What You Need To Know About Cyber Monday

One of the Biggest Shopping Days of the Year

Mother holding credit card and daughter look at digital tablet
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Cyber Monday is the Monday after Thanksgiving. It is known for online shopping deals and was declared a commercial holiday in 2005 by Shop.org.

Cyber Monday has become one of the biggest online shopping days of the year, surpassing even Black Friday. In 2021, shoppers spent $10.7 billion on Cyber Monday, compared to $8.9 billion on Black Friday, according to Adobe.

Key Takeaways

  • Cyber Monday is the online shopping holiday that takes place the Monday after Thanksgiving.
  • In 2021, Cyber Monday sales totaled $10.7 billion, compared to Black Friday sales of $8.9 billion.
  • If you're looking for Cyber Monday sales and deals, sign up for store newsletters and emails, follow your favorite brands on social media, and look for discounts on clothing, appliances, and tech devices.

When Is Cyber Monday?

Cyber Monday is always the Monday after Thanksgiving. In 2022, it's on Monday, Nov. 28. In 2023, it's on Monday, Nov. 27.

Cyber Monday Sales Trends

Cyber Monday sales begin at midnight, but the majority of shopping takes place in the evening. Adobe calls this time the "Golden Hours," and on Cyber Monday 2021, shoppers spent more than $2.8 billion between 7 and 11 p.m. Pacific time—almost 50% more than shoppers spend on a normal day in August.

Note

Sales on Cyber Monday have set new records several years in a row. Between 2005 and 2010, sales doubled.

During the 2008 recession, online shopping deals became even more important. There were also fewer shopping days after Thanksgiving that year. That pent-up demand helped Cyber Monday sales grow. Between 2010 and 2020, Cyber Monday sales increased eightfold, according to Comscore data compiled by BlackFriday.com.

In 2020, Cyber Monday shopping sales hit a record $10.84 billion, though it fell short of the forecasts. But in 2021, sales dipped a little to $10.7 billion. Adobe's holiday shopping report blames this drop on the surge in illness around the holidays. Regardless, it was still the most successful shopping day for retailers during the five-day period surrounding Thanksgiving in 2021.

Year Sales
2005 $484 million
2006 $608 million
2007 $733 million
2008 $846 million
2009 $887 million
2010 $1.0 billion
2011 $1.3 billion
2012 $1.5 billion
2013 $1.7 billion
2014 $2.6 billion
2015 $3.1 billion
2016 $3.7 billion
2017 $4.7 billion
2018 $6.0 billion
2019 $7.9 billion
2020 $10.84 billion
2021 $10.7 billion

Why Is Cyber Monday So Popular?

Cyber Monday is popular because it's a day when online retailers offer discounts and deals. The timing of Cyber Monday is also great for shoppers looking to start their holiday shopping for Hanukkah, Christmas, and other holidays.

Note

Shoppers often plan to take advantage of Cyber Monday sales more than Black Friday sales. This may be because you can shop from anywhere on Cyber Monday since sales are located online.

Cyber Monday 2020 was a particularly popular and historic year. In a BlackFriday.com survey, more than 80% of shoppers said they were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many stores were scheduled to be closed on Thanksgiving, which may have sent shoppers online instead. Retailers also started offering Cyber Monday sales for the entire week following Thanksgiving.

The majority of shoppers prefer online shopping during the holiday season. Time-strapped shoppers often find online shopping more convenient, likely due to the fact that you can shop online at all hours of the day from a computer or a smartphone.

Shoppers are using mobile phones to shop online more than ever. Almost half (45%) of Americans use their cell phones while in a store to try and find a better price online. Another 12% have used their phone to pay for an item while in the store.

Cyber Monday's Impact on Retail Stores and Shopping Malls

Cyber Monday reflects the growth of internet retailing. The popularity of online retailing has made a big impact on shopping malls. Research from the State University of New York at Buffalo showed that 96% of the decline in shopping mall revenue can be blamed on Amazon alone.

In 2018, former JCPenney CEO Mike Ullman said that only 25% of America's 1,200 shopping malls will survive by 2023. Those that do will serve the highest-earning 20%. Ullman said that only malls that can attract an Apple or Tesla store would survive.

Retailers have filed for bankruptcy at record-high rates since 2018, including well-known brands such as Payless, FTD, and Barneys New York in 2019. The pandemic accelerated the decline of brick-and-mortar stores. In 2020, famous chains such as JCPenney, Stein Mart, and Neiman Marcus declared bankruptcy.

How To Get the Best Cyber Monday Deals

Top stores like Walmart, Amazon, and Target often start Cyber Week sales on Thanksgiving Day itself. The best way to get in on their deals is to sign up for their email newsletters.

You can also follow your brands on social media to see advertisements for sales ahead of Cyber Monday.

Deals often consist of free shipping since Cyber Monday is all about online shopping, though retailers have also offered various price discounts. Other offers may include free gifts with purchase.

Look for shopping deals on clothes, appliances, and technology, like headphones or TVs.

You may also want to shop with a friend. If a store or website offers a two-for-one deal, you can each get an item at half the price.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When does Cyber Monday start?

Cyber Monday begins at midnight on the Monday after Thanksgiving. It runs for a 24-hour period, ending at 11:59 p.m.

Which website created the term "Cyber Monday" during the 2005 holiday season?

Shop.org created the term "Cyber Monday" during the 2005 holiday season, according to a Bloomberg news article from Nov. 29, 2005, which recapped Cyber Monday sales that year.

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Sources
The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Bloomberg. "Cyber Monday: The Results."

  2. Adobe. "2021 Holiday Shopping Report."

  3. Comscore. "Why Is Cyber Monday Becoming More Important to Holiday Season E-Commerce?"

  4. BlackFriday.com. "What Is Cyber Monday? History and Statistics."

  5. Business Insider. "Cyber Monday Broke US Shopping Records, Grabbing $10.84 Billion in Sales."

  6. The Hill. "58% of Americans Prefer Online Shopping to In-Store Purchases During the Holiday Season."

  7. Pew Research Center. "Online Shopping and E-Commerce, 1. Online Shopping and Purchasing Preferences."

  8. State University of New York College at Buffalo. "Impact of Online Shopping on Shopping Malls," Page 41.

  9. Axios. "Mall Massacre: 75% of Shopping Malls Will Be Wiped Away."

  10. CB Insights. "Here’s a List of 128 Bankruptcies in the Retail Apocalypse and Why They Failed."

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