The Best Time Of Year To Buy A New Stove, According To Consumer Reports

For most people, a stove is the center of the kitchen, so finding the best time to buy one is critical. With installation costs, a new gas or electric stove can cost $1,000 or more, even for middle-range brands and quality. Securing the best deals can mean hundreds of dollars in savings on one of your biggest kitchen purchases. According to Consumer Reports, you'll find the best prices on stoves from September through November each year.

This comes down to two main factors: holiday sales and inventory cycles. Labor Day and Black Friday are two of the biggest sales events of the year for major appliances, with discounts typically ranging from 20% to 40% off. Black Friday deals are usually a little better, with research from Red Stag showing appliance discounts average around 30% during the late-November event. Still, both sales can offer significant savings on stoves and are worth considering.

The timing of new inventory also plays a role. Fall is when many retailers begin bringing in next year's appliance models, making Labor Day an opportunity to clear out older stove inventory. While Black Friday may deliver the deepest overall discounts, you may find very good closeout deals on older stoves in early September. Plus, with less competition than the Black Friday rush, you're more likely to find the stove you want before it sells out.

While Consumer Reports says September through November are the best times to buy a stove, holiday sales aren't the only way to score discounts on such a major purchase. One surprising suggestion Consumer Reports offers is to haggle. Many shoppers don't realize this is an option, with only around 20% even trying. Yet CR's data found that two-thirds of shoppers who negotiated the price of a major appliance were successful, saving an average of $123 per purchase. You may be able to save even more by bundling your stove purchase with other kitchen appliances. Finally, someof the best places that sell large kitchen appliances are often willing to throw in extra perks during holiday sales, such as free delivery or installation, if you ask. Those added benefits can help you save even more on your purchase.

Of course, buying a new stove isn't just about sales; you'll also want to hone in on the brands that offer the best value. Thankfully, Consumer Reports can help you there too. For electric stoves, Frigidaire and LG most often score CR's "Smart Buy" label, which means they offer great performance for their value. If you prefer gas, LG and GE are the two gas stove brands that top Consumer Reports scores. These three brands also score very high on CR's reliability rankings, meaning they should last a long time. Combined with a great sale, you'll likely save hundreds of dollars or more over the life of your stove.