Easter Sales: What Goes on Offer and How to Shop Them

Easter sales in the UK run across the four-day bank holiday weekend, from Good Friday to Easter Monday, and the best deals are usually on garden furniture, BBQs, DIY, beds and mattresses rather than tech. Easter 2026 fell on 5 April; the next Easter weekend runs from Good Friday 26 March to Easter Monday 29 March 2027, so it is early again.

This guide covers the key dates, what tends to go on offer, why Easter eggs cost more per gram than they used to, and a simple plan for shopping the long weekend without overspending. It was updated in September 2026, so it includes what we learned from Easter 2026 and the dates you need for 2027.

When are the Easter sales?

Easter moves every year, so the sales move with it. Most retailers launch their promotions a few days before Good Friday and end them on Easter Monday evening, though some run for a full week or two either side. Bank holiday dates come from GOV.UK.

Differences across the UK

Good Friday is a bank holiday everywhere in the UK, and Easter Monday is a bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland does not have Easter Monday as a bank holiday, although some local holidays and shop hours vary. If you are planning an in-store trip, check local opening times first.

Are shops open on Easter Sunday?

Not the big ones in England and Wales. According to the House of Commons Library, all large shops (those over 280 square metres) must close on Easter Sunday under the Sunday Trading Act 1994. Smaller shops, such as convenience stores, can usually open.

Scotland has no equivalent Sunday trading restrictions, so larger stores there may open. Online shops are not affected at all. Many retailers keep their websites taking orders across the whole weekend, which makes Easter Sunday a good day to compare prices from the sofa.

What goes on sale at Easter?

Easter is not a single retail event like Black Friday. Instead, several categories that suit spring and a long weekend tend to be promoted at the same time.

Garden furniture, BBQs and outdoor kit

The Easter weekend is when a lot of people start thinking about the garden, and retailers know it. Garden furniture, barbecues, plants, compost and outdoor tools often feature in bank holiday promotions. Early-season prices are not always the lowest of the year, since end-of-summer clearance can be cheaper, but choice is best in spring. If you are planning to switch to battery tools, our guide to Greenworks cordless garden tools explains how to pick a platform, and you can check the Greenworks store page for current offers.

DIY and home improvement

A long weekend is prime DIY time, so paint, tools and decorating supplies often get promoted. Compare prices across a few DIY retailers, as the same branded tool can vary quite a bit. Multi-buy offers on paint and fillers can be good value if you are decorating more than one room.

Furniture, beds and mattresses

Bank holiday weekends are a regular moment for furniture and mattress sales, and many mattress brands seem to be "on sale" most of the year. Compare the offer to recent prices before you buy. Our buying guides for Zinus and Origin mattresses explain what to look for, including trial periods and returns.

Spring fashion

Some fashion retailers run mid-season promotions around Easter. You are more likely to see discounts on leftover winter stock than on brand-new spring lines, so it is a good time for coats and knitwear for next year.

Tech and home appliances

Easter is not a major tech sale, but some retailers run long-weekend promotions on TVs, laptops and appliances. Check price history before assuming a deal is special, and remember that bigger tech sale moments come later in the year. Our Black Friday 2026 guide covers the main one.

Why are Easter eggs so expensive?

If Easter eggs feel expensive, you are not imagining it. In research published on 20 March 2026, Which? found several popular eggs and treats had shrunk while their price per 100g went up. Among the shrinking products it checked, price-per-100g rises ranged from 17% to 44%. Some products that did not shrink at all still rose sharply, with one sharing bag up 62%.

Which? also found chocolate inflation running at 9.7% a year, well above overall food and drink inflation of 3.9%. Manufacturers have pointed to the high cost of cocoa as a reason for changing products. The upshot is that the box size and the headline price tell you less than ever about value.

Watch for "new" on the label

A "new look" or "new recipe" label can sometimes signal a change in size or formula. Which? advises checking the weight and comparing the price per 100g against what you remember paying.

How to get cheaper Easter eggs

1. Compare the price per 100g, not the box price. Big packaging can hide a small egg. Most supermarket shelf labels show a unit price.
2. Look at supermarket own-brand eggs. They are often much cheaper per gram than branded ones and popular with younger children who care more about the egg than the logo.
3. Try the discounters. In an earlier Which? comparison of 19 branded eggs and treats, Aldi and Lidl were cheaper than or level with other supermarkets on nine of them.
4. Buy bars instead of eggs for grown-ups. A large bar is usually far better value than an egg made from the same chocolate.
5. Watch multibuys carefully. A "3 for £10" is only good value if you would buy all three anyway and the unit price beats buying singly.
6. Use loyalty prices, but compare. Loyalty card prices can be cheaper, but check the non-member price elsewhere too.
7. Buy after Easter. If you do not mind a late treat, reductions after Easter Monday are usually the cheapest option.

Unit prices are now easier to compare

Updated UK price marking rules took effect on 6 April 2026, the day after Easter Sunday. According to law firm Stevens & Bolton, the new guidance makes unit pricing more consistent so you can compare different pack sizes like for like, and where loyalty and non-loyalty prices both apply, all prices and their conditions must be shown clearly. That should make Easter 2027 chocolate comparisons simpler than they were in 2026.

