Prime Day 2023: Everything you need to know about Amazon’s summer sale

If you consider yourself a savvy shopper, you know that one of the best times to get deals online is during Amazon’s Prime Day sale.

The two-day sale is full of discounts on products you’ll likely find for a higher price elsewhere and Amazon-exclusive products you can’t get anywhere else.

If you’ve never shopped Prime Day — or just want a refresher on how it works — we’ve compiled everything you need to know about the massive savings event before Prime Day 2023 begins.

When Is Prime Day 2023?

Prime Day will run from 3 a.m. ET July 11 through July 12. According to Amazon’s official press release, shoppers can expect new deals to drop every 30 minutes throughout the event.

The press release also states Prime members will get exclusive access to Amazon’s lowest prices so far this year on “the hottest brands,” naming Bose, Hey Dude and Theragun as a few examples.

You can also take a look at the best sellers from the previous Prime Day event, which may give you an idea of some products you can expect. While the products will vary from year to year, the release confirms some of Amazon’s own products will be included, such as the 43-inch Omni Series Amazon Fire TV, which will be available for just $99.99 — 75% off its original price of $399.99.

Your best bet is to keep an eye on Amazon in the days leading up to the event. If you have anything particular in mind that you want to check the price on, make a list and search for it once the sale begins.

It’s also smart to think ahead to the holidays when shopping, as Christmas will only be about five months away once Prime Day begins. You may want to add gifts to your shopping list along with anything else you want or need. If you see a deal you don’t think will be better on Black Friday, grab it now. Don’t wait for the busy holiday season!

What Time Does Prime Day Start?

Savings begin at 3 a.m. ET on July 11 and will run through July 12. Some deals are released even earlier, however, with others being added as lightning deals at various times throughout the sale. Amazon’s press release states back-to-school shopping begins “now,” with thousands of items for students already marked down under $5, $10 and $20 ahead of Prime Day.

What Does Prime Day Mean?

Amazon Prime Day is a savings event on items offered through Amazon, which includes millions of items in multiple categories. The sale was created nearly 10 years ago and continues to be a massive savings event every year. In 2019, it became a two-day event and expanded its offerings.

In 2022, Amazon says it sold more than 300 million items on Prime Day, and the most popular items purchased were home goods and consumer electronics, including Amazon-branded devices.

Is Prime Day Only for Prime Members?

Prime Day is a perk of being a member of Amazon Prime, so you can only take advantage of the deals if you have a membership. You can, however, sign up at any time — including on Prime Day — so don’t worry if you’re still deciding on a membership. Signing up takes just a few moments of your time.

When you sign up, you’ll get a free 30-day trial, after which you will be charged $14.99 per month. You can cancel anytime, which means if you sign up within 30 days of Prime Day, you can take advantage of the deals and then cancel before you actually pay any money.

Along with being able to get deals on Prime Day, your membership also comes with a handful of benefits including free two-day delivery on millions of items, savings on prescriptions from Amazon Pharmacy and access to Amazon Music. Prime Video, which has thousands of movies and TV shows, is also included at no extra cost.

How Does Prime Day Work?

Prime Day makes it easy to shop for practically anything, as long as you have a membership. Once you’ve signed up, you can begin shopping as soon as the sale goes live. Simply head to the search bar and type in something specific to see if it’s on sale, or go to the Prime Day page and look at all of the available deals.

There are no coupon codes required to get the deals, but you may see some coupons on specific products. If you do, just click the coupon box on the page and you’ll get an even bigger discount on that item. Then you’ll just check out as usual.

Is Everything On Sale On Prime Day?

While you’ll find millions of items on sale for Prime Day, not every item on the site will be discounted. You will, however, find discounts in just about every category — from home and kitchenware to clothing, pets, toys, jewelry, electronics and more.

You can tell if an item is on sale once you click on it. If it’s on sale, you will see a list price crossed out with the sale price above it and the percentage you’ll be saving. If it is also labeled as a Lightning Deal and you see a countdown, it means the sale is even shorter than the two-day Prime Day deals — you’ll need to order it before the timer runs out.

