Black Friday Doorbusters: How Early Should You Line Up?

For a popular in-store doorbuster, plan to arrive well before the 6 a.m. Friday opening. Doorbusters are limited-quantity, limited-time offers sold while supplies last, so the line often decides who gets stock.

Soma describes doorbusters in the same terms on its Black Friday doorbuster page. In 2025 many large stores stayed closed on Thanksgiving, so crowds bunched up early Friday instead of Thursday night.

Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on November 06, 2026.

Why do lines gather before 6 a.m.?

Walmart set its pattern with early online access and a Friday morning in-store start. Walmart began online sales at 12 a.m. ET on Nov.

25 through Nov. 30, with in-store shopping at 6 a.m. local time on Nov.

28, according to Walmart holiday schedule. Best Buy followed a similar split between online and in-store. It closed on Thanksgiving, Nov.

27, then opened Nov. 28 from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., after starting its holiday sale on Nov.

20, according to Best Buy holiday announcement. That shared Friday 6 a.m. restart shaped shopper behavior.

When doors open at the same hour across chains, interested buyers arrive early to hold a place.

How crowded is Black Friday?

Crowds were very large in 2025. A record 202.9 million people shopped over Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, with 80.3 million shopping in-store on Black Friday and 85.7 million shopping online, according to National Retail Federation holiday report. Those numbers mean two lines compete for the same goods.

One line stands outside before dawn. The other clicks from home. Limited stock can run out in either line.

For doorbusters, the in-store line carries added pressure. Shoppers can see the cart, count the boxes, and watch supply drop.

Should you shop online instead?

Online often starts days before the store line forms. In 2025, Walmart and Best Buy both opened online sales well before Friday morning. That head start helps for items sold both online and in-store.

You can order from home without standing in cold or traffic. In-store still matters for doorbusters marked as store-only or with small local stock. If the ad lists a store quantity, assume online will not replace it.

How to plan your arrival

Decide first whether the item is worth a wait. Check the ad for quantity limits, store-only labels, and ticket or wristband rules. Then work backward from 6 a.m.

Allow travel, parking, and time to find the correct entrance. Arrive earlier for TVs, laptops, game consoles, and other high-demand goods. Check local hours again the night before, because store times can differ.

• Check your local store app or store finder for hours, since closing times vary by location
• Confirm the item, model number, and limit per shopper
• Bring the ad, payment, and a backup pick if stock runs out
• Dress for standing outside and keep your phone charged