Black Friday is November 27, 2026, but toy shopping is already underway. The useful question is whether an exact toy is worth its current total price, not whether a banner calls the event the biggest sale of the year.
Checked November 8, 2026, for U.S. shoppers. This guide separates prices we could verify from announced sale dates and expired promotions. Prices and stock are snapshots, before tax and shipping. We have not tested checkout in your location, and we are not calling any offer the lowest price of the year.
One price worth comparing now
LEGO Classic Large Creative Brick Box 10698, age 4+: Target’s product page listed $33.49 and “In Stock” when checked, while LEGO’s U.S. page listed $59.99 but marked the set temporarily out of stock. That is a $26.50 difference in observed item prices for the same 790-piece set. It is a retailer comparison, not proof that Target previously charged $59.99 or that this is an official Black Friday promotion.
This is worth considering for a child who enjoys making their own buildings and vehicles. It is not appropriate for a child under the package age, and the small pieces must stay away from younger siblings. Check your delivery or pickup location, seller, final price and arrival estimate before deciding.
We did not verify a complete toy-by-toy Black Friday sale list for November 27. Rather than turn older advertising into live bargains, the sections below explain what the retailers have actually announced and which kinds of toys are worth comparing.
Walmart’s announced 2026 shopping dates
Walmart’s October 26 announcement gives three events. Early Black Friday runs November 12–15, beginning online at 12:01 a.m. Eastern and in stores at 6 a.m. local time on November 12. The main Black Friday event runs November 23–29, beginning online November 23 at 12:01 a.m. Eastern, with the in-store start November 27 at 6 a.m. local time. Cyber Monday runs November 30–December 2, starting online at 12:01 a.m. Eastern.
For selected online-only hot Deal drops, Walmart+ members get the first 24 hours during the two Black Friday events. Remaining items open to other shoppers afterward, while supplies last. That does not mean every toy requires a membership, or that a particular gift is guaranteed to remain available. Include a membership fee in your calculation if you would join only to buy a toy.
Target: do not mistake the expired early sale for a live offer
Target’s official holiday fact sheet says its Early Black Friday event ran November 5–7 and included 40% off select toys. As of this guide’s November 8 check, that event has ended. The old percentage is not a promise of today’s price or a sitewide toy discount.
Target also announced Deal of the Day offers from November 1 through December 24 and limited-time offers most Thursdays through Saturdays. Its fact sheet says stores open at 6 a.m. local time on Black Friday. Check the current product page and offer terms; a future sale date alone does not confirm that your chosen toy will be reduced.
The same fact sheet describes a November 1–December 24 holiday price-match window for Target’s own later lower prices. Read the linked policy and exclusions before relying on an adjustment. Do not assume it matches every other retailer or covers every promotional price.
Which toy categories are worth watching?
Open-ended building: Compare set numbers, brick type and piece count. LEGO DUPLO 10913 is for ages 18 months and up; LEGO Classic 10698 is for ages 4 and up. They are not interchangeable bargains. Choose the child’s age first, then compare the delivered price of the exact set.
Art and modeling supplies: A low everyday price may beat a showy percentage reduction on a much larger kit. We observed Crayola’s 24-count Ultra-Clean crayons at $3.49 at Target. That is a reference price, not a claimed Black Friday markdown. For Play-Doh, check the exact kit contents, the age guidance and the wheat notice before choosing a bundle.
Solo and family games: The right number of players matters. Rush Hour Junior is a solo game for ages 5+, standard Rush Hour is for ages 8+, and Labyrinth is for two to four players aged 7+. A discounted game that nobody can or wants to play with the recipient is poor value. Match the edition before comparing prices.
Pretend-play sets: Check whether the bundle includes the pieces pictured, whether it fits the play area and whether it duplicates something the child owns. An advertised kitchen set may be accessories only. Look at the contents list rather than judging the value from the photograph.
How to tell whether a deal saves you money
Write down the exact product name or model, the normal price you have actually seen, your maximum total budget and the date you need it. Compare at least two reputable sellers when practical. A crossed-out reference price is not a price history.
Use the delivered total: item price minus an applicable discount, plus tax and shipping. Count batteries, necessary accessories and any membership you would not otherwise buy. A gift card awarded later is not an immediate cash discount, especially if you would not naturally use it.
For a hypothetical buy-one-get-one-50%-off offer on two equally priced $20 toys, the total is $30 before tax: $10 saved on a $40 basket, or 25%, not 50% off both. If you only wanted one $20 toy, buying another still increases your spending. Read which item gets discounted and what happens if one is returned.
Buy early or wait until Black Friday?
Buying early can make sense when the toy is the right fit, the delivered price is within budget and the return window comfortably covers gift day. Waiting can make sense for a flexible choice when there is no delivery pressure. Neither approach guarantees the cheapest price.
Avoid paying a large resale premium because a page says “hot” or “trending.” An acceptable alternative can be better than an overpriced must-have. For Christmas gifts, check whether the return deadline starts on purchase, shipping or delivery, whether opened toys are accepted and who pays return postage. Keep the receipt and packaging needed for a return.
Safety does not go on sale
Use CPSC’s recall database to check the exact model, especially with older stock or a resale listing. CPSC recommends following age guidance, keeping small parts away from children under 3 and buying from sellers you know and trust. Reject listings with unclear manufacturer details or missing warning information.
Be particularly careful with accessible button batteries and small high-powered magnets. A discount is no reason to accept those hazards. Read the official battery-ingestion recall example and magnetic-cube recall example if you are considering similar products. Do not assume a marketplace’s availability means a product has passed a fresh safety check.
The short shopping plan
Choose the child’s age and interests first. Pick one exact toy and one acceptable alternative. Set a total budget. Check current retailer terms and recalls. Buy when the fit, delivered cost and return terms work together. You can use our Black Friday date guide and Christmas calendar to plan the timing.
Compare toy options on Amazon
These ordinary Amazon search links have no affiliate tracking tag. They are comparison starting points, not verified sale offers. Check the seller, age label, exact edition and final total on the listing.
Crayola Ultra Clean washable crayons 24
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