Worked example: is the Easter sale deal real?

Say a garden furniture set is advertised at £400 "was £500" over the Easter weekend, and the retailer also allows a 10% newsletter code on sale items.

• Sale price: £500 minus 20% = £400.
• 10% code applied to the sale price: £400 minus £40 = £360.
• Delivery: £29.99, so your total is £389.99.

Now check the history. If the set was actually selling for £420 for most of March, the real saving from the sale is £20, not £100. The code adds another £40, so you save £60 in total against the price you would really have paid. That is still worthwhile, but it is a very different story from the "save £140" the banner implies.

Codes are also worth comparing to the sale. If a retailer offers either 20% off sitewide or a 25% code that does not stack with it, a £200 basket costs £160 with the sale and £150 with the code. Our guide to coupon stacking explains when you can use both.

The post-Easter clearance: when to buy cheap chocolate

Once Easter is over, supermarkets need the seasonal space back. Unsold eggs, chocolate bunnies and themed treats are often reduced in the days after Easter Monday. If you do not mind celebrating a little late, or you want treats for lunchboxes, this is usually the cheapest time to buy. Check best-before dates, though, since heavily reduced stock may be close to them.

The same goes for Easter decorations, cards and craft kits. If you have somewhere to store them, next year's supplies can often be picked up for less than you paid before Easter. Chocolate keeps for a while, but store it somewhere cool and check the dates before you stockpile.

How to shop the Easter sales: a step-by-step plan

1. Write a list a week before Good Friday. Note what you actually need for the house or garden and a rough budget for each item.
2. Record current prices. Screenshot or note the price of anything you are watching so you can tell if the "sale" price is real.
3. Sign up for newsletters early. Some retailers give subscribers early access or an extra code. Our guide to first-order discount codes explains how welcome offers work.
4. Check codes on top. Look up the store in our stores directory or browse the latest coupons before you pay.
5. Book deliveries early. Supermarket delivery slots around a bank holiday can go quickly, and big items may have longer lead times.
6. Compare delivery and returns. A cheaper price with a £40 delivery charge can cost more than a slightly dearer one with free delivery.
7. Pay safely. For larger purchases over £100, paying by credit card can give you extra protection under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.
8. Review after the weekend. Keep receipts and check whether prices drop further; some retailers offer price adjustments within a short window.

Common Easter shopping mistakes

• Trusting the "was" price. A crossed-out price is not proof of a saving. Compare against what you have seen recently.
• Buying the biggest box of chocolate. The largest packaging is not always the best price per 100g.
• Being rushed by countdown timers. Most Easter sales last several days, and similar offers often return for the May bank holidays.
• Heading to a big store on Easter Sunday. In England and Wales, large shops must close, so you may have a wasted trip.
• Forgetting delivery lead times. Garden furniture ordered on Easter Monday may not arrive for weeks.
• Buying tech because it is "on sale". Easter is rarely the lowest price of the year for TVs and laptops.

Tips for a cheaper Easter weekend

• Set a budget for treats and gifts and stick to it, including chocolate for visitors.
• Plan free activities. Egg hunts in the garden, local walks and free community events keep the weekend fun without a big bill.
• Batch your garden shopping. Buying compost, plants and tools together can unlock free delivery thresholds.
• Use cashback on big purchases. Our cashback vs coupons guide explains which saves more.
• Keep a list for the May bank holidays. If something is not reduced at Easter, it may be at the start or end of May.
• Stock up on cards and decorations after Easter if you have space to store them.

How do Easter sales compare with other spring sales?

Easter is one of several sale moments in the first half of the year. If you miss a deal, or the price is not low enough, there is usually another chance within weeks. Here is how the 2027 spring calendar lines up, using bank holiday dates from GOV.UK.

Because Easter 2027 falls in March, garden ranges may still be arriving in stores, and the May bank holidays could bring deeper reductions on some outdoor lines. If an item is not urgent, it can pay to watch the price through to May. Our Mother's Day savings guide covers the first of these events.

Your rights when you buy in the Easter sales

Buying something at a reduced price does not take away your consumer rights. Sale goods must still be as described, of satisfactory quality and fit for purpose. The main exception is a fault that was pointed out to you before you bought, or one you should have spotted if you examined the item.

If you buy online, Citizens Advice explains that you normally have a 14-day cooling-off period, starting the day after you receive your order, to change your mind. Some items, such as perishable food, personalised goods and unsealed hygiene products, are excluded. In a shop, there is no legal right to return something just because you have changed your mind, so check the store's own returns policy, which may be shorter during sales.

Bottom line

Easter sales reward people who know what they want. Next year's long weekend runs from 26 to 29 March 2027, so start your list in early March. Focus on garden, DIY and bedding deals you already planned, check "was" prices and codes before paying, and compare chocolate by the price per 100g rather than the size of the box. If you can wait, the week after Easter Monday is usually the cheapest time to buy leftover eggs and treats.