Singles' Day 2026 - voucher codes and deals

About Singles' Day

Singles’ Day falls on 11 November (11/11) and began as a Chinese tradition. It has grown into the biggest shopping day in the world - larger than Black Friday and Cyber Monday combined. A growing number of UK online retailers now mark the day with campaigns, particularly in electronics, fashion and beauty.

Background and origins

Singles’ Day started in the 1990s among Chinese university students as a counterpoint to Valentine’s Day - a day to celebrate being single and treat yourself. The date 11/11 was chosen because the ones symbolise solitary individuals. In 2009 the e-commerce giant Alibaba turned the day into a shopping phenomenon, and it has since grown into the largest shopping day in the world by revenue.

In the UK, Singles’ Day began to register around 2017 and 2018 and has grown steadily. More and more British retailers use it to kick off the November sale season, and for shoppers it works as a preview of Black Friday. It is still relatively unfamiliar compared with Black Friday, which paradoxically makes it more interesting for price-conscious buyers.

How Singles’ Day works in the UK

Singles’ Day in the UK is almost entirely an online event, and it is driven largely by retailers with a strong international presence. Chinese marketplaces run their biggest event of the year, and many UK retailers respond with campaigns of their own rather than lose the trade in the fortnight before Black Friday.

The offers are typically strong on electronics and fashion, and because far fewer shoppers are watching than on Black Friday, popular items are less likely to sell out. For anyone who knows what they want, the day can be a genuine opportunity to buy before the November rush.

Product categories and typical discounts

Electronics and gadgets carry the strongest Singles’ Day offers, particularly smaller items such as headphones, wearables and accessories. Fashion runs broad promotions across whole ranges, and beauty typically has good offers on gift sets ahead of Christmas.

Category	Typical discount	Note
Electronics	20-40%	Strongest on smaller items
Fashion	25-50%	Broad range promotions
Beauty	20-40%	Early Christmas gift sets

Common pitfalls

Delivery times are worth checking carefully on Singles’ Day, particularly from international sellers, where delivery can take several weeks. Compare against the previous year’s Black Friday price before you buy, since something reduced on 11 November may go lower a fortnight later. And be aware that some Singles’ Day promotions are shorter than they appear, running for hours rather than the full day.

Singles’ Day tips

• Use it as a preview of Black Friday, and buy only if the price is genuinely good.
• Check delivery times and any import charges when buying from international sellers.
• Compare against last year’s Black Friday price to judge whether to buy now or wait.