Is Prime Day Once A Year?

Prime Day happens just once per year, though in 2022, Amazon hosted two separate Prime Day events. The second sale, which was called Prime Early Access, took place on Oct. 11-12, before the holiday shopping season started. This was the second time Amazon had held a Prime Day event in October; the 2020 Prime Day was shifted to fall because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is unclear if Amazon will hold another October Prime Early Access sale. Derived From Data News says the unexpected second Prime Day in a year didn’t do as well as the July date, although it did better than regular Prime Days in the years before 2022.

Amazon offers other sales throughout the year, as well as daily deals. Other large-scale sales have included Amazon Pet Day when the retailer offers deep discounts on everything you need for your furry, feathered or scaled friends. Pet Day has taken place for the last couple of years in May and was available to all Amazon customers, at least in 2023. So you don’t always need a Prime membership to participate in Amazon sales — but it helps.

Early Prime Day Deals We’re Watching

Though Prime Day doesn’t officially kick off until July 11, Amazon is offering a ton of early deals in the weeks leading up to the big event. Here are just a few we’ve added to our carts:

1. Anker 622 Foldable Magnetic Wireless Portable Charger and USB-C

This convenient foldable charger comes in five cute colors and magnetically snaps onto your iPhone 14, 13 or 12 for sleek charging on the go. Use the integrated stand to keep your phone upright or fold it back in to keep it compact while you take a call — the entire charger is just half an inch thick, adding minimal bulk to the back of your phone.

Buy the Anker 622 Magnetic Battery Foldable Magnetic Wireless Portable Charger and USB-C at Amazon for $49.99.

2. Champion Power Equipment Portable Generator

This 2500-watt portable generator is fully operational right out of the box. At just 39 pounds, it’s one of the lightest options out there and boasts quiet operation for a 34-hour runtime on propane or 11.5-hour runtime on gasoline. For Prime Day, it’s available for a whopping 51% off the usual $839 price tag.

Buy the Champion Power Equipment Portable Generator at Amazon for $414.12.

3. Only Fire Portable Pizza Oven Kit for Grill Top

Upgrade your grill game this summer with the unexpected: homemade pizza! This portable pizza oven kit comes with everything you need to turn your outdoor gas grill into a pizza oven, including the stainless steel chamber, a 14-inch pizza stone, an aluminum pizza peel and a thermometer.

Buy the Only Fire Portable Pizza Oven Kit for Grill Top at Amazon for $127.49

4. Waterpik Aquarius Water Flosser

Keep your teeth in tip-top shape with a water flosser! This high-performance model offers 10 settings for a custom clean plus a gum massage mode and even a timer to ensure you’re flossing long enough. It comes with seven tips for multiple users — so the whole family can get flossing.

Buy the Waterpik Aquarius Water Flosser at Amazon for $74.91.

5. LifeStraw Personal Water Filter

The LifeStraw Personal Water Filter removes bacteria, parasites and even microplastics from water to make it safe for drinking. With proper use and maintenance, one LifeStraw can provide users 1,000 gallons of clean drinking water over its lifetime. Plus, it’s just 9 inches long and incredibly lightweight, making it perfectly compact for travelers, hikers, campers and more.

Buy the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter at Amazon for $17.49.

6. Zimasilk 100% Mulberry Silk Pillowcase

Looking for better beauty sleep? Zimasilk pillowcases are made from 100% mulberry silk which is believed to reduce hair breakage, wrinkles and even acne. The pillowcases are available in 35 colors, ensuring you’ll find one to match your bedroom decor.

Buy the Zimasilk 100% Mulberry Silk Pillowcase at Amazon for $20.39.

What will you be adding to your cart this Prime Day? Happy shopping!

This story originally appeared on Don't Waste Your Money. Checkout Don't Waste Your Money for product reviews and other great ideas to save and make money.