The Best Time to Buy Shoes (Month-by-Month Buying Guide)
A data-backed calendar guide to when shoe prices drop throughout the year, covering athletic, casual, dress, and kids' footwear.
Shoe pricing follows predictable seasonal rhythms. Once you understand the calendar, you’ll rarely pay full price again.
January: Post-Holiday Clearance
January is a strong month for shoes — especially boots and cold-weather styles that retailers need to clear before spring inventory arrives. Expect 30%–50% off winter boots and dressy styles at DSW, Nordstrom Rack, and Steve Madden. Athletic brands begin clearance on prior-year models as new colorways and technologies prepare for spring launch.
February: Valentine’s Heels + Spring Athletic Preview
February is relatively quiet for broad shoe deals but strong for heeled and dressy styles (Valentine’s season). Athletic brands start previewing spring running and training collections — early adopters see introductory pricing before peak demand hits in April.
March–April: Spring Running Season
Marathon training season drives heavy competition among athletic retailers. Nike, Adidas, Brooks, and HOKA compete with targeted promotions. New Balance frequently runs 20%+ off events for email subscribers in March. This is the best month to buy running and trail shoes.
June: DSW Semi-Annual Sale
DSW’s semi-annual sale in June is one of the most reliable deal events in footwear retail. Expect 30%–50% off across categories including dress, casual, and athletic. DSW VIP members get early access and additional rewards. Mark your calendar — this sale typically runs for 2–3 weeks.
August–September: Back-to-School Footwear
Back-to-school is the second-strongest deal period for shoes. Kids’ footwear leads (see our Kids department for specifics), but adults benefit too. Sneaker brands run targeted promotions, Nike and Adidas both offer student discounts through UNiDAYS, and casual shoe brands push end-of-summer clearance.
October: Pre-Holiday Quiet Before the Storm
October is one of the weakest deal months for shoes. Retailers are holding inventory ahead of holiday season. If you can wait, hold off.
November–December: DSW Second Semi-Annual + Black Friday
DSW’s second semi-annual sale hits in November/December. Black Friday is strong for athletic footwear — Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour all participate. This is also when limited-edition sneaker releases are most common, though those rarely go on sale.
Year-Round: Outlet Sections and Clearance Filters
Nike Clearance, Adidas Outlet, Steve Madden Sale, and DSW’s clearance section all update continuously. Setting an alert on Love Those Deals for your preferred retailers ensures you’re notified when a new code drops that applies to clearance or sale inventory.
Quick Reference: Best Shoe Buying Months
| Month | Best For |
|---|---|
| January | Winter boots clearance |
| March–April | Running and athletic |
| June | DSW semi-annual, dress/casual |
| August | Kids’, back-to-school |
| November | DSW semi-annual #2, Black Friday athletic |
