These Are the Best Black Friday Toy Deals

Black Friday is finally, officially here. Thousands of people (myself included) have already started Black Friday shopping thanks to the many early-bird sales, but today is when lots of retailers will drop their biggest, most exciting discounts on everything from mattresses and tech gadgets to cozy winter gear and skin-care essentials for all ages. It’s a lot — even for a shopping expert — to sift through. So to help cancel out some of the noise, we are wading through the vast sea of sales and pulling out the best products available at the biggest discounts.

I am the Strategist’s toy writer with the lucky job of immersing myself in toy fairs, online parenting communities, and trend publications to stay on top of the hottest new toys each year and find out what the coolest parents, teachers, and kids are buying or adding to their wish lists. To help you make the most of Black Friday, I’ll be sniffing out the best toy deals, including Strat favorites like DIY jewelry-making kits, remote-control monster trucks, stylish play kitchens, dragon and princess dress-up costumes, and Bluey and Elmo merch. The list below is a curated sampling of expert-recommended, on-sale products we’ve written about before, most of which are at least 20 percent off or more. I’ve also included a bunch of deeply discounted toys from some of my favorite kid brands like Melissa & Doug, Magna-Tiles, Gund, Crayola, Mattel, and Disney.

To simplify your search, I’ve showcased my top picks at each online retailer, starting with the big three — Amazon, Target, and Walmart — followed by individual department stores, independent brands, and smaller shops in alphabetical order. For even more Black Friday deals, be sure to check out our main Black Friday deals post. And to make sure you don’t miss anything (including kitchen, fashion, home, beauty, and tech deals), you can stay up-to-date by signing up for our newsletter.

The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.