't match:

• Luggage Bundles: Buying a matching set almost always works out cheaper than getting each piece separately. You can often save 20-40% this way.
• Outlet Pricing: Many top-tier brands run outlet sections on their websites or have physical outlet stores where you can find year-round discounts.
• Free Shipping: This might seem small, but it can save you a surprising amount of money, especially if you're buying a large suitcase or a full set.

Another fantastic trick is to watch for new model launches. When a brand rolls out its latest collection, usually in the spring, the previous generation's models get a serious price cut. This is the perfect time to grab last year's top-rated bag for a fraction of what it originally cost.

The biggest discounts often go to the most prepared shoppers. By combining calendar knowledge with proactive deal-hunting, you can turn a good price into a great one.

With these tips in your back pocket, you aren't tied to a specific holiday or season. Any month can be the best time to buy luggage if you know where to look.

Answering Your Top Luggage Buying Questions

Even with a sales calendar in hand, a few practical questions always pop up. Let's tackle some of the most common ones to help you nail down the perfect bag at the perfect price.

Is It Cheaper to Buy Luggage Online or in Stores?

This is the classic dilemma, and honestly, there's no single right answer. It really depends on how you like to shop.

Online retailers offer an almost endless selection and make it incredibly easy to compare prices across different brands in minutes. You'll also find web-only deals and the sheer convenience of having your new suitcase show up at your door.

But you can't beat a physical store for getting a real feel for the luggage. You can test the zippers, feel the weight, and see how the handle actually feels in your hand. Sometimes, the best deals are the unadvertised clearance items you stumble upon in a corner of the store.

A great strategy? Do your homework online to narrow down your choices and get a baseline on price, then head to a store to make the final call.

Should I Buy a Luggage Set or Individual Pieces?

Buying a full luggage set is a fantastic way to save money if you're starting from scratch or outfitting the whole family. You can often save 20-40% by bundling them together instead of buying each piece on its own.

On the other hand, buying individual pieces gives you total freedom. Maybe you want a super-tough carry-on from one brand but a more specialized garment bag from another. A solo business traveler probably has very different needs than a family of four heading on vacation. Think about your travel style—both now and for the next few years—to figure out what makes the most sense.

How Far in Advance of a Trip Should I Buy Luggage?

Give yourself at least a month before you travel. Seriously. This isn't something you want to leave until the last minute.

Buying your luggage a month out gives you a comfortable cushion for shipping, lets you properly check it for any defects (and trust me, you want to do this before you're packing), and makes any potential returns or exchanges a breeze. Waiting until the week before your flight is a surefire way to pay full price and be stuck with whatever's left on the shelf.

Ready to find the perfect travel companion? At Voyage Luggage, we offer a curated selection of premium brands with free shipping and hassle-free returns. Explore our collection today at https://voyageluggage.com.