Late summer is one of the biggest sales windows in US retail, and you don’t need to live in the US to take advantage of it. Every year, American retailers roll out big discounts on electronics, clothing, dorm and home essentials, and more, all timed around the back-to-school rush and the Labor Day weekend. This year, parents in the US plan to spend an average of $489 per child on back-to-school shopping, up 11.7% from $437 last year, a pace that’s outrunning inflation. That kind of spending pressure means retailers compete hard for it, and that competition is where the deals come from.
If you’re shopping from outside the US, this guide covers what’s actually on sale, when to expect it, and exactly how to use your US Unlocked card and a VPN to shop any of these sales from wherever you are.
When Are Back to School and End of Summer Sales in the US?
The bulk of back-to-school and end-of-summer sales run from late July through early September, with the heaviest discounting concentrated around the Labor Day weekend (the first Monday in September). Some retailers frame their sale as “back to school,” others call it an “end of summer” clearance, and some lean on the Labor Day name itself, but they’re largely the same sales event wearing different names. If you’ve seen “Labor Day sale” mentioned elsewhere, this is that same window, just with the full picture of what’s actually discounted.
What’s On Sale During Back to School Season?
Expect discounting across a few consistent categories every year:
- Electronics and computers – laptops, tablets, and accessories, often the single biggest-ticket category of the season
- Clothing and footwear – both back-to-school apparel and end-of-summer clearance on warm-weather stock
- Dorm and home essentials – small appliances, storage, décor, and kitchen goods
- Outdoor and cold-weather gear – retailers use this window to clear summer stock and get ahead of winter buying
- Beauty and personal care – smaller-ticket but frequently discounted with promo codes
Nationally, K-12 back-to-school spending reached $39.4 billion in the most recent full season on record, and back-to-college spending reached $88.8 billion, both increases over the prior year. That’s the scale of demand driving these sales, and it’s a big part of why the discounts are worth planning around rather than shopping on impulse.
Best Retailer Deals to Watch
Best Buy – Electronics and Laptop Deals
Best Buy consistently times some of its strongest electronics deals to land right around back-to-school and Labor Day, with laptops, headphones, and accessories typically discounted. Worth checking their MacBook deals specifically, since Apple hardware discounts are less common outside of this window and Black Friday.
Dell & Microsoft – Computer Bargains
Dell tends to run fairly aggressive discounts on its computer lineup around Labor Day, and Microsoft usually has its own back-to-school promotions running in parallel. If you’re shopping for a laptop for the school year, this is one of the more reliable windows to find a genuine price drop rather than a marked-up “sale.”
Amazon – Headphones and Tech Accessories
Amazon runs sales more or less constantly, but past Labor Day windows have specifically included standout headphone deals, including Sony and Powerbeats Pro. Worth a direct check rather than assuming the sitewide banner covers everything you want.
Bed Bath & Beyond – Dorm and Home Essentials
Now operating under Overstock’s ownership, Bed Bath & Beyond runs its own Labor Day sales spanning kitchen appliances, art, home décor, and outdoor items, useful if you’re stocking a dorm room or refreshing a home space.
L.L. Bean & The North Face – Clothing and Outdoor Gear
Some retailers frame this the same sale differently: L.L. Bean calls theirs an “End of Summer” sale, with discounts reported up to 50% off, while The North Face uses the same window to clear out ahead of the winter buying rush. Both are worth checking if you’re after clothing or outdoor gear rather than electronics.
SkinStore – Beauty Deals
SkinStore has run Labor Day promo codes for around 25% off select beauty items in past years. A smaller-ticket category, but easy savings if you’re already restocking.
How Do I Shop US Sales From Outside the US?
Most of these retailers sell to a US billing address and expect a US-issued card, which is exactly the gap a US Unlocked card and VPN close. Here’s the process:
- Become a US Unlocked Cardholder. Sign up for an account.
- Make your first card load payment to fund your card.
- Wait for your load to clear – once it does, your account is fully set up.
- Set up your card settings. Use a Merchant-Specific Card if you plan on shopping a particular retailer repeatedly, or a One-Time Use Card for a single purchase.
- Connect over VPN from a US IP address before you start shopping.
- Enter your US Unlocked Card details and complete payment at checkout.
- Double-check your billing and shipping address are correct before submitting the order.
- Start shopping the sale.
Before you check out, it’s worth confirming your VPN connection is actually routing through a US IP. A quick check at whatismyipaddress.com will confirm your displayed location is somewhere in the US before you enter payment details.
More Questions?
Are Labor Day sales the same as back-to-school sales?
Largely, yes. They overlap almost entirely in timing, late July through early September, and the same retailers often run the same discounts under either name. Some brands lean on “back to school,” others prefer “Labor Day” or “end of summer,” but it’s one sales season across all three names.
Can I shop US back-to-school sales if I don’t live in the US?
Yes. A US Unlocked virtual card gives you a US-issued card that these retailers will accept, and connecting over a US VPN satisfies the location checks many US retail sites run at checkout.
Do I need a VPN to use my US Unlocked card?
Yes, in most cases. Many US retailers check that your connecting IP address matches a US location before completing a purchase, so pairing your card with a US VPN connection is a necessary step, not an optional one.
Do these retailers ship internationally, or do I need a US address?
This varies by retailer. Some ship internationally directly; others require a US shipping address. If a retailer doesn’t ship to your country, you’ll need a US-based shipping/forwarding address in addition to your US Unlocked card.
When should I start shopping to get the best deals?
Deals build through August and peak around the Labor Day weekend itself. Big-ticket electronics purchases, like laptops, are worth watching from early August onward, since some retailers start discounting ahead of the weekend rush.
Create your US Unlocked account today to start shopping this year’s back-to-school and Labor Day sales, no matter where in the world you’re shopping from.
Sources: JLL, 2026 Back-to-School Survey, June 2026 National Retail Federation, back-to-school/back-to-college press release, July 15, 2